Interlude 1
Bash & Adonis
From: [email protected]
Subject: Woe is me
Hi
I’m not sure if you check your email over Thanksgiving Break. Maybe you have that thing called “good work-life balance,” and if you do, good for you, but I don’t, so I thought I’d email you. I’m sorry that I haven’t texted a lot. Anamária has kept me very busy over break.
I’m beginning to think that when Anamária was born, aliens replaced her with a humanoid cyborg. What else could explain that woman’s work ethic? I don’t even know if I’d call it a work “ethic,” because “ethic” seems to imply a certain goodness.
Maybe work “vice,” though that doesn’t have the same flow to it. I’m going to workshop it.
Anyway. She’s kept me dreadfully busy during the break.
No rest for the wicked or whatever they say.
Every day it’s practice, practice, practice.
We haven’t done any actual planning for a Thanksgiving dinner (I know that I said Thanksgiving was a consumerism scam, but I’ll admit I do appreciate the sentimentality of a Thanksgiving dinner).
All that to say, the break hasn’t been much of a break.
I would much rather be back on campus, even if that means that I’d be busy as hell and going to class.
At least it would mean I could see you. Also, what would you think about hanging out a bit more when we’re back after break?
I still want to hook up, obviously, but you’re easy to talk to, and I enjoy it.
Let me know what you think!
Woefully,
Adonis Costa
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Woe is me
Hoi! (That’s how you say hi in Dutch)
I had to look up “woe” in the dictionary. Tough.
I do, in fact, check my email over break.
I wouldn’t know work-life balance if it hit me in the face with a hockey stick.
I’m sorry, too, that I haven’t been texting much.
Robbie's family is great, but it’s a big family, and I’ve been spending a lot of time with his younger brothers and sisters.
I forgot how much I like hanging out with younger kids.
Lotte is three years younger than I, so there was only a short period of time where she was really a “little kid,” and I wasn’t.
But kids are fucking hilarious. They say what's exactly on their minds.
I think adults could learn something from that, no?
I think you might be onto something with your hypothesis about Anamária. Have you tried stealing a sample of her blood and checking to make sure it’s not motor oil, or perhaps cocaine?
(Don’t worry, I can make cocaine jokes. I use dark humor to cope with my father’s addiction! It’s fine.)
I hope that you are able to have a Thanksgiving dinner! Like I said, I don't always understand the tradition, but it is some of the best food that America has to offer.
And yes, I have missed seeing you, too. I will be frank, I miss you more than I thought I would.
I am glad you emailed me. It is nice to hear your voice, even if I am not really hearing your voice.
It would be great to hang out more when we are back.
Yes, we will hook up, obviously, but we can also be friends.
Not woefully,
Bash Koning
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: re: Woe is me
I didn’t know you liked working with kids! Though (and I’m not sure why) that doesn’t surprise me. I can picture it. You’re all gruff with the adults, but a gentle giant with the kids. I bet they love you.
Also, I didn’t know about your dad (that part, at least). If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.
Speaking of parents, I have tried to draw blood from Anamária to test it for cyborg or extraterrestrial properties and have been unable to do so. I will keep trying.
I’ll know within the next month and a half or so about Team USA.
Usually, by the start of the new year, they’ll announce.
Maybe a bit earlier if things get sorted early.
Anamária is more anxious than I am, at this point.
As far as I see it, if I get it, I get it.
If I don’t, oh well. I’d love to compete in the Olympics, obviously, but the more I think about it, the more certain I am that I want my skating career to end with college.
The Olympics would be a great capstone for that, but I’ve decided that if I don’t make the team this year, I’m putting my foot down and telling Anamária that I won’t be trying again in four years, and that I won’t be pursuing more competitions after college.
That’s scary to think about, because I know she’s going to ask me if I have a plan, what that plan is, etc.
I worry she will think that I’m throwing all of this away.
This means everything she’s done for me to get to this point.
I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but I worry that that is how she will see it.
Any advice?
Less woefully,
Adonis Costa
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: re: re: Woe is me
“Gentle giant” is my new nickname. Thank you for that. I will only answer to that from now on.
And thank you for saying that about my dad.
I don’t talk about him very often. He has his own issues, I have mine, and I try not to let his affect me too much.
For as long as I can remember, he has had an issue with substances.
Alcohol and pills, mostly, but cocaine has been a part of it, too.
He’s had multiple heart attacks and had a small heart attack (it wasn’t really a heart attack, but it was something smaller, similar to a heart attack) last week.
He is supposed to be resting, but from what Lotte has told me, he isn’t resting.
I don’t think he will rest. Maybe both of our parents are robots.
I fear mine’s hardware is about to break down.
If you do not continue with skating after college, what do you think you will do? I remember you once said that you wanted to go back to school eventually. You said law school, right? Would you want to do that immediately after college?
I think you would make an excellent lawyer. Of course, most of my knowledge of the American legal system comes from TV, but I can see you in an expensive suit in a courtroom, yelling at judges and criminals, and kicking lots of ass. I think you should do it. I’d hire you.
Legally,
Gentle Giant
From: [email protected]
Dear Gentle Giant,
That has a good ring to it. I’ll definitely be calling you that from now on, though I expect you to be anything but gentle in the bedroom.
Sorry to hear all that about your dad. Anamária is many things, but an addict isn’t one. Unless she’s addicted to power and success, which she very well might be.
As for what I want to do after college, law school is the tentative plan.
Or at least the hope and the dream. I haven’t told Anamária, but I’ve been studying religiously for the LSAT.
You know, in all my free time. I’ve found that I actually enjoy studying for it.
It’s nice to have something that gets me excited again.
I think I’m going to take a practice test over Christmas Break, and then the plan is to schedule the test for January, before the Olympics (if I make the team).
I’ve already thought about applications, and I have a whole list of schools I’d like to apply to.
I feel a bit in over my head, I’ll admit, especially because I’m not talking to Anamária about it.
It feels like I haven’t made my own decision in a long time.
It’s nice. It’s refreshing to feel like I’m fully in control of what happens next for me.
Thank you for asking about it. I hope Thanksgiving Dinner is the best America can offer you.
Hopefully legally,
Adonis