They didn't see me but I saw them. Harry and Cindy were sitting in the coffee house just talking. How could they do this to me? I had to go sit down and cool off. He was supposed to be my friend. Ok, maybe they were just talking. Or maybe they weren't. Sure, Cindy and I had broken up and theoretically I should have no say in who she dates. But why would she date Harry? He was my friend.
Maybe it was a good thing. I had helped bring them together. Yeah ... No. Fuck that. They couldn't date. I wouldn't allow it. If she wanted to move on to someone else, that's fine but don't go stealing my friends from me you bitch.
I had a plan. Well, it was more of a rough outline than a plan but I was going to do something about this situation.
...
"Really?" Rhonda asked. "I never would have guessed."
"Oh, yeah." I said. "I mean, he's my friend and I think he's a nice guy but I just can't agree with him on this."
"But are you sure?"
"If you don't believe me go ask him."
"I'm not going to ask him that."
"Ok. Go see if he'll ask you out and notice how he acts."
Rhonda thought about it for a moment and I left to watch what might happen from afar. Rhonda was always such a happy person and it was rare to see her not smiling. I almost felt guilty for planting such a terrible idea in her head. But I was going to keep Harry and Cindy apart.
Rhonda walked over to Harry and she started flirting with him. That little bastard was seeing Cindy behind my back and was going to try to keep it a secret. He couldn't tell Rhonda because then she'd come over and tell me. But the more Harry tried to deflect her advances the more he just confirmed the disgusting thing I'd accused him of.
At the end of the work day Rhonda came and found me. It pained me to see her not happy but I had to keep my goal in mind.
"You were right." she said.
"See. Told you."
"If I knew I wouldn't get fired I swear I punch his ass right in the nose."
"But is he really so bad. I mean, there are a lot of black girls that would never go out with a white guy."
"No, you can't flip this around. There's no excuse for that."
"Do you think that maybe he just didn't like you?"
"And what's not to like?"
"Nothing that I can see."
"Exactly."
Ok, so step one was finished. Now I needed to work on him. I swung by his house under the pretense of dropping off something I had borrowed a long time ago.
"By the way," I began. "What did you tell Rhonda?"
"Nothing."
"She's pissed."
"What? Rhonda?'"
"Oh, yeah. I don't think I can even ever remember her being angry but she's mad at you."
"Wha ... For ... Huh?"
"Word is, she might think you're a bit of a racist."
"A what!?"
"Dude, what did you say?"
"Nothing. I didn't say anything. This is all just a misunderstanding."
"Well, you better clear it up."
"One minute I was just having lunch and then she came over and was all like ..."
"Like what?"
"Like coming on to me."
"So. She's beautiful, and sexy. What's the problem?"
"Nothing. It's just that ... Well ..."
"Well, what? Dude if Rhonda was coming onto me I'd go out of my way to take her out even if it meant I had to cheat on a spouse. You're not seeing anyone, are you?"
"No."
"Really? Then what's the problem? She's not right about you, is she?"
"No. I'm not like that. Look, just because I was surprised and not ready to take her up on her offer to go out does not mean that the reason I didn't was because she was black."
"You better explain that to her."
Harry was in full panic mode. "What's her number? Do you have her number?"
"She on the company voip account. Use that."
It took a minute but he got her on the phone.
"This is Rhonda."
"This is ... um ... This ... This is um Harry."
"O.K. What do you want, Harry?"
"Um I wanted to um you know ask about that thing you were saying back um ..."
"Just ask her." I said.
"Rhonda, I know you might not want to date a guy like me and all but uh will you go on a date with me?"
"Hold on." Rhonda said.
"What did she say?" I asked.
"I don't know. She put me on hold."
Rhonda came back on the line. "This better not be some bullshit."
"No, none of that stuff. I just really, you know, I was thinking about what you said and you caught me at a bad time but it would actually be really nice to go out, if you want to go out, that is. I'm not saying you have to. I'm not saying I can tell you what to do because I can't but I ... um ... I would like to go out. So if you want to go out then I definitely want to go out."
"Where are we going?"
"I don't know."
"You called me up to ask me out and you don't even know where you want to take me?"
"Ah, that sounds um How about uh Where, ... Where do you want to go?"
"Hold on."
"She put me on hold again."
"Just be confident, man." I said. "You can do this."
"Harry." Rhonda said as she came back on the line. "You really want to take me out?"
"Oh yeah. I really, really want to take you out. Of course. All the way."
"Then put your money where your mouth is."
"Ok?"
"You know that steak restaurant over by where the interstates merge. We're going there."
"Cool. Um do you want me to come and get you or I guess what time?"
"I'll meet you there."
"Great."
"7:00. Don't be late."
"I won't. I promise."
She hung up on him.
"Wow, dude. So what are you going to do?" I asked.
"I guess, I'll go on a date with her."
"Where are you guys going?"
"That place by the hotel where it's like $200 a person."
"Do you have that kind of money?"
"No. I'll have to swing by the bank. This is all happening so fast."
"Just relax man. You just have to ride out the night and show her a good time but you can't back out. Ok. If you want to change her mind about you it means you can't back out. You'll have to go all the way. You let her back out."
"Ok. Cool. Anyway. I better get ready."
"I hear you. I'll get out of your way."
I left his house and as I drove home I called Rhonda on the phone.
"This is Rhonda."
"Hi Rhonda. It's Mark."
"Hey baby. How're you doing?"
"Pretty good. I just got a call from Harry. He's all in a panic. He asked to borrow money. What's going on?"
"He called and asked me out on a date."
"See. Ok. So maybe we were wrong about him."
"No. I know what's going on. He's trying to put this on me but I'm not going to let him. He wants a date, I'm a give him a date."
"Ok but what's that going to prove?"
"He won't go through with it. He's bluffing. He trying to make all like I don't want to date him."
"So, what's your plan."
"I'm going to make him take me out and when he tries to pull out we'll both know he done been exposed."
"That's if you doesn't pull out first. I mean, how can you date a racist?"
"That don't bother me. I know he just air. You don't have to worry about me. I play to win."
I was so happy to hear that. Harry couldn't end the date or he'd look like a racist and Rhonda couldn't end the date or she'd be losing to a racist. They were now both emotionally invested and Harry's chances with Cindy were in the toilet.
I went to the coffee shop and just waited. I could only imagine what was going on with those two. Man, I wished I could be there.
"Mind if I sit down?" Cindy said as she came over to join me at the table.
"No. Go ahead." I wondered if she knew that her new boyfriend was off dating someone else.
We sat in silence for a bit and then she asked me if I had any plans for the weekend after next.
"Nothing at the moment. That could change though." I was going to be polite since she was being so nice at the moment but then I thought better of it and I wanted to rub all this in her face. "I set Harry up on a date with Rhonda, by the way."
"You did?"
I looked at my watch. "Yeah, they should be ordering dinner now."
"Don't you think she's way out of his league?"
"You wish."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know. Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"No."
"Really? Because I know."
"He told you?"