Last weekend I was on the phone with Jeremy. We got to talking about old crushes and exes. I mentioned those I could remember. Since then those boys I've forgotten have been creeping up in my thoughts. Mostly while I'm on my way to work. Taking TRAX is nice because I don't have to worry about traffic but it also means I have time to let my thoughts wander. Today's grimace comes from my days working at the community center.
Years ago I worked at Copperview Community Center. It's in Midvale very near government housing. We got all kinds there.
Near the end of my days at Copperview there was a custodian named Toby. He was a twenty-something with long hair. He was nice and fun to talk to and we got along well. If we didn't work together I wouldn't have been friends with him but that's true of most people. (I'm not very out-going.)
Eventually Toby's friends started coming to visit him. This is to be expected when you work after all the supervisors go home. They never bothered me and were nice enough.
I got invited by one of them to go 'with the group' for coffee. It seemed harmless.
The chosen day rolled around and Toby wasn't at work. And only Dennis showed up. ...
I asked Dennis where everyone else was. He said it was just him and me. I'm sure my face said it all.
I don't play poker. I don't know how. Even if I did I would fail miserably. I don't have a 'poker face.' Honestly I haven't even made it to 'go fish face.' I'm sure Sally Struthers can help me get a degree in this but the practical application would still be impossible for me to master.
Needless to say the afternoon was off to a rocky start. We went to a bagel place on State and 5000 ish south. Over coffee (for him) and cocoa (for me) we quickly ran through the obvious topics.
I asked him how he met Toby. Turns out they met a while ago -- in prison. I'm sure I choked on my cocoa at this point.
"Really? What were you in for?"
He was in for forging checks from his employer. But he didn't go on a spending spree. He donated to non-profit organizations.
It wasn't a pleasant experience for me. But, as I dropped him off at the TRAX station (anyone surprised he doesn't have his own car?) he said he would love to get together again some time. I'd like to think I told him I didn't see this as a possibility but I think I stammered out, "Sure." I was focused on getting that little bald man with the one eye bigger than the other out of my car.
We never had that second date. It would have never worked out between us. I just don't like to drive.
1 comment:
That's a great story. At least Toby was a generous thief. Do you think his boss could still write that off as a tax deduction?
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