Chapter 3-1
508 Words
Chapter 3
“You did come,” Reid said when Michael joined him outside the restaurant early Sunday evening. “I figured it was fifty-fifty that you would.”
Michael smiled. “Seventy-thirty on my part that I wouldn’t. But then I decided what the hell. It’s a free meal.”
“And one should never pass on that.” Reid led the way inside, gave his name to the hostess, and five minutes later they were seated. The waiter arrived immediately to hand them menus and ask if they wanted a drink.
Reid was about to order a beer, then thought better of it. He asked for iced tea, then looked at Michael.
“Iced coffee, please,” Michael told the waiter. When the man was gone, he said to Reid, “You could have had a beer, or something. Just because I don’t drink, doesn’t mean you have to refrain.”
“Eh. I’m not much of a drinker, so it’s no problem. Besides, the weather calls for iced whatever.”
Michael shook his head, looking disbelieving, but didn’t say anything more on the subject. Instead he asked, “Why did you become a reporter? And do not say, because you’re nosy.”
Reid laughed. “Okay. I won’t. I always wanted to know things about other people. Friends, teachers, the guy who sold us treats at the bakery. Boy, did he have some secrets. But that’s beside the point. I also wrote a lot, for myself and in school. Then, on career day when I was a high school freshman, one of the speakers was a reporter. After listening to him talk, I knew that’s what I wanted to be.”
“So you majored in journalism in college?”
“You bet. And, worked on the college paper the last three years I was there. That helped when I graduated. Not much, but it did. I at least had stories to show potential employers. Still,” Reid grimaced, “for the first couple of years I spent more time working for fast food joints than writing, just to keep a roof over my head. I finally landed a job on a community newspaper and after a couple more years moved up the ladder, so to speak, then applied at The Chronicle and got a job there. Not as a feature writer, but as least I had my foot in the door.”
The waiter returned with their drinks, then waited patiently while they quickly perused the menu and chose something to eat. When he left, both men sipped their drinks, seemingly at a loss for what to say next.
Reid broke the impasse. “I said we could compare movies and books, as part of getting to know each other.”
“You did. So…” Michael lifted an eyebrow.
“Okay. I’m a big Star Wars fan.” Reid laughed when Michael wrinkled his nose. “I take it you’re not?”
“No. I saw the first movie. That was more than enough for me. Now when it comes to movie series, I’ll take Underworld any day.”
Reid snorted. “You have to be kidding. You’ll take vamps and werewolves over great sci-fi action?”
“Yes. Or Indiana Jones, but only the first couple.”
“Weird man.”
Laughing, Michael retorted, “I could say the same about you.”
“What about single movies?” Reid asked.
“Given my choice, ones like Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, umm, Se7en.”
“Usual Suspects, Blade Runner.”
“Casablanca,” Michael countered.
“Citizen Kane.”
They probably could have continued talking movies all evening, but their meals arrived, putting an end to their lists for the time being.
- Writer
