(Not that there’s any value in my identity, unless you’re into high school dropouts with one vintage guitar and a dog who attempts to eat trash for sport.)
And, no, I’m not asking for your address.I’m not that kind of fool.
I’ve just been reading the newspaper lately—yes, I got a subscription that arrives every morning at my door.My older brother does this every morning.He drinks his coffee black and reads the—whatever local newspaper he reads—cover to cover like he’s in some Hemingway short story.Weeks hanging out with him turned me into ...someone who appreciates the news—even the financial section.Bonus points, we didn’t kill each other while living together.
People call that kind of thing summer.
My sister called it a miracle.
I think it was something else: a pause.
Now I’m back to thinking about forward motion.About what comes next.And maybe—just maybe—that’s a conversation we should have.
No pressure.Just curiosity.
Write me back when it feels safe.
P.S.Otis votes yes.But he also tried to befriend a raccoon yesterday, so maybe take that with a grain of salt.
ChapterOne Hundred Seven
StringTheory27:I see you’re online.
DeadStrings:Hoping you’d be too.It’s hard to guess when you’ll pop in.
StringTheory27:I like to keep the element of surprise.
StringTheory27:Surprise!
DeadStrings:Ha.Well, I’m glad you’re here.So what do you think?
StringTheory27:About meeting?
DeadStrings:Yeah.Not tomorrow or anything wild like that (I’m trying to keep my Wild side in moderation), but ...soon?
StringTheory27:We’re both somewhere on the West Coast, right?I guess we could plan a road trip.Meet halfway between wherever you live and wherever I do.
DeadStrings:Bold of you to assume I know where I live.
StringTheory27:I was hoping you did, but ...well, if I recallright you mentioned San Francisco in one of your messages.
DeadStrings:That was my brother’s place.I was crashing there for a while—family issues, remember?I’ve moved back home since.
StringTheory27:So that’s why you stopped talking about your cooking classes.
DeadStrings:Yep.I had to drop them.No worries.The eggs are doing just fine.I’m watching cooking shows now.I feel like I know the basics enough.I record the show and pause it every time I have questions.
StringTheory27:You’re following along with the shows?
DeadStrings:Nope.I just found a way to bring up my sister’s nonsense to the conversation.I’m crafty that way.She’s the one who suggested the recording.Can you imagine the logistics of having to move from the living room to the kitchen just so you can cook?I bet everything will be burnt before you figure out the next step.
StringTheory27:So no more cooking school, huh?
DeadStrings:Actually, I found this restaurant yesterday that also offers cooking classes.I signed myself up along with one of my brothers.It will be fun taunting him while we both fumble through learning how to julienne vegetables.
StringTheory27:It’d be funnier if your brother’s name was Julian.I’m glad you found a place and ...well, where do you live?
DeadStrings:Are we ready to take that step?I don’t want to say that I live in Seattle, but then you bail out of this conversation.
