AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I watch the scene with a furrowed brow. My sister’s back to the entire thing. “Why yogurt? Why would they do that?” I say, unable to stop the wrinkle forming over the bridge of my nose.
“Why do little boys do anything they do? The better question is why are you doing this, Annie?”
“Doing what?”
“This. Setting Owen up on all these dates—”
“Two,” I interrupt. “Two dates.”
“When you know it makes you feel uncomfortable. Why aren’t you examining that? Why aren’t you beinghonestabout that?” She taps my wrist—right at the point of the arrow inked into my skin.
Fact—my sister knows the symbolism behind my tattoo, and she knows just how to get to me.
I sit a little taller, ready to run but not willing to give in to cowardice yet. “Okay, number one—it doesn’t make me uncomfortable. Number two—you know why. I’m testing my advice first hand, rather than just reading about it. And Owen was more than willing to help. Besides, I’m helping him too.” That’s all truth—straight and narrow.
“More than willing? Maybe you need to reexamine that statement too.”
While I often write at the office, I do all of my podcasting from home. My apartment may be small, but it’s functional. And the tiny second bedroom isperfect for my office. I never have to take down my equipment.
“First impressions matter,” I say into the mic. “That initial meeting lasts far beyond that one moment in time. Think about someone you admire—and think back on your first meeting with them. I’m not saying you can’t turn around a less-than-great first meeting. But to move things in the right direction, we must put our best foot forward in all aspects of life, including our social life.” I talk for six more minutes. Sharing the advice that I gave to Owen and that he successfully has a second date after being himself while following some simple guidelines.
That date is in two days. And while I’ve got a plan forsecond-date advice for my best friend, I’m also avoiding thinking about it. Don’t ask me why—I don’t have an answer. And that is the honest truth.
I pull up this week’s letters.
My assistant, Jolene, rifles through them at the beginning of the week, organizing them for me. So many letters ask similarly themed questions. So, she files them by theme, I choose the best options for the paper, and the rest we email back with a private answer. Usually, an answer that I’ve researched for one will work for multiple. I write a few of the letters, then using my outline and advice, Jolene emails back the rest. I’d like to email them all, but there isn’t enough time in the day.
I read the majority of the letters, and Jolene is great at flagging the ones she knows I’ll be interested in.
I click on the first file, the first flagged letter, and read:
Dear Ask Annie—
What are your feelings on dating a friend? Like a best friend? I’ve been in love with my best friend for years, but I fear I’d end our friendship with the truth.
Sincerely,
Ready in Red
Did my sister write this letter just to try and throw me off again? The email address would suggest that she didn’t. That this is a real letter. A real question.
For once, I don’t research. I don’t fact-check, I just write. These are my feelings. My emotion. My advice.
My column.
Dear Ready in Red,
I’m sorry to tell you that I think in most cases this isn’t the best idea. Sure, if you’re Chandler and Monica fromFriends, or Emma and Mr. Knightly from Jane Austen’s classic novel, it’s going to work out. But, if you aren’t a part of a favorite sitcom or a classic book, chances are your fear will come true. If he or she doesn’t reciprocate your feelings, where do you go from there? Will your friendship be able to survive? Or will it forever be an awkward mess?
I don’t know the specifics of your friendship. I can’t answer those questions for you. But they are definitely ones you should consider before diving in with confessions you can’t take back.
Sincerely,
Ask Annie
I hit send and move on to the next batch of flagged mail from Jolene.
Mail comes in at all times on this account. But not usually a reply. So, it’s hard to ignore when my Ready in Red letter blinks back at me with a reader who has replied to my email—and within two minutes. I click on the letter and read.
