No Strings

Chapter 52--The End of Blind Dates

"Because when I feel bad, all of the chewing and the warmth from the steak makes me feel better. It's the only comfort food I can get."

"What about food poisoning?" Lu-yin asked.

"If I have to spend a lot of time near the toilet for this feeling now, I don't care." I took another piece dipped in the mash potatoes.

"Don't eat too fast," William said in vain.

"How are your projects going, anyway?" Lu-yin asked William.

I was busy stuffing a whole fritter and chasing it with the Sprite in the Collins glass.

"I got a new project in Massachusetts."

"Where?"

"It's near Boston... I doubt you've heard of the city. They want a Victorian House. I've been studying it, and coming up with a few designs. It will be hard to coordinate, but it should be fun. I haven't done a project like this in a while. Most people ask for modern or contemporary houses."

"Sounds interesting," Grace chimed in.

I swallowed the mess of fritter, potatoes, peas and meat. "He's talented. But you can always tell it's William's design when you see the houses."

William leaned over the table and looked down the booth in my direction, "How?"

I sipped my Sprite. I could already feel the warmth of the food going to my stomach and the burps to come from drinking the Sprite too fast.

"The angles in his houses are always well put together. He's also fond of curves, in the squarest of houses. He also tends to break up the surfaces a lot. Is there a technical term for that?"

"That's too vague... in what way?" William asked.

I bit into the next fritter delicately and chewed. Then I swallowed.

"Umm... like the front of the houses... and the back always has balconies and that thing that juts out like a octagon."

"You mean a dormer?"

"No... Ahh! I remember, a bay."

"I do like putting them in. It maximizes sunlight without hindering the space of the house, plus it adds interest. Old style houses do interest me, I guess that's why I was chosen for this project. Ah! You must be talking about articulation."

"I like bays too. They are interesting," Grace said.

William ignored her. I didn't blame him.

Finishing the steak took a while. Rare steaks always gave me trouble. Easy to cut, but hard to chew properly. The discussion continued while I lagged on finishing my meal. They paid their checks before I did. I tried to hurry towards the end by making a medley of the things I ordered. With my mouth crammed I raised my hand and said, "Check."

William translated for me. Grace again eyed the two of us back and forth. I swallowed and said, "We are elementary school friends. He knows me well."

I got my check. I signed on the line and flagged down the waiter so we could go. I slurped the last of my Sprite before heading for the door. William stopped me at the door.

"You said you would buy me a drink?"

"Yeah," I said. "Oh and you can bring someone along too, if you want. I'll cover."

"Thanks, how about eight o'clock tonight? Are you free?"

"Yes."

#

I met William at the bar we'd chosen. He didn't show up with anyone. I raised an eyebrow at him surprised.

"No, this isn't a date, but I've been thinking recently... I wanted to talk to you about it."