What's going on?

He loathe going to the those fancy restaurants with another guy. 2 guys dining at a Chinese outlet seemed a little immasculating, to Robin. To Robin, 2 guys meeting anywhere was homosexual.

Robin:Hey. I hear this place is terrific. They even teach you how to use the chop sticks. I 'm no good with the sticks.I hate the sticks. But i want to use the syicks. Coz i hate it so much.

Gary:Me too.I hate the sticks.But you know what else is different about this place? Its got waitresses. Have you ever seen a Chinese place with waitresses? Its odd is'nt it?They always have only guys working at these places.

Robin: Ya.That's a little weird.

The waiter comes and cleans up and places a candle on the table.

Robin:Hey hey. What do you think you're doing. What's with the candles? We're not..... You know.

Waiter:Of course sir. I'm sorry. I'l get them out right away.

Robin:Can you beleive that guy? I've been here a million times and the waiter still thinks 'm gay.
Gary grins. Robin frowns.

Gary:Which reminds me. Any luck with Genie? Have you gone past the "How are you"s to her yet?

Robin:No no. But once,I almost got to the "What did you do today?" part.

Gary:And?

Robin:It was 8 in the morning.
Y bursts into an uproar. He stops laughing when the waiter comes to the table.

Gary:A leefo rice for me and an Koithai for the pretty man here.
Waiter smiles.Robin frowns.
Half a minute after he orders he looks at the table beside him.
Gary: Damn. I should have taken a Chopseuy.

Robin:So anyway tomorrow's her birthday. I'm kinda in a fix.

Gary: Why did'nt I take the Chopseuy?

Robin: You can fret about your food later. Bigger things are at stake here.

Gary:What's the problem?

Robin:Tomorrow's her birthday. What do I do?

Robin:I dunno whether I should wish her. I mean, I barely know her. I dont think she even expects me to know that tomorrow's her birthday.i don't wanna come off as too desperate?But bare in mind I AM desperate.

Gary:No. No. You should wish her. You like her right? Then you should wish her.

The waiter gets the noodle. He does'nt bring any chopsticks.Both are secretly releived.

Robin:In person?I wont be running into her anywhere.I cant pop in at her house?

Gary:No pop-in. Of course not.No pop in at her house.Everyone hates a pop-in.
You can run into her at the supermarket or somewhere?Can you make a neat stake-out?

Robin:Which 21 year old goes to the supermarket on her birthday?Don't be ridiculous.Besides,I don't think i can pull-off this stake-out. I think i should call her.

Robin:In any case 'm no good talking face to face. I stink. I'm very good on the phone. I won't have to worry about what to wear and stuff.

Gary:Give it a shot anyway. Go to the supermarket. See if she's there. I'm pretty sure you are going to go.

Robin:K. I'l go. But I always stifle when I meet her in person.

Gary:Ya. You're no good in person. Besides, you can't refer to your notes that you make for what to talk on the phone.

Robin: Very funny. Anyway. I have her number, but she did'nt give it to me. I got it out of the college yearbook. She's gonna ask how I got her number, I can't tell her the truth.

Gary:She's not gonna ask. Divert her atention before she says anything else. Start talking about grades of people in your class. Girls love to bitch about others grades.

Robin:No. Then we'l end up speaking about my grades. I would.nt want that that.I'l make something up and ask. Not the grades though.

Gary: This rice is no good. I knew I should have got the chopseuy.

Robin:I thought we moved on from that.

Gary:Give a little of that noodles you got.

Robin:Ok ok. Anyway, what time do I call her?I think the timing of the call is very important.

Gary:It sure is. How about at midnight. Be the first one to wish her.

Robin:No. I barely know her. Midnight calls are for the boyfriends. People tend to remember midnight calls.I don't wanna be remembered.I hate to be remembered. Who wants to be remembered?

Gary:I like to be remembered. But,how about 8 in the morning?That's a pleasant time.

Robin:Ya. But morning's a forgetful time. No one remembers the things you do when you get up.Its like when you are drunk.

Gary:I thought you said you did'nt wanna be remembered?

Robin:Ya. But i did'nt wanna be forgotten. There's a lotta difference between being
forgotten, and not being remembered.

Gary frowns.
Gary:I certainly don't mind forgetting the last 15 minutes of my life.

Gary:So, anyway. How does 11 in the morning sound?

Robin:No good. Tomorrow's a Saturday. And 11 is easily the busiest time on a Saturday.

Gary:What about 2?

Robin:Na. The time between 12 to 3 is out of the window.She may be having lunch aound them. I don't wanna be calling her when she's having lunch, do I? Lunch conversations are very short-lived.I don't care for them.

Gary: That's moronic. You do know you can't call her too late.

Robin:Why not?

Gary:I heard from Dona that she's inviting people over for dinner. If you call too late you may not get an invite.Even if you do get one, you can't go, cause then you'll come off as very desperate, which you are. Any dinner invitation needs a 2 hour buffer. No self respecting individual would go for a party with less than 2 hours notice.

Gary:Of course, the self respecting part may mean it leaves you in the clear.

Robin:That's hilarious. You done with the jokes?

Robin:Anyway, it means that I got between 3 and 5.So i'm thinking 3 should suit me well.

Gary:No can't do. Bold and the Beautiful comes on TV at 3. I hear girls love that show. Its a stupid show you know.

Robin:You watch it?

Gary:Of course not. You?

Robin:Of course not.

Awkward silence. Both of them watch the show.

Robin:Ok then. 4 it will be then.

Gary:I still think you should be calling her at midnight. It gives a good sign to her.

Robin:No . I'm still not ready for that kinda commitment, I think.If I'd known her for like 3 more weeks, I would have been qualified to be making the midnight call.

Gary:Alright. I'l try the midnight call then. We'l see what she says.

Robin:Beleive me. You'l get clobbered.



The following evening, at around 6, Donna gives a call to Genie.
Donna:Hey. Happy birthday once again. 7.30 right?

Genie:Ya. Come over to my place. We'll go together.

Genie:Anyway. The funniest of things happened. You know Gary right. He called me at midnight. That was so sweet of him. So i invited him for the party. It was so nice of him to remember, dont you think?

Donna:Oh ya. Did Robin call? I'd slipped in a word to him that it was your b'day?

Genie:You know what? I ran into him at the supermarket. He saw me but pretended not to have seen me. That jerk. He kinda had a stifled look on his face.What a moron. He called me up at 4 or something. Maybe to apologize. I did'nt lift. The hell with him.