I Have Things To Do

The Prince of Denmark
"To be, or not to be, that is the (god damn) question;
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The (fucking) slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms agains a (shitty) sea of troubles..."
-HAMLET, The Prince of Denmark
-James Kirkwood
"Good Times, Bad Times", a novel

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 9, 1985
Tuesday

Dale was in better spirits today but he was up to his old prying “Tell Me” tricks. Luckily, I did not tell him everything that was on my mind. Dale was just plain born being nosy.
Dale said, “I’m working on a grievance against the company for letting Rick Sloan go to the Account Inquiry Center.”
“You’re a troublemaker, Dale.” I blurted, thinking that he is just plain getting even with Larry and Pat for not allowing him to move to Stephanie’s section. The main vein of our Union (the Union stewards) are to supposedly have a talk with Larry today.
Dale whispered, “A grievance has already been filed against Diana Brock.”
“She deserves it. She’s the so-called kiss up to management union steward, isn’t she?”

When I telephoned Rachelle we spoke for a short time. She didn’t say a whole lot.
“Do you want to go to a movie?” I asked.
“I have things to do.”
“Oh, okay.”
That was about it.

Then, later Dale and Rachelle played a feeble joke on me. The story was that Rachelle had joined the ARMY and was going to begin basic training in August 1986.
“I can’t believe it!” I exclaimed to Dale.
I telephone her immediately.
Rachelle said, “Does this mean you don’t love me anymore?”
“Yes,” I said sharply.
And that is when she told me the truth. It was all a hoax that she played on (against me) with Dale.
“I still might consider joining next year,” Rachelle added.
“Give me a break!”

After work I tried to take a nap at my house. It was much too hot. I went to mom’s house and had a burger and watched the Wheel of Fortune game show, Entertainment Tonight and part of some dumb movie called “Flood”.

When I was home again my roommate, Marty, broke the news.
Marty sighed. “I’m probably going to take on a job in L.A. I’ll tell you for sure on Friday but it looks like I will be moving out.”
“Oh wow! Well, let me know for sure,” I replied, thinking that I was not at all surprised. He didn’t seem too happy living here. I wasn’t exactly a real companion to him. I didn’t really know him. So--whatever. I now have my list of prospective roommates which are Danny Garcia, Frank Vasconcellos, Chris Cordellos, Rachelle Davies and Dale…

I telephoned Danny and he is cutting my hair this Saturday at about 4PM. Danny has officially broken it off with Robert. It’s completely over. From what Danny said he still seems to be bothering and hurting Robert by asking for the return of all material things that he’s ever given him. And yet, Robert still wants to remain close friends with Danny. Danny has made it clear that he wants to be completely left alone. He seems happy again with his skating world. He is participating in the skating finals in Bakersfield. He pays only one-hundred and twenty-five dollars a month to live in San Ramon. He may not be a likely candidate as a roommate.

Chris Cordellos’ mother answered the phone.
“Oh, Chris is asleep.”

I didn’t bother calling Frank Vasconcellos, yet. I did recall that he had just got that new job with Mayflower though.

Rachelle pissed me off last night because she made me aware that she was speaking to Jim. They were discussing ‘me’. I was watching Joan Rivers when she called. We talked briefly and she asked me to call her right back.
“Okay, I’ll call you right after Joan Rivers.”
The phone kept ringing but I didn’t answer it. I wanted to finish watching the show.
The Tonight Show began to get boring, so I turned off the TV.

When I reached my bedroom upstairs I called Rachelle.
“I’m on the phone with Jim. Call me back in ten minutes!”
That comment told me where I stood on her list of priorities. Gee whiz.
I thought, “We haven’t made love since June 28th. That was the night we returned from the Alameda County Fair…poor Rodney.”
After she told me to call back in ten minutes I said, “No, you don’t call me back! I’m going to sleep!”
“Fine,” Rachelle shouted.
Click.

"The bombshell has dropped."
-Stefan Zweig
"The Post-Office Girl"