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When I commenced my prayer, I turned back to the video.
“Yes, you do need to reply! What are you saying? Read it to me. But start with his text. From the beginning! What was said?”
I explained the entire meeting at the Bark Park, starting with the frisbee. She was in a laughing fit when I got to the squeaky shoe.
“How does this happen only to you?” It was hilarious, and now that I saw that it wasprobablyhis sister, an innocent misunderstanding, I realized I acted a little rude.
“Katie,” my mom’s tone sobered. “Don’t compare anyone to Paul. He was a wonderful man. And there are more out there. Instead of looking for him in everyone who talks to you, listen to whotheyare.”
“This coming from the supersleuth that assumeseveryoneis an ax-wielding lunatic? Okay.” I smiled. But I knew she was right. I had wanted to find a partner, though I hated admitting it—it wasbad,but every now and then, when I had even the mildest interest in someone, I felt that no one compared.
“He would want you to be happy.” My mother hit it home with the timely remark. I nodded. She was right.
“Okay, back to my text. This is what I’m thinking—"
Hey, Eli. Nice to hear from you. We would love to have a playdate. I’m off from work all week if you two are around. (twins emoji) (dog emoji)
Katie
From the Pages of Katie’s Dictionary:
emoji
e-’mo-je
noun
The language of those born after 1990; variability of meaning depends on the user, therefore impossible to decipher.
“What’s up with all of the emojis?” My mother questioned my texting until I explained my reasoning behind it. The dogsweretwins, right?
“Can dogs be twins?” She fought back.
“Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Before we start to argue about how many angels can stand on the head of a pin, can I please have permission to hit ‘send’ here?”
I hit the button immediately before she responded and switched back to the video.
Shrugging her shoulders but smiling when she saw Dolly return to the screen, “Well you don’t need my permission. I just think I would’ve worded it a little differently.”
I could always count on my mother to send me that little bit of doubt after I’d done something irreversible, like getting bangs at the mall hair salon.
“Oh, I knowyouwould have asked him for his social security number for a quick background check.”
She nodded her head in approval. “Now that—I like that. Can you add that in there? You can never be too careful these days.”
My phone buzzed and I swapped it back over to text.
“Read it to me in real time, Katie!” My mother hollered.
“Okay let me proofread it first,” I mumbled.
How about the Bark Park tomorrow at 2? I’m working a double shift, so I get a 90-minute lunch hour.
My mother didn’t miss a beat. “Ask him what he does for a living!”
I laughed at that one.
“I will tomorrow. He was wearing scrubs today, so it must be something in the medical field.”
