39 - The Name Game

     "The Name Game," said Paris watching me gobble down a chicken parm
grinder.  "Sounds interesting."  I bounced the idea around between bites of the
grinder and swallows of soda.
     "My name isn't on this list is it?  I can't imagine there are too many women
named Paris out there."  She crossed her legs under the table.  I could hear the
sleek black skirt enjoying its duty covering her toned thighs.
     "No, no, no that's not how it works." I swallowing a little fizz.
"I have to find a six women who's first name begins with a letter of the alphabet
that I haven't been with yet."
     Her phone rang.  Without looking at the caller I.D. she said, "I'm eating, you
asshole.  I'll call you back when I'm done!" 
     "Who was that?" I asked attempting to fish my orange lollipop out of the
soda bottle.
     "Who cares. They'll call back.  They always do."
     "You fucking kill me."
     "So what letters are left?" Her blue eyes sparkled as they caught a slight
ray of sunshine.
     "Z, x, y, u, f, and ... shit.  I can't remember the last one.  But I'm done.  I
didn't know how impossible this was going to be until I really thought about it.  I may
as well declare another year of celibacy and call it a day." 
     I always declared celibacy if there was no interest/intimacy/action.  With the
"tank" tops and various other slim pickin's celibacy was becoming the norm.
     "Keep your panties on.  Zoe, Xena, Yolanda, Ursula and Fran.  That's it.  You
should be all set."
     "And I know ooooh soooo many people with these names."
     "Don't be an asshole."
     "I haven't even started this quest yet and I'm starting to hate it."
     "I like it.  I wonder how I would do if I went through my list."  She
stared off into the afternoon and her eyes melted with the sunny blue sky.
     Paris had a list but she was very quiet about it.  She had a quality that all of my
females friends had, she was quick.  She was always on her toes.  She realized at a young
age that you got more done on your toes than on your back.
     "I didn't even know where to start looking for some of these names so I bought
a baby names book."
     "You are so pathetic."  She said laughing out loud.  "I'll tell you
were to start.  Lose ten pounds."
     "What the f.."
     "Maybe twenty.  Lose twenty.  It's all in your face.  You look good but I've seen you look
better.  I'm just telling you how it is.  We're getting older and it's harder to keep in
shape.  Look at me though I don't have to work really hard for this now one day I
will."  I looked.  I didn't hear her black skirt complaining about her waistline. 
Her sleeveless blue blouse didn't have much to say either.
     "I want you to play the name game not the shame game.  The name game," she
said again finishing her water.  "I like it."
    


That Beautiful Black Man