Know the Facts

I am anxious, and it soothes me to express myself here. It is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time.
...though sympathy can't alter facts, it can make them more bearable.
-Bram Stoker
"Dracula"

PHOTO: Left to Right
-Unknown, Bob Gross, Ryan Hargrave, Dale Orlando, Joe (Ryan's beau)

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 10, 1985
Friday

Jill and Sabrina (Ryan and Dale) invited me to go to a party tonight in San Francisco for Jill’s beau (Joe). I did not really want to go.

Stephanie Bautista, my boss, sat with me today. She discussed a recurring rumor about Dale and me. I laughed it off because I think it’s stupid and no one really knows the facts. Dale and I are the best of buddies. That’s all.

Dale and Tim and I went to that toy store to buy the ‘YOGI BEAR’ at break time. It’s a big part of Ashley’s birthday present for tomorrow.

At lunchtime Dale and I took a one and a half hour lunch at MACY’s. I bought Tony and Helen a wedding gift (house ware products: a fancy black platter, a pot with a ladle). The gift wrap department took so long with it. Dale and I had a good time though.

Dale became upset during our last break when I asked him a question.
“Dale, do you remain silent or do you say that we are only friends when someone confronts you about our relationship?”
He became very upset from the question. It is true that Stephanie Bautista inspired me to ask such a thing. He knew that it stemmed from Stephanie, too. Perhaps I should not have said a thing. I don’t know.

Dale and I went to a card shop on Polk Street after work. We met Ryan there. I bought several cards for the gifts I had purchased. Sabrina (Dale) bought some cards, too.

Sabrina and Jill (Dale and Ryan) began to smoke weed and I felt some peer pressure. I decided to depart for Alameda because I really wanted to go to the gym. I did not want to leave Tony’s wedding gift and the YOGI BEAR alone in my car. They wanted me to go out and party with them—but I didn’t.

I stopped in on my Dad and we chatted for a while. I noticed my SPIEGEL Catalog bill and my increase in my available credit ($2700). I am loaded ‘tab-wise’.

I was at the gym and was feeling good because I didn’t go out drinking. At approximately 10:20PM while I was on the Life Cycle Rachelle entered the gym in a black-gray striped short dress and looked ever so ‘HOT’. The few people in the gym (mostly guys) looked in lust of her. I was sure NOT to let her know that I observed this fact. Who knows? She probably felt the eyes on her.

After I showered I met Rachelle outside in her car. I ran into Amanda on the way out. She’s the gal I met at the Fruitvale BART station some time ago. Anyway, Rachelle was in a hurry to leave.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” I asked.
“Oh, because I saw Chuck,” Rachelle answered.
“Who’s Chuck?”
“I saw him in the gym and he’s an ex that I went with to my senior prom.”
“Oh.”
“He’s ‘YUCK CHUCK’.”
I laughed because of the disgusting expression on her face when she said ‘YUCK CHUCK’.
PHOTO: Rachelle Davies,
in her swimming pool, Castro Valley, CA

We went to Red Robin at the Bay Fair Shopping Mall for a bite to eat and drink. She proceeded to tell me about her day.

It was not much longer that we headed to the 7-11 Convenience store. Rachelle promised her mom that she’d get some cat food for their cat. After she purchased the cat food we pulled over to my parked car near the gym and she gave me a kiss goodnight.

We confirmed the promise of our plans tomorrow. I am to pick her up in Castro Valley at four o’clock.

"Why do you think you had the overwhelming desire to see me under all of these clothes?"
-Trilogy of Terror,
Story I-JULIE (Film 1975)