A Brief Piano Lesson

"Perseus, you're not just part man, part GOD--you're the best of both!"
-as heard in the 2010 motion-picture
CLASH OF THE TITANS

Twenty-five years ago today

May 11, 1986
Sunday

I awoke at 9:30AM to my phone ringing. It was Bonni Jayne.
“Hey Mike it’s me, Bonni.”
“I know it’s you…I know your voice by now,” I laughed.
“I have some news.”
“What now?”
“I got a new job as a Computer Terminal Operator at the Oakland Tribune!”
“Really--now that is great!”
I was very glad to hear this news. She received my Birthday Party invitation on her birthday (May 7th).
“Are you coming?”
“Yes, I’ll come…is there something I can bring to the party?”
That was too sweet.
“No, just bring yourself.”

I went to mom’s house and gave her an Estee Lauder gift, wishing her a Happy Mother’s Day. I didn’t stay too long and returned home.

I telephoned Steve Green and then Ric Green called and we discussed getting together at his place at around one o’clock today.

I went to mom’s house again because Helen brought a Mother’s Day cake for mom. I had to have a piece and join in the celebration again.

I feel guilty for not bicycling all this weekend. Oh well…I’ll make up for it during the week. I also need to touch base with Chris Cordellos about another hair cut.

I went to Ric Green’s house and arrived a few minutes before Steve Green. Ric’s a good liar.
I asked Ric, “Did Steve tell you about his underwear?”
“No,” Ric replied when Steve had already told me that he told Ric about tearing off his underwear because of all of the holes in it.

Steve handed me a funny Birthday card about underwear. Whatever—it made me laugh. We ate BBQ hamburgers and shish kabob and lounged around the backyard. I left at about 4:30PM. Steve was falling asleep. Ric gave me a brief piano lesson.

I went home and took a nap only to wake up to broad daylight. I made something to eat and watched some television. There was a DISNEY movie about some forty year old guy who wished to be seventeen years old again.
“What a bad wish,” I thought.
Then I ate some JUST RIGHT cereal.

Cedric Green telephoned me Saturday night (yesterday) and wanted to get together or meet up. He kept pressuring me for a response.
Cedric said, “I’ve been thinking A LOT…in fact, TOO MUCH about you and I need to know if it’s wise to continue to LUST.”
I said, “No.”
I didn’t think it was wise for him to lust over me. I knew we could only be friends. He’s the one that sent the two anonymous ‘secret admirer’ cards.

I telephoned Rachelle Davies Saturday morning (yesterday).
Rachelle said, “Of course I will come to your Birthday party.”

I went to bed on this Sunday night when Steve Green telephoned. I expected him to come over but he ended up staying the night at Ric’s.
“I’m just going to watch a movie here and catch up on my studying,” Steve announced.
“Okay.”
“Yeah, I have a nine-thirty appointment tomorrow in Hayward, so it’s pointless for me to come by.”
“I know.”
I JO’d and slept.

"You see a droplet and imagine a flood."
-Bette Bao Lord
"Spring Moon"