Page 109 of Is This for Real?
Maybe just a few.
A disheveled-looking man sitting on a bench on the side of the walkway, with a backpack and a stuffed, blue, plastic shopping bag, a sleeping bag peeking out, yells, “Fear gets us nowhere.”
“On point.” Zelda gives him a thumbs-up.
We cross over a dirt pathway to our designated meeting spot. We moved it from the store to the park for convenience. A bunch of people are milling around a small, blue flag with “Theresa’s Sports Store” on it. I wish this had saved the store, but at least we’re keeping the groups going until the bitter end.
“Who’s holding that flag?” Zelda’s voice is alert, intrigued.
“That’s Kareem.”
“You didn’t tell me he was hot.”
“I told you he was a great guy.”
Zelda rolls her eyes. “Exactly. You didn’t say ‘he’s a great guy and he’s hot.’”
“So, you never actually watched my Instagram video?” I ask. “Because then you would’ve seen him. And I’m pretty sure I mentioned that his running group is about 75 percent female.”
“I’m sorry. An Instagram video about shoe fittings sounded boring. And I figured the women joined to run. Not to run after Kareem.”
We approach the group. I introduce Kareem to Zelda.
Zelda says, “Penelope speaks highly of you. I should’ve joined sooner.”
Kareem smiles. “You definitely should have.”
Sparks are flying. I back up before I get singed.
“Can I make up for lost time by buying you a drink sometime?” Zelda asks.
I shake my head.Listen and learn.How two polar opposites became best friends is one of the mysteries of the universe.
“I’d like that. What’s your number?” And Kareem takes out his phone. They exchange numbers—just like that. Any guy who could catch Zelda would be so lucky. I leave them and join my walking group.
“So, how’s the writing?” the librarian member of our group asks. She found us via my sneaker Instagram video. She said that the joy was so contagious, she came to the store to buy a pair of bouncy sneakers. And then she joined our group. And now she wants to host a book talk at the library with my book when it comes out. I’m finding my people.
“Still writing.”
“That’s what you gotta do. Persistence.”
Esther and Maria come running up. Maria had said she might join, but I didn’t think she meant it.
“I just finished your chapter,” Esther says. “Wow, that was strong. So emotionally moving. That was a dark moment of the soul. But how are you going to get them back together?”
“It was strong,” Maria says. “But Rob definitely has to say he’s sorry. He’s the one in the wrong. I don’t even know if she should take him back. I mean, grow up.”
“Even though she never saidI love you?” I ask.
Maria pshaws. “He knows she loves him.”
“What’s the problem?” the librarian asks.
“He’s a commitment-phobe who breaks up with her because it’s going too fast, and she has abandonment issues, so she then feels abandoned and resolves that she’s over him.” I wrote the scene using my feelings from our breakup, but I still hope this doesn’t sound like Rory and me. "I do agree that he has to say he's sorry. And show he's sorry. I can’t wait to send you guys the next chapter—the grand gesture.”
“I don’t think the grand gesture works,” Maria says.
“It totally works,” I say. “If you show up and declare your love and risk embarrassment and public humiliation, that goes a long way.”
