Olivia cranes her neck from side to side, attempting to release the tension in her muscles. She takes a sip of soda while Dan and I take generous bites of the sandwiches in our hands. It’s around midnight. The three of us have been here since, it feels like a year ago, but it’s been only ten hours. We eat in silence, each engrossed in his respective cellphone.
“Okay, I’m out. Come get me if something serious comes in,” Dan pushes back from the chair. We both lift our eyes to him. He grabs our collective trash from the table and heads to the nearest trashcan on his way to the Call Room. Olivia follows him a few minutes later after squeezing my shoulder in silent solidarity. It’s usually livelier around here. There’s just something about tonight. Maybe it’s the rain plummeting on the windows, but everything seems just a little more sluggish and gloomier.
I take a drink of water and pull up my inbox. I have a few unread emails waiting for me, but there’s one that prompts an immediate smile on my face. Bold letters indicating a new message from Anna Nielsen.
Yet again, I have an urge to copy the duo of words and paste them in the google search bar. I’m curious to get a visual. In my head, I picture Anna as a nerdy brunette, but in a cute sort of way. Maybe it’s the whole bookish thing that has me mentally putting librarian spectacles on a freckled, cute face. But I refrain from executing the search. I find it unique and refreshing, getting to know someone for what they are, not by appearance but by their narrative. Not that Anna is a prospect for anything aside from fun correspondence, but it’s still nice to get to know another person this way. Eagerly, I drop my eyes to my phone.
I guess people have a very different perspective on the definition of mornings. See, in my world anywhere before seven belongs to the witching hours part of the day. But I’ll play along, good morning Liam,
I grin, charmed by the kooky babble.
Am I a Tolkien fan? Umm, not a diehard fan per se, but I do enjoy me some Tolkien from time to time. Who doesn’t?
In general, I have a pretty varied taste in books, but if I have to choose a few favorites, I’d say, George Orwell, Jane Casey, Sally Rooney, Tom Perrotta, and Sarah Kay. Oh, I’ve drifted into poems territory here, but you get my point—wide-ranging.
You asked how one gets points in Anna’s world. That’s a tough one to answer, Liam. There are many layers to cover, here. But if we’re talking general terms, I guess one should be a decent human. Kindness, mindfulness, and good deeds would earn you points, for sure. Oh, and blunt honesty.
Sometimes I wish people came with warning signs, or at least they were upfront about stuff. You know what I mean? How much easier would it be if we communicated what’s really on our minds and embraced honesty as a policy?
Okay, I’m willing to reconsider raising your grade to a five, taking into consideration, if I assume correctly that by “serving” with Little Shit you meant you’d be joining him on a Doctors Without Borders mission? You know what, scratch that, that earns you a round, fat, ten.
Are you indeed a medicine man, Liam? And sorry but I’m gonna be upfront here (blunt honesty-> see, I practice what I preach!) plastic surgery doesn’t constitute a medical profession in my opinion, just saying. I’m talking about the “Oh doctor please plump up my lips, butt, boobs,” sort of plastic surgery and not, for example, the burn units, of course.
A chuckle leaves my mouth in surprised amusement. Oh, Anna, you nailed it, sweetheart.
And if you’re indeed a medicine man, mind if I ask for your stand on the connection between food and health? Curious minds inquiring…
What? Who are you, Anna?
Later,
Anna
“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”
I stare at the email for a few moments, sliding my hand over the stubbled smile I can’t seem to subordinate. A new burst of energy propels me to sit a little straighter. I take a rich pull of water and hit reply.
12:30 a.m. -> Goodnight, Anna,
Here’s a little secret, one of my favorite pastime activities besides the obvious . . . is visiting the library. I go there once a week and tend to borrow an older book and a newer one. Feels like I’m covering both worlds.
Wide-ranging is a positive thing, in all aspects of life. Get a taste of everything . . .
Thanks for correcting my points. I’m humbled by your kindness, Anna. And yes, I’m indeed a doctor. Liam Brody M.D at your service, ma’am. I’m thrilled that finally earns me something grandiose, Anna points! Glad that all those years of tedious studying are finally paying off.
Btw, my dad is, yes Anna, you guessed it . . . a plastic surgeon! I’ll be glad to pass along your message that he’s not a real physician. I’m afraid, speaking of points, you won’t be rated highly with the rest of my family. You’re still top on my charts though, if it matters.
What’s my stand on the connection between food and health? I’m aware that there’s a new trend out there about healing yourself with nutrition. I don’t see anything wrong with a healthy diet. After all, you know what they say, the apple thing, and keeping the doctor away. But I also find it irresponsible when people hold on to new beliefs instead of consulting with a physician. Unfortunately, we had to deal with some cases that didn’t end up as well as people hoped.
Now that I showed you mine . . .
Out of curiosity, what do you do for a living, Anna? I’m guessing an elementary school teacher, am I right?
Favorite thing to do/film/podcast? A weird thing you like doing?
Bra size? Most cherished girl on girl experience? I laugh out loud and delete these immediately.
Talk soon,
Liam
“It ain’t all burritos and strippers, my friend.”
I answer a few more emails, given none as entertaining. I make myself a coffee and decide to catch up on the news, see what’s going on outside these walls. A buzz caused by vibration indicates a message just landed on my phone.
Billy: You free Friday afternoon?
Liam: What are you doing up, man? Nuh, week’s brutal.
Billy: Kid is up . . . again. Next week?
Liam: Um, the week after next? Friday, any time after four. What are we doing?
Billy: I’m finally taking you two idiots to Josèphe, kid.
Kid . . . Billy’s four years my senior. The idiot.
Liam: No one else I’d like to pop my barber experience cherry with than you and Fred, Billy Francis Smith.
There’s something about Billy – he likes the good life. And that’s the understatement of the century. Billy embraces metro sexuality like it’s his job. Something that, of course, gets him so much shit from Freddie and me. Not to mention, calling him by his middle name is one of our favorite things. Francis, man, poor guy.
Eagerly, I turn to read the new message from Anna that dropped in my inbox a second ago.