A Real Space Case

Making a lie seem real is tricky work, he thought to himself.  It takes planning.
-John Katzenbach
"The Analyst"

Twenty-five years ago today

May 10, 1986
Saturday

Mike Miller telephoned today.
Mike asked, “Do you think I could spend the night at your house for a few days?”
“Well, not tonight…but sure you can.”
“Okay…because I moved out from my mom’s house and I’m living at Sue’s right now.”
I knew something was up. Mike must have had some disagreements with his mom. Their mom can be difficult to live with. I didn’t say he couldn’t stay over…so I don’t know.

Steve Green and I woke up on this Saturday morning and went off to the gym.

I washed up and laid out for some sun rays in mom’s backyard for a little while. I grabbed a bite in mom and dad’s refrigerator and went to Ashley’s Birthday Party that was beginning at one-thirty this afternoon. It was pretty fun.

My own Birthday Party is going to be pretty interesting. I know it. I can’t even imagine how it will turn out with the variety of people who could be attending.

I telephoned Steve Green later but I had previously been in touch with Mark Landreth; whereby, Mark and I decided to go out to Fat Fanny’s in Fremont. We decided we’d follow-up with a drop by at Bobby McGee’s in Newark after the Fat Fanny’s visit, too.

I explained to Steve, “I have plans with Mark tonight.”
I’m not sure how he really felt about that but he said, “Okay.”

Steph Redding telephoned as well.
“I’m going out, Stephanie.”
“Michael, you are Mr. Most Eligible Bachelor of the Year!”
I laughed at my new title.

Greg Manachevitz called with some surprising news.
“Hey Mike, I called Amy—your friend---and told her to go to Fat Fanny’s tonight.”
That kind of pissed me off that he called her but I let it go and asked, “What did she say?”
Greg answered, “She said she would but I hope you’ll be going too.”
“Oh no…I have other plans but I won’t rule out the possibility of my dropping by entirely.”
I get the impression that Greg is trying to swoop in on Amy but that’s his choice and her prerogative. I do think she’s pretty lonely here in the West Coast. As far as I’m concerned Greg would be the last in terms of selection of top notch ‘want to be around friends’.


I drove over to Mark Landreth’s house in San Lorenzo. He was lounging in his shorts when I arrived. I know he can tell that I “feel” for him. How could he not? We talked and I learned he had the wrong telephone number for me. He was dialing 552 instead of 522. We cracked a few jokes. He had an ugly rash on his leg.
Mark said, “I think it’s from the heater in your car.”
I laughed and said, “Whatever...it'll go away.”


Mark and I found the Fremont ‘Fat Fanny’s’ establishment quite dead. We moved on to Bobby McGee’s which had a long line outside. Once we got inside we realized it wasn’t so hot in there either. Some ugly oriental gal danced with Mark. She was grody. Some weird gal came around and kept touching my gold and leather shirt (that cost me one-hundred and seventy-six dollars but had a value of $250).
The weird gal said, “You should put your driver’s license plate on the back of your shirt…then girls would call you from everywhere.”
She was a real space case.


Mark and I were not having a really great time, so we left. I drove Mark home. As we sat in the car before he got out of my car I gave him THE EYE but it didn’t penetrate through to him.
I simply drove off after saying these last few words, “I’ll see you Monday at the gym.”


Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I fell asleep by 1:30AM. Yawn.

"Even if sometimes I don't know who you are...I love you."
-as heard while watching the motion-picture
I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS (2009)