For those of you who know me…I don’t usually text. In fact, I hate it. It takes far too long to compose a message when you could just simply call someone and say it all in a few seconds.
Not everybody agrees with me.
As I was going about my business for the day a number came up I didn’t recognize with a text message:
Hey, it’s Mark. You up for a movie sometime this week?
Now, I’d just met a neighbor who lives three doors down about a month ago. In fact, I’d had him and his wife over for dinner on Sunday. I liked them both…they were really nice people. We had planned on meeting Sunday for a dinner group again; I was surprised that he was texting about a different day during the week. Since my weeks are starting to get busy and this was going to be a problem. Maybe I could allot some time aside during the week instead of on Sunday evening.
I texted back: Sure, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights I’m busy though.
About a minute later I got this text: How’s Friday night?
I replied: Sure. I’ll catch up with you on a time when I see you later this week for details, okay?
I was working on my photography stuff when I got yet another text from Mark: Hey, I have an extra motorcycle leather jacket that I’m giving away for free. You interested?
Okay, this guy was starting to get on my nerves. After all…we’d just met each other and already he was texting me like we were best buddies…actually, my best buddies would realize that I hate texting. I was getting a bit miffed. Each time I responded to him I was being charged $ .10 and another $ .02 for every one of his messages I read. This may not sound like much, but it does add up in the end. No, I don’t have free texting with my cell plan…don’t ask why, okay? After all, I made it clear…I hate texting.
I didn’t respond. I’d see the guy when I got home sometime…he was only three doors down…sheesh.
A few minutes later I got another text from him: Hey, let’s plan on Friday then and going to eat and then a movie.
Couldn’t this guy and his wife wait? I was really starting to get perturbed. I had a ton of stuff to do and he kept on texting. Just come over…I mean really.
About an hour later Marc came by. He came in as I was making fruit shakes, but I handed him one saying, “Hey try this” (trying to be polite). I must admit that I was feeling just a tad bit of resentment for this guy who just couldn’t wait to talk to me when both of us were home. Actually, it wasn’t a tad bit if resentment…it was a full out disliking of him.
I started to wonder if I’d made a bad decision on striking up this friendship; it was becoming alarmingly clear that I’d just made a friend with someone who was very needy and I didn’t have the time or energy to give him what he needed.
And the funny thing was that he’d seemed so normal when I’d talked to him before…
After a few minutes I said, “Friday would be fine.”
Marc looked at me, puzzled. “What?”
“Friday,” I repeated. “From your text…Friday is fine.”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t been texting you.”
I paused. “You haven’t? Isn’t this your number?”
Marc shook his head. “That’s not even the way I spell my name. I spell it with a ‘c’.
Suddenly relief washed over me like tidal waves of warmth.
Marc wasn’t psycho.
Marc wasn’t needy.
Marc was normal.
I liked Marc.
Marc was a good guy.
Now, who the heck is Mark?
UPDATE: I discovered who Mark was. You can read (and listen) here.
