"I liked that part where he fell in love with Dora," Susan said. "Dorable," Jason smiled. "What a wonderful name… I liked that part too. Old guy was kinda strange about some things, but that part…" was in the flow. Tina and I just watched. I felt a knee nudge me. "It was so sad that he lived on and watched her get old…" "Yeah," Jason said. "There ARE other people at the table, you two," Tina said. "And we ALL read the book." "I particularly identified with the talking mule," I said. "Buck," Susan smiled. "His name was 'Buck', the first one, the smartest…" Tina looked at me. "Well?" "Well what?" I asked her. "Is Susan right?" I surveyed the at the table. "Yeah, Susan's like you. She's right at most things…" Jason had his cheek propped against his hand. "Are you two, like, nerd girls in school?" Tina's started to move, but Susan was hanging on Jason's every word. "We're in a class all to ourselves, Jason. But yeah, I guess… in a way…" "I was one in school myself," he said. "How is it if you're a girl?" "Prob'ly not as bad for girls," Susan said. "Girls just form cliques and talk about you. Nerd guys get picked on in so many other ways…" "You got that right," Jason said, his eyes far, far away. The waitress delivering our drinks and an appetizer plate broke the conversation and we transitioned into a discussion of some of the work issues and some school issues and various other subjects, enjoying the meal, just four people having a good time. The ticket came. "I can get this, Jason," I said. "No, Alan, I said I'd get it. I invited y'all!" he countered. "You sure?" "Yeah, I'm sure…" he smiled. "I enjoyed the company, you know…" Susan said, "You need to come to Alan an' Tina's for some 'dump soup' and a game of Trivial Pursuit!" She looked at Tina for approval.
"I liked that part where he fell in love with Dora," Susan said. "Dorable," Jason smiled. "What a wonderful name… I liked that part too. Old guy was kinda strange about some things, but that part…" was in the flow. Tina and I just watched. I felt a knee nudge me. "It was so sad that he lived on and watched her get old…" "Yeah," Jason said. "There ARE other people at the table, you two," Tina said. "And we ALL read the book." "I particularly identified with the talking mule," I said. "Buck," Susan smiled. "His name was 'Buck', the first one, the smartest…" Tina looked at me. "Well?" "Well what?" I asked her. "Is Susan right?" I surveyed the at the table. "Yeah, Susan's like you. She's right at most things…" Jason had his cheek propped against his hand. "Are you two, like, nerd girls in school?" Tina's started to move, but Susan was hanging on Jason's every word. "We're in a class all to ourselves, Jason. But yeah, I guess… in a way…" "I was one in school myself," he said. "How is it if you're a girl?" "Prob'ly not as bad for girls," Susan said. "Girls just form cliques and talk about you. Nerd guys get picked on in so many other ways…" "You got that right," Jason said, his eyes far, far away. The waitress delivering our drinks and an appetizer plate broke the conversation and we transitioned into a discussion of some of the work issues and some school issues and various other subjects, enjoying the meal, just four people having a good time. The ticket came. "I can get this, Jason," I said. "No, Alan, I said I'd get it. I invited y'all!" he countered. "You sure?" "Yeah, I'm sure…" he smiled. "I enjoyed the company, you know…" Susan said, "You need to come to Alan an' Tina's for some 'dump soup' and a game of Trivial Pursuit!" She looked at Tina for approval.