mischka: so at lunch today i wasn't watching cnn, because i never do, & while all the "important news" was being read by the woman i didn't recognize, what jumped to my attention was down at the bottom, where it said that superbowl sunday is the 3rd highest date for consumption of avocados in the US-
ricka: oh. hey do you know who is playing in the superbowl!
mischka: [little scoffing sound.]
ricka: what. is it that you know & you are insulted that i would ask, or is it that you don't care & are insulted that i would think that you do care?
mischka: well, one, you thought I might know, two you thought I might care, & three, you interrupted me.
ricka: i'm sorry. i thought you were finished.
mischka: well, i wasn't. what concerned me was, what are the two highest days, if this is the third?
ricka: cinco de mayo.
mischka: that's what i thought. that's number one.
ricka: &... fourth of july?
mischka: that's what i thought. but it's memmmmorial day.
ricka: that's what i was going to say if you had let me keep guessing.
mischka: you hate guessing.
ricka: & i was guessing. ca-
mischka: you had already used your two guesses.
ricka: anyway! it's tampa bay!
mischka: [nothing]
ricka: don't you care? doesn't anything leap to mind?
mischka: um, no.
ricka: song lyrics?
mischka: no. but i'm guessing it's probably the mountain goats.
ricka: "& the chicago cubs will beat every team in the league / & the tampa bay buccs will take it all the way to the top"?
mischka: ah.
ricka: "& i will love you again / i will love you / like i used to"?
mischka: ah.
ricka: i am going to fucking watch the superbowl.
mischka: go right ahead.
ricka: & when tampa bay wins i am going to call you.
mischka: & say, what, you're just waiting for the chicago cubs to win?
ricka: & demand that you love me again like you used to.
mischka: hey, wait, i didn't write that song.
ricka: well, i already love you like i used to.
mischka: i place no bets on sports teams regarding my emotional involvement. that's just stupid.
ricka: i'm telling you. you will love me again like you used to.
[pause]
ricka: i want to put this whole thing in my diary. can i put this whole thing in my diary?
mischka: [laughing] no, because you won't transcribe it correctly.
ricka: well, i will send you a draft for your approval.
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:also, because i know everyone loves reading e-mails from my parents, this is what my mother sent me today:
Is it freezing up there? We sure are tired of winter already. Can't wait to go fishing. Your dad says he won't even complain about tics [sic] if it will just warm up again!
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:oh, the phone, it is ringing & ringing. i wish people would learn that we close at 4.00. it is now 4.00. i don't have to answer the phone.
i just have to leave & listen to post on my way home. remind me, the next time i am insufferably, disgustingly morose, that it is impossible for me to listen to �it's oh so quiet� without smiling. it's true. i break out into a giant idiotic grin, right there on the bus.
