Page 59 of Reel Love

I’m only a few paragraphs into this section of my book when my phone pings with a notification on my bedside table. Despite how tired I felt only moments ago, I’m re-energized thinking of aPlay on Wordsmatch with SaturdayIslandGirl.

The board opens and she plays VISCOUS with the V on the double letter square. Then she types.What a day. I’m wiped out.

I feel my brow furrow in concern.Do you want to sleep? I don’t even know what time it is where you live. But it’s late here. We can pick this up tomorrow.

No. I need the distraction. I’m the kind of exhausted that means I shouldn’t operate heavy machinery, but also, I’m wired, if that makes sense. It’s nearly midnight here.

I chuckle. And, then it dawns on me. She must be so tired she didn’t realize she just gave away her time zone. I look at my clock. 11:25. Nearly midnight. She does not live in Bora Bora or the Caribbean. She’s in the Pacific Time Zone with me. She’s a car ride or short plane flight away. All this time, she’s been here on the west coast. I keep her revelation to myself for now.

So, do you regularly drive heavy machinery? Will this limitation affect your nightly routine of forklift operation?

Ha! No. I can’t even drive a car.

You’re joking, right?

I am not. It’s a long story. But I do not drive.

She must live in a city with fabulous public transportation, like San Francisco or possibly Seattle.

I am imagining your city has great public transportation, then.

Should I say this next thought? Yeah. Why not?

I had pictured you on Bora Bora or somewhere in the Caribbean. But then you said you lived in America, so I checked.There are over one hundred and fifty inhabited islands which are officially a part of America. I’m assuming you’re on an island from your gamer tag.

Are you stalking me, Wordivore?

I am not. I am doing research.

Hmmm. Sounds like stalking to me.She adds a winking emoji and my mouth pulls into a smile.

Friends don’t stalk friends.

If you say so. So now you picture me on one of the many islands in America.

What about San Juan Island in Washington?I take a stab, hoping she’ll divulge at least a clue.

Angh Angh Angh.

What does that mean?

It’s supposed to be the sound of a buzzer when you get an answer wrong.

I laugh out loud and the sound fills my bedroom. I haven’t even played my tiles, and neither of us seem eager for me to do so.

I think buzzers usually go something like, bzzzz.

Not ones that tell you you’re so very wrong.

I chuckle.So, not Washington then?

She doesn’t answer right away. But then her cursor blinks and the three dots appear, telling me she’s typing.I do not live in Washington.

But you do live on an island?I knowI’m pressing my luck. But what is luck if not something you can press?

She pauses again. Then she types:I do live on an island, but that’s not the whole reason for my gamer tag.

You don’t want to share with the class, do you?

---