I try not to be judgmental, but Gloria looked anything but glorious when we met for coffee. Her chipped nails were so distracting that I found myself rearranging my silverware repeatedly just to keep from staring.
"I'll just have an English muffin," she said quietly as I perused the menu.
Irritated, I slapped the menu down harder than I meant.
"Seriously? You're going to nibble bread and then sit and stare while I stuff down a well-deserved lumberjack special?"
The hurt look just sent an aggravating ping through my already jangled nerves. I dug around in my purse for some aspirin and came up with a tube of Korres body lotion instead.
"You should get some of this. Awesome stuff. It would do wonders for your cuticles, and it's only twenty bucks a pop. In fact, we should hit the mall after breakfast."
Gloria picked at the offending digits.
"I really shouldn't. Besides, I...umm...don't have that much cash and I left my credit card at home."
Well, this was turning into a real funfest. I was regretting the breakfast invite already.
"Tell me about your new project, Kristin. You've been so busy, we haven't had time to talk much lately."
"Oh, it's just a volunteer project to take up some of my time. The Hubs hated it at first because we had to reschedule our tennis games, but now he's on board. We go down into the south ward - you know, it's not nearly as scary as I thought - and look for people who have homes that need cleaned up or fixed up. Then we make a list and the social workers check 'em out and see if they need other help. You know, the Broken Windows theory. A rundown building becomes a place for vandals, drug dealers and stuff. Sometimes a little negligence is the sign of impending trouble. Let it go, and things deteriorate. Catch it right away, and you can maybe save somebody before they hit the skids. Its all about paying attention to the little things, and I must say that I'm very good at it."
For a moment, I wondered if I sounded stuck-up, but shrugged it off. Besides, our orders had arrived and I wanted to concentrate on the feast before me. Tough to do, with Gloria looking around and fidgeting. Suddenly, I couldn't wait to get out of there. I ate half and pushed the rest away.
"If you aren't going to take that, can I have it? For the neighbor's dog," she added.
"Whatever. You know I can't stand leftovers. Unless it's steak or duck. Remember when we used to go to Lamberto's and drop a couple hundred bucks? We should do that again."
"Maybe."
Which sounded like "Never". Well, OK, apparently our days of chumming around were drawing to a close. It happens. Time to move on.
"Well."
"Well." We engaged in one of those awkward hugs where the arms sort of flail and don't fit and both parties wish it hadn't happened.
"Give me a call sometime."
"OK."
She won't. I won't. I climbed up into the Rover and watched as she walked across the parking lot. Didn't see the Cooper. Puzzled as she made her way toward a banged up Toyota. Must be a loaner. But I didn't have any more time to waste, as I was due at the Broken Windows Alliance in two hours and I still needed to get my hair highlighted.
"I'll just have an English muffin," she said quietly as I perused the menu.
Irritated, I slapped the menu down harder than I meant.
"Seriously? You're going to nibble bread and then sit and stare while I stuff down a well-deserved lumberjack special?"
The hurt look just sent an aggravating ping through my already jangled nerves. I dug around in my purse for some aspirin and came up with a tube of Korres body lotion instead.
"You should get some of this. Awesome stuff. It would do wonders for your cuticles, and it's only twenty bucks a pop. In fact, we should hit the mall after breakfast."
Gloria picked at the offending digits.
"I really shouldn't. Besides, I...umm...don't have that much cash and I left my credit card at home."
Well, this was turning into a real funfest. I was regretting the breakfast invite already.
"Tell me about your new project, Kristin. You've been so busy, we haven't had time to talk much lately."
"Oh, it's just a volunteer project to take up some of my time. The Hubs hated it at first because we had to reschedule our tennis games, but now he's on board. We go down into the south ward - you know, it's not nearly as scary as I thought - and look for people who have homes that need cleaned up or fixed up. Then we make a list and the social workers check 'em out and see if they need other help. You know, the Broken Windows theory. A rundown building becomes a place for vandals, drug dealers and stuff. Sometimes a little negligence is the sign of impending trouble. Let it go, and things deteriorate. Catch it right away, and you can maybe save somebody before they hit the skids. Its all about paying attention to the little things, and I must say that I'm very good at it."
For a moment, I wondered if I sounded stuck-up, but shrugged it off. Besides, our orders had arrived and I wanted to concentrate on the feast before me. Tough to do, with Gloria looking around and fidgeting. Suddenly, I couldn't wait to get out of there. I ate half and pushed the rest away.
"If you aren't going to take that, can I have it? For the neighbor's dog," she added.
"Whatever. You know I can't stand leftovers. Unless it's steak or duck. Remember when we used to go to Lamberto's and drop a couple hundred bucks? We should do that again."
"Maybe."
Which sounded like "Never". Well, OK, apparently our days of chumming around were drawing to a close. It happens. Time to move on.
"Well."
"Well." We engaged in one of those awkward hugs where the arms sort of flail and don't fit and both parties wish it hadn't happened.
"Give me a call sometime."
"OK."
She won't. I won't. I climbed up into the Rover and watched as she walked across the parking lot. Didn't see the Cooper. Puzzled as she made her way toward a banged up Toyota. Must be a loaner. But I didn't have any more time to waste, as I was due at the Broken Windows Alliance in two hours and I still needed to get my hair highlighted.