Stranger: Hey, I know you.
Me: I'm sorry.
Stranger: No, really. You're Nick. Nick McGrath. I remember you.
Me: Is that a fact?
Stranger: You don't remember me?
Me: Sorry. I don't.
Stranger: No need to be sorry. I met you through Amelia. You two used to fuck back in the day.
Me: Oh yeah. How's she doing?
Stranger: She's my wife. My name's Dave.
Me: Oh yeah, Dave. How are you?
Dave: You still don't remember me, do you Nick?
Me: Not entirely.
Dave: You always were a self involved prick, McGrath.
Me: I am who I am.
Dave: You know something? Back when we were in college, you said something that changed my life.
Me: Again man, I'm sorry.
Dave: Shut up. I'm being serious now. You reached me.
Me: What I say?
Dave: You told me that even Jesus fucked a whore. That we all have bad days. That no one's above it.
Me: That sounds like me.
Dave: You said that what a man does for a living is not who he is, but that a man is defined by how he lives. I don't know why, but that always stuck with me.
Me: Was I on drugs when I said that stuff?
Dave: Probably.
Me: Dave, you and Amelia live in Tampa?
Dave: No, man. Baltimore.
Me: How's Baltimore?
Dave: It's Philadelphia on Xanax.
Me: So what brings you back to Tampa?
Dave: Oh you know. Figured I'd check out the old college. Get Amelia away from the kids for a spell. Hit the beach and all that.
Me: Where is she?
Dave: She's coming up here. Had to buy some supplies with the rental car. She dropped me off.
Me: You want me to be here when she gets here?
Dave: Why wouldn't I? We're all adults, now.
Me: Is that a fact?
Dave: And here's my lovely wife, now.
Amelia: Holy shit, is that Nate? Do you still go to school here or something?
Me: Nope, I just live here. I work a few miles up Livingston.
Amelia: Wow, isn't that convenient? You get to keep a job and keep fucking college chicks. I guess you got everything you ever wanted.
Me: Nice seeing you again, Amelia; Dave. Y'all have good nights. Enjoy your stay in town.
Amelia: Nice seeing you again, Nate.
Dave: I thought his name was Nick.
Amelia: Yeah well, that's not the first time you've been wrong, honey.
Me: I'm never getting married.
Tony: Good.
Labels: snippets