Bitches
Once we were seated at a booth, I began to think of ways to make this not-date less “sentimental”.
That’s when it struck me: Skyler was supposed to tell me everything she knows about Emilie.
So it wouldn’t be fucking rude to talk about another girl during this not-date, because this is not a fucking date.
At least, I don’t want it to be.
“So,” Skyler leans closer toward me, “tell me a little about yourself.”
“Um, what is there to talk about?” I write stuff, the end.
“Alright, how about you tell me a little bit about your family?”
Why does she want to know about my family?
“Well, I’ve got two parents.” I start, “My Dad is a Journalist, and my Mum is a Photojournalist.”
I honestly don’t want to go into detail. “My Eldest brother, Darien is a Japanese Translator. And my second Eldest brother, George, works in a Natural History Museum.”
“That’s so interesting,” she says, “I’d like to meet them sometime!”
I suppose I need to be a bit more subtle with my reactions because whatever facial expression I made, she got some idea that I was unpleasantly surprised.
“I mean your brothers!” she quickly adds, “I could meet your parents later.”
“That sounds nice.” I gave her a smile.
At that point, the waiter came around with our coffee.
Taking a sip, I prepared to ask her about Emilie, but she spoke over me.
A part of me fears that she’s trying to avoid the subject altogether.
“That’s pretty cool, I mean, I’ve got four brothers and two sisters. You see, I’m the baby of the family, and I’ve got to work hard to make sure I got something good for me going. Me Mum’s a Surgeon and me Dad’s a Doctor. And as for me brothers: The eldest, Robin, is a Doctor. The second eldest, Peter, is a recovery nurse. Larry, the third, is also a recovery nurse. And Marcus is a pharmacist.”
I’ve never given less of a fuck since Elizabeth’s break-up.
“Now my sisters: Zelda, the eldest, is a Red Cross Nurse and she hates it there! Mabel is a receptionist at a hospital, so she handles all the communications and the helicopter landings. It’s pretty incredible. I just feel somewhat embarrassed, being an engineer and all. I just make plants look cool or taste different.”
Oh my God, she wants me to compliment her, “You’re more than that!”
My words reek of bullshit, “Think of all the possibilities that could occur! You could do so much with all that skill! Like, solving agricultural problems in third-world countries.”
“You’re right!” she shyly takes of sip of her coffee, “I should have more faith in myself.”
