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“Hey, I worked really hard learning to read nautical charts for that role. What was wrong with Randy?”
Maye’s instinctual reaction happened so fast that she couldn’t stop herself from shooting daggers through the computer screen.
“My character Randy was earnest, and kind, and saw the best in people. Randy deserved to find true joy the way that he did.”
“Stop saying Randy. Please.” Maye shook her head in disgust.
“Wait…” Chris paused.
Maye could see the wheels turning in his head.
“Don’t tell me that your ex was named Randy?”
The twinkle in Chris’s eye might have been endearing if he weren’t trudging up terrible memories.
“No, I’m not telling you that,” Maye said, fidgeting in her seat.
Chris tapped his chin and waited.
“Okay,” Maye caved. “His name was Randall.”
“I was close!”
“And he asked me to start calling him Randy right before he left me.”
“Ouch. Well, obviously he doesn’t speak for all Randys because my character was pretty great.”
“He wasn’t real!” Maye blurted out.
“But the sentiment was real and that’s what connects with people,” Chris pleaded.
“You can’t push the idea that if you’re sad and going through a tough time that you’ll just probably be fine if you just go do some activity and not worry about it.” Maye said.
“You’re right, and that’s not the point. That’s not the point at all. Remember, we only have a certain amount of screen time, Maye. We have to make some choices. The point is that at the end of the story, you feel better than you did before. You have some glimmer of hope for whatever your situation is. I mean, maybe getting out and doing stuff does help. Are you saying it doesn’t help?”
“Well, sure,” Maye said, “introducing new routines and putting yourself in new situations can help. It’s actually…” Maye lowered her voice to a mumble, “…one of the most helpful things you can do, in a way…”
“What’s that?” Chris said with a smile. “Did you say ‘most helpful things you can do’? Because I swear you were just berating me for telling a hopeful story about putting my character Rand—” Chris caught himself. “Ahem. The Admiral…in a new situation after a breakup and how he came out okay.”
“I wouldn’t say berating,” Maye said.
“So now I’m curious. Why is trying new things helpful? Is it the getting out of your comfort zone? Or just keeping yourself from being all cooped up all the time?”
“It’s some of that. If you’re busy using your brain, then you’re not ruminating like you could be when you’re all alone. And there’s the social connection aspect, and helping to rebuild your identity. Some people lose a lot of themselves in a relationship, and when it ends, they aren’t sure who they are anymore.”
“Hm. Fascinating,” Chris said. “I’m sorry, do you mind my asking you questions like this? I know I was a bit facetious earlier, but I don’t want to offend you or make you feel uncomfortable. All joking aside, I am very interested in the human condition and so hearing what a trained psychologist has to say about these things is really intriguing.”
“That’s really quite thoughtful of you,” Maye said as she caught a glimpse of herself on the screen. Ohmygosh am I blushing?
“I don’t mind.” Maye reached around the table for the Americano that Tabby was supposed to drop off but she couldn’t feel it anywhere. It would have come in quite handy to cover her bright red cheeks.
“Right here, dear,” a voice whispered as a hand slid an iced Americano out from behind her computer.
Maye peeked behind her screen to say thank you and saw Sandra, Laura, Estelle, and Margery seated in a horseshoe around the nearest table. All of their eyes were trained in her direction. Maye scrambled to mute herself.
“How long have you all been listening??”
“Oh, don’t mind us,” Sandra waved her off.
