after I say hello.
“Oh? What is it?”
“Do you like live music?” he asks, sounding excited.
“Sure.”
“Well, I got tickets to see Steely Dan at The Pavilion on Friday night. How does that sound?”
Steely Dan? I’m not a fan. Which is not surprising since their average fans are probably somewhere in their forties and fifties. “That sounds nice,” I reply, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice. Shouldn’t he have checked with me first? Although, I suppose he could ask someone else if I wasn’t interested. And I have to give him high marks for effort when it comes to date planning.
“Do you like them?” he asks, seeming to sense something.
“Umm, I don’t really know their music that well. But it’s always fun to see a concert, especially outside at The Pavilion.” The Pavilion is a huge outdoor tent set up in downtown Boston right on the waterfront.
“I know. I think it will be really fun.”
“Definitely,” I agree. I really don’t believe I have any romantic interest in David, but I don’t have the heart to say so. He’s so eager and enthusiastic.
“What happened to your closing?” I ask
“That’s still happening, but the concert doesn’t start until nine, so I’ll be able to make it. We should probably meet around eight-thirty or so.”
“Meet?” I ask.
“Yeah. We could meet right outside the entrance. Do you know where it is?”
“Yes,” I answer hesitantly, unable to staunch my exasperation. The fact is, if he was going to drive there, he’d have to go right by my house. Actually, if I took the train, we’d be riding the same rail line there. Of course, I wouldn’t take the T because I don’t want to come home late at night by myself on the train. Since there’s no parking at my local stop, that also means walking home from the station. I could drive to another stop that has parking, I suppose, but why can’t he just drive in? It couldn’t be easier to do. The Pavilion has a huge free parking lot for concert goers. I’m debating whether or not to say anything when he continues with his plans.
“And afterwards we could go to this bakery I heard about and get some dessert.”
“David,” I begin, “how about driving in?”
“What?” he asks.
“Well, I live right on your way to The Pavilion, and they have plenty of free parking there. So, why don’t we just drive?”
“Oh,” he says, sounding surprised. “Isn’t the train easier?”
“No. Not for me.”
“Oh,” he repeats. I can tell that I’ve thrown him with this driving concept. “Well, you could go ahead and drive in,” he suggests.
I roll my eyes, watching as Tiger jumps into the kitchen sink, bends his head down below the kitchen faucet and begins to lap at the drips. “Actually, I can’t get into that lot without a concert ticket to show them.”
“Well, maybe I could get the ticket to you before Friday.”
I sigh, losing patience. “Wouldn’t it just be easier for you to drive? I know the way. I can direct you.” I suppose I could offer to pick him up and drive, but it’s out of my way to do that, and I don’t really want to offer to drive.
“Well, why can’t you take the train?” he asks.
Now I’m getting angry. “Because there is no parking at the station near me and I would either have to drive to another station hoping to find a spot or walk home alone from the station nearby.”
“Well, how far is it from your station? Could you take a cab?”
I sigh and roll my eyes at no one again.
I hear him breathe into the phone. I listen, saying nothing; not sure what to say at this point. Finally, he speaks again. “Look, if I put the ticket in the mail today, you should get it by Friday.”
I don’t know why I can’t just let this go. “David, you do have a car, right?”
“Right,” he answers hesitantly.
“How are you ever going to learn your way around the city if you never drive it? I promise you, it’s a very quick and easy ride from my house. Boston roads can be scary. I completely understand your reluctance. But how about giving it try?”
“I’m not scared to drive,” he stutters.
Oops. “I’m not saying you’re scared.”
“That’s what you implied.”
“Um, well, I’m sorry if I implied that.” I’m backpedaling now.
“You didn’t mind driving yourself into Boston the last time we went out.”
“Well, actually, it did occur to me that it would have been nice to have been