A Good Talk With Dolores
Originally posted on May 28, 2008
Jeremiah: Hey Miss Dolores, did Kaida leave yet?
Dolores: Yes, about an hour ago.
Jeremiah: Figures. I was going to see if she wanted to go around the corner and try out that new ice cream place.
Dolores: Jeremiah, do you really think…..
Jeremiah: I know right what you’re gonna say, Miss Dolores, but don’t worry – it’s not what you’re thinking.
Jeremiah: It would be just as pals, that kind of thing. I decided you were right; no sense in going after someone who’s already got a boyfriend, huh? That would just make us both feel bad. Besides, I hear her boyfriend might be coming for a visit soon or something.
Jeremiah: There’re lots of other nice girls at school. Being the new guy here isn’t so bad – even though sometimes I get a little too much attention. I still don’t open my mouth much around the other kids. They can tell by how I talk that I’m not from around here. Thanks to TV, almost everyone can recognize a New Yorker by their accent.
Jeremiah: Do you think I have an accent? I mean, I sure don’t hear it, but what do I know? I think the kids here have an accent.
Jeremiah: Did you ever live anywhere else but here? It’s not easy to move far away from home, you know? I mean, “home” is only a few hours away but sometimes I think it must be like another planet or something. It’s kinda funny – I’ve chatted over the ’net with people from all over the world, but you don’t pick up accents when you type everything you say. I always understand ‘em just fine, whether they’re from Hong Kong or across town.
Jeremiah: It’s pretty easy talking to people online. Not awkward like it is in person. I dunno, must be because it’s easier when you don’t have to look at their faces, you know? Most of the time you never know their real names. And when you’re there playing against each other in some game, you don’t have to worry about what to say...
Jeremiah: Blowing the other guy out of the water can be a real ice-breaker, ya know?
Dolores: I imagine so.
Jeremiah: I probably shouldn’t spend so much time online, though; not if I want to meet someone nice. And it wouldn’t hurt to spend more time on my Calculus homework, either – I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to pass that. I wouldn’t have even taken it but I started it at my old school and they said here I should go ahead and finish it. It might be better if I didn’t have it first period when I’m still half asleep.
Jeremiah: At least I got out of Latin – get this - they don’t have a teacher here who can teach it! Not long until graduation now. Guess I can hold out that long and then I’ll be done until college. I don’t know what I want to do about that yet. Feels like I’ve been in school my whole life. Maybe I’ll sign on full-time with Asher this summer and find out what it’s like to work all the time; maybe I won’t like that much either and going back to school will look like a better deal and…..
Asher: Afternoon, Dolores. Jeremiah, I need some help moving something, and then we need to head on home.
Jeremiah: Okay.
Jeremiah: Hey, so long, Miss Dolores. I’ll be thinking about all that stuff you said.