Word Count: 421
My friend Thomas won’t leave the house without first winning three games in a row of Solitaire on his laptop. I’ve also heard he won’t even take a shower before, for fear he may drown. He’s a great believer in luck and destiny, which to me, seems in conflict right there.
A fortuneteller once told me my life would be filled with disasters. She said I had horrible karma and hurried me out of her tent. With one arm on me, the other scattering flakes that fell in a starburst of glittering dust, she guided me out into the carnival night. The next morning, the booths, tents, and rides, people and animals, were all packed up and gone.
Still, I don’t believe we don’t plan our own fates, have some control over the good and the bad. True, I’ve had a lot of bad stuff happen in my life, but I sort of figure I just make some lousy decisions.
Like not taking a job in California when it was offered. Like dumping Carl when I was nineteen. Like…well, there were quite a few.
I have a decent job with the State and a second floor apartment in a building of young up and comers. Thomas lives there too, though I don’t think he fits in with the culture. He too works for the State and makes very good money, but a refuse removal man just isn’t invited to Friday night happy hour anymore. Odd, since everyone has that in common. Even more so than taste in movies, music, or pot.
Last Friday night I met a new man, a possible lover-in-training. Oh, I’m not really that manipulative but come on, every guy could learn from a gal. He hasn’t called, as he said he would, and Thomas says he probably just lost my number. For Thomas, this means he’s pretty sure the guy won’t.
“But he took my phone number,” I said.
“So?”
“And he bought me two drinks.”
“Yeah, so?”
“But I did everything right,” I cried, or was close enough to tears that my voice was getting smaller and higher.
“It takes two,” he said, “and maybe the timing just wasn’t right.”
“But why am I such a loser?” I was crying now. “I try so very hard to be likable.”
“Come here,” Thomas said. I sat down beside him. He closed his laptop and put it aside. He put a warm arm around me. “I just won three games,” he said. He was smiling.
