The Dan Situation
It was the month of March and the school year would be over toward the
end of May, so I knew I had to settle things with Dan sooner rather than
later. So one night when we were eating
dinner alone at the dining hall, I knew it was time.
“Hey, you know Tony Dee is
graduating this year?” I began.
“Really? What was he on, the six year plan?”
“Yeah, he started and stopped a
couple of times due to lack of funds, but he stuck with it,” I explained.
“I figured he was a college
lifer. Wow, so they’re letting him
graduate. Look out world: Here comes Tony Dee!” Dan declared.
“Well, I was thinking...You
know how you want to live in Towers Hall each year and I talk you out of it...”
“Yeah. Does this mean you’re finally coming around?”
“Well, not exactly. You see, since Tony Dee is graduating, Nick
will be short a dorm mate. You’re the
perfect fit. You know he’d take you in a
minute, and you’d get to live in Towers.”
“But what about you?” he asked.
“Well here’s the deal. You know that I’m seeing someone, right?”
“Yeah, you’ve mentioned it.”
“Well that certain someone will
be coming here in the fall.”
“Oh, so you’re going to get an
off-campus place?”
“No, I’m going to still live in
the dorms.”
“But you can’t...you know that
they don’t allow mixed sexes in the same dorm rooms, right? I mean, that’s a huge no-no. Sure, tricking the system seems easy. You switch dorm mates with another couple,
but it always gets found out. People
mightier than you have tried and failed.
And...well, let’s just say, it’s not something you want to attempt.”
“I know all that. But you see, my situation is a bit different.”
“Uh huh, and why is that?” he
said as if he’d heard it all before.
“Well, the certain someone I’m
dating is not of the opposite sex?”
He looked blankly at me as he
processed the information.
“Huh?”
“I have a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend? Are you
serious? Shit! I had no idea,” he said with a tone of total
surprise.
“Yeah, well I had no idea
either. I never planned to have a
boyfriend or in switching teams or whatever.
It just sort of happened and I went with it and it just worked out that
way.”
“You mean it was an accident?”
he said needling me.
“Well, I don't know,” I
replied. “It was impulsive on my part,
but it worked out well as a result.”
“Wow, you stud. I never would have guessed. But hey, you know, you should do whatever works for you,” he
said and gave me a light punch on the shoulder. “And just think, now I can stop trying to fix you up with chicks all the time. I was running out of options,” he joked.
“Look, you are my best friend
on campus and I’d like to keep it that way.
You get what you want—a room in Towers; and I get what I want—a room
with Parker. It’s a win-win.”
“That’s his name? Parker?
Sounds kind of snobby.”
“No, he’s not snobby at
all. It’s just a name. But this is information only between best
friends. I don’t want the whole campus
knowing my business. So I’m asking you
to promise to keep this information to yourself. Please.”
“Sure, dude. You know me.
I’m cool with it.”
“And that doesn’t change our
friendship, OK?”
“So I can still call you every
weekend there’s a good party and for going to dining hall and stuff?”
“Sure. Nothing changes between you and me.”
“You know, I’ll miss having you
around,” he confessed.
“I know, I’m going to miss you
too. But we’re still going to see plenty
of each other. It’s not like we’re going
anywhere, just different buildings.
Heck, you were sleeping at Towers half the time anyway. And Nick’s a good guy who will probably laugh
at your bad jokes better than me. It’ll
be a growth experience for both of us.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s not so
bad. But you know, as your best friend,
I have to meet him first.”
“Who? Parker?”
“Yes, I have to make sure he’s
worthy. I mean, we are going through a
lot of changes here, so I want to look him over beforehand,” Dan rationalized.
“OK, I think we can arrange
that. I think you’ll like him. Most everyone does.”
“How about inviting him to the hall
party next week? You can say he’s a
friend of yours and he’ll be coming here next semester. That way you won’t get the third degree, and I can give him the once-over.”
“Uh, yeah that could work. Just don’t scare him. He’s a good kid,” I reasoned.
“If that’s the case, then
there's nothing to worry about.”
A brief silence followed as I stared
him down expectantly.
“I swear I will not tell a
soul!” he reaffirmed his pledge.
And just like that it was
done. Dan and I were still friends and
plans were being laid for next semester.
© 2014 Rip Skor
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