What was his name?

Well if I am going to be a writer then I need to practice. I want to start writing stories and I am not sure on how to start. I went to a class the other day on campus and was listening to the guest lecture say that you should practice describing everything around you… So I am going to start writing my experiences and seeing what happens. Maybe I will learn I am no good at writing and give up. I hope that doesn’t happen.

Yesterday I had a very awkward moment. Working at the Barbershop on campus I get to meet so many people. Some people I get really nervous when I see them walking through the door. I know I should know their names… I should know what kind of haircut they want; they have been coming to me for months now and due to the fact I see them maybe once a month I can’t remember the important details and I am too embarrassed to ask. So I sit them in my chair and say “remind me how you like your hair cut” and usually they are good to tell me. But when they remember my name I can’t bring myself to ask them for theirs.

Well, this was even worse. I was at work and had just started heating up my soup in the microwave for lunch. My stomach was so hungry and I couldn’t wait any longer. Then a friend came in and just wanted to say hello. The first time I met him was when he came in for a haircut months ago. We even went out on a date. My whole body became stiff and my mind went through all my files of people I know. File after file, it was like when you are searching for your favorite shirt and you start tearing through your room but you know you just saw it the day before. You go crazy until you find it, and when you do, you are so relieved and don’t even care about the mess.

We chatted for a bit until the digger rang and my soup was done. I invited him to have lunch with me (the only polite thing to do) and he accepted. At this point the only name that would come to me was David and I knew that wasn’t it and I was too scared to try it out and see if he would respond. Mid-way through lunch one of my best friends joined us and so I introduced her to him. I said, “oh, this is my friend Laura…” But I knew I had only done half an introduction, but what could I do… I didn’t know the name of the guy I was sharing my lunch with. Really… it was so embarrassing! Then Laura said “Stephanie… and what is your friends’ name?” All I could do was smile and look at her and hope she could understand through my pleading eyes to just drop it! “Why did you have to ask that? Can’t you tell I don’t know his name? Otherwise I would have said it!!”

Then I got an idea. I started going through my phone. I knew that he was in my phone with the last name of Gauna (that is where he is from) and I would keep searching until I found it. It took a few minutes (ha ha at least it seemed that long) to get to the M’s when I found his name. It was like the heavens opened and revelation was being poured down. Angels started singing Halleluiah and I could feel my whole mind and body relax. It was so refreshing, like I haven’t been able to breath and all the sudden I could enjoy air again.

Now the trick was being able to say his name in a nonchalant way. So I brilliantly asked, “What are you studying Marcus? I don’t remember you telling me.” Ha ha, I am so good! He told me and Laura caught his name and said, “Steph that is what I asked you before. You forgot to tell me his name.” I just smiled and acted like I didn’t now what she was talking about. I later called her and told her the whole story. It was pretty funny!