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"Male Call"

19 February 2003

Monday was a holiday and yesterday I called in sick. I still get these incredible headaches on some days, just not as frequently as they had been. I don't think it was related to getting stood up by Kevin on Valentine's Day, but who knows. I had been bothered about it all weekend. I can be very good at that. Did I do something wrong? Did he bail out because he saw how much I was sweating?

I appreciate all the supportive emails I received the past few days. BR, SV, RB, BI05, I1464, R2002, and others, you guys are great, thanks!

When I arrived at work this morning and waited in the lobby for an elevator, who did I bump into but Kevin. I'm not good in these situations. I never know whether to confront the person with anger, or with rudeness, or acceptance. Or maybe I should simply avoid the topic or the person.

Kevin approached, "About Friday..."

I interrupted him, and made up a story on the spot. "Did you have a nice time? I got together with some friends and had a great time. Oh, wait, you and I were supposed to go out for a drink. I'm sorry, I completely forgot!" I was proud I said it and made it sound almost sincere, not sarcastic. I'm terrible at lying. In general I think honesty is the best policy and I try to live my life that way. I have too little experience lying for me to do it convincingly, but I couldn't stop myself from trying this time.

Kevin gave me an odd look. "Yesterday Suzanne told me you had come up to my office on Friday to look for me... ?"

A minute hadn't passed and already I was caught! Thankfully the elevator arrived to provide a distraction and we boarded it. I felt a wave of flop sweat break out all over my body, and especially under my arms.

He continued, "Didn't you get my message?" He saw my blank look. "I called you shortly before 5, but there was no answer, so I left a voice mail."

Voice mail? Voice mail! I never checked my office voice mail! Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. Could he see them? "No, I, umm, no..." I fumbled.

"My brother wrecked his car Friday afternoon, and I had to leave immediately to go to the hospital. They're not sure if he'll be able to walk again. I'm real sorry I had to break our plans last minute."

OMG, I felt like such a fool! I had been upset about this for days, and here it was my fault! I must have been in the ladies room when he called! I didn't think to check my voice mail. Sweat was now _dripping_ out of my armpits. I replied "Oh, that's terrible! I didn't know. Don't worry about me, it's OK."

The elevator stopped at my floor. As I got out Kevin held his hand near his face, made the shape of a telephone and mouthed "I'll call you."

I took off my coat when I got to my desk. My sweat came on so suddenly and so intensely that the fabric of my blouse couldn't absorb it quickly enough. Instead of my usual roundish pit stains, there were streaks of wetness down my sides from the gushing droplets.

I (finally) played back my voice mail. Sure enough, 4:52 pm on Friday, there was a message from Kevin, a hurried one, but that's understandable.

I'm so stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why didn't I think to check my voice mail? I could have avoided all this anguish. _grrrr_

I've spent much of today berating myself, and sweating from my pits accordingly.

Well at least Kevin said he'll call. Wait, he said he was sorry he had to break our "plans". Hey, why didn't he say "date"?

We women are never happy. ;-)

For prior stories, see the archives.