that’s what I’ll tell you.”
CHAPTER 13
From: Jennifer Scribner-Snyder
To: Beth Fremont
Sent: Mon, 09/06/1999 10:14 AM
Subject: ALL HAIL THE GOLDEN VIKINGS!
I know how you devour the Sports section, so you’ve probably already read how the North High Vikings trounced the Southeast Bunnies Friday night. The only thing missing from our coverage was the way the Viking defense rallied when the band played “Whoomp! (There it is).” You missed quite a night.
<>
1. Why is every school in this city named after a direction? Would it kill them to name something after John F. Kennedy or Abraham Lincoln or Boutros Boutros-Ghali?
2. Mitch has them playing Jock Jams ? Has he no shame?
<> Well, it is a football game. Besides, the kids love that song. It’s really cute, the tubas do the “Whoomp” part. How was your weekend? Did you go see Chris? Did his band play any Jock Jams ?
<> Yeah, you should hear his guitar solo on “Tootsee Roll.” My weekend was good. I did stop at the Sacajawea show Friday night and ended up catching their whole set. There were a few songs I hadn’t heard before.
<> Was Chris surprised to see you at the show?
<> Nyah.
<> Nyah? You’re so coy. I’ve been thinking about why you won’t tell me how you met. I think it must be scandalous. Was he married? Are you related?
<> Yes and yes.
<> There you go again. Coy.
<> Sorry. It’s just …
I know how you feel about Chris. (I know how everybody feels about Chris.) And it feels weird telling gushy romantic stories about him. I can sense your disdain.
<> How do I feel? And who’s everybody ?
<> You don’t like him.
And everybody is everybody. My parents. My siblings. You, did I mention you?
<> That’s not fair. I like Chris.
<> But you think I can do better.
<> That’s not quite true.
I love you. And I want you to be happy. And you’re not happy. So I look for what in your life is making you unhappy. And I think Chris sometimes makes you unhappy.
<> Mitch sometimes makes you unhappy.
<> That’s true.
<> You’re thinking, “But …”
<> I’m sorry. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t tell me things about Chris, gushy and romantic or otherwise. I tell you everything, and it’s such an enormous comfort to have someone to tell.
Also, maybe if you told me all the gushy, romantic things about Chris, I would understand why you put up with the other things, the things that do make me roll my eyes.
<> That’s a good point.
<> So …
<> So?
<> So, tell me something gushy and romantic. Tell me how you met.
Once upon a time, at a family reunion, I met a married man …
<> You don’t have to like him to be my friend. As long as you like me, we’re cool.
<> I want to like him.
<> I shouldn’t have said that about Mitch making you unhappy. I love Mitch. I’m sorry.
<> No, it’s okay. You were right. Mitch does make me unhappy sometimes, and you don’t hold it against him.
Once upon a time at a family reunion …
<> Okay. Well. I met Chris at the Student Union.
<> You don’t say.
<> We both used to study there between our 9:30 and 11:30 classes.
I had seen him on campus before. He was always wearing this yellow sweatshirt and giant headphones. The kind of headphones that say, “I may not take my clothes seriously. I may not have brushed or even washed my hair today. But I pronounce the word ‘music’ with a capital ‘M.’ Like God.”
Are you rolling your eyes yet?
<
CHAPTER 13
From: Jennifer Scribner-Snyder
To: Beth Fremont
Sent: Mon, 09/06/1999 10:14 AM
Subject: ALL HAIL THE GOLDEN VIKINGS!
I know how you devour the Sports section, so you’ve probably already read how the North High Vikings trounced the Southeast Bunnies Friday night. The only thing missing from our coverage was the way the Viking defense rallied when the band played “Whoomp! (There it is).” You missed quite a night.
<
1. Why is every school in this city named after a direction? Would it kill them to name something after John F. Kennedy or Abraham Lincoln or Boutros Boutros-Ghali?
2. Mitch has them playing Jock Jams ? Has he no shame?
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
I know how you feel about Chris. (I know how everybody feels about Chris.) And it feels weird telling gushy romantic stories about him. I can sense your disdain.
<
<
And everybody is everybody. My parents. My siblings. You, did I mention you?
<
<
<
I love you. And I want you to be happy. And you’re not happy. So I look for what in your life is making you unhappy. And I think Chris sometimes makes you unhappy.
<
<
<
<
Also, maybe if you told me all the gushy, romantic things about Chris, I would understand why you put up with the other things, the things that do make me roll my eyes.
<
<
<
<
Once upon a time, at a family reunion, I met a married man …
<
<
<
<
Once upon a time at a family reunion …
<
<
<
I had seen him on campus before. He was always wearing this yellow sweatshirt and giant headphones. The kind of headphones that say, “I may not take my clothes seriously. I may not have brushed or even washed my hair today. But I pronounce the word ‘music’ with a capital ‘M.’ Like God.”
Are you rolling your eyes yet?
<
Similar Books
