The Difference by C. D'Angelo

Author:C. D'Angelo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C. D'Angelo
Published: 2021-06-24T07:10:20+00:00

I am long overdue for a grilled cheese sandwich and fries and this 1950s style establishment is the best option near my office. Maggie orders her standard tuna melt and we enjoy our Diet Cokes, sitting on the turquoise pleather seats near the jukebox. Elvis belts out “Teddy Bear” and I almost sing along. What a reprieve in the middle of the day.

“You are sure talking more with your hands today than usual,” she says while chewing her first bite of the melt.

Laughing because it is true, I respond, “Well, that’s me, as you know. Give me a break.”

“Mmmm-hmmmm.” Maggie can draw out her words like no one else, adding extra special sarcasm and drama just for me. “So, let me tell you about Ray.” She’s a to-the-point type person and today is no different. I love the lack of small talk. “He’s been surprisingly good to me. He opens cab doors for me, makes sure I am satisfied with the food when we’re dining out, and generally does all the chivalrous things any woman would want…”

Uh-oh. “What?” I say in a way that braces myself for the “but” that is coming. This is Mags and about a romantic interest, after all.

“See, he’s great, but he does this thing.”

Busting out laughing, I say, “There’s the ‘but.’ Oh, God. What is it now?”

“I know, right? It’s always something,” she says matter of fact then continues. “But Ray always wears his sunglasses. Even indoors.”

“Oh, no, you have to be kidding!” I scream across the table, but not loud enough to cause a scene. “He wears sunglasses. The horror of it all!” I make sure to act dramatic back to her, of course.

Cackling now, Maggie corrects me for my exaggerated response. “No, you don’t get it. We don’t live in Hollywood. Why does he insist on always having his sunglasses on, even on gloomy days? It isn’t summertime anymore, so what is his deal? It’s just weird. I don’t know.” She drops her head down.

I have seen this situation more than once with her, so I expect some strange trait she dislikes in her current dating partner, but I don’t expect this reaction. I have never seen her this affected. She must really like this guy, so I change my joking tone. “Does this mean you will be breaking up with him? Is this the deal breaker this time? I’m so sorry he does that.”

She looks back up at me. “I am going to try to be an adult this time. I like everything else about him, well, for the most part. I mean, he hums a lot, but that doesn’t get on my nerves as much as the sunglasses. It’s just…odd.”

“Well, I can name a few things about you that he may think are strange.” I wink in a purposely creepy manner so it’s obvious that I’m kidding. I want to bring up her mood like she’s done for me countless times.

“Like what?” She retracts her chin. Her brows furrow at the same time.

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