A Chat Between Friends (Part 2)
"Thanks, Carlotta," she said as Carlotta slid the dinner plate in front of her. After refilling her coffee cup, Carlotta left Nora alone to contemplate her life. She kept thinking about her chat earlier in the evening. She knew it was the screen name of "Chilidog" that first peaked her interest. Later, it was their casualness with one another that allowed her to confide in this stranger.
They had probably shared 10-15 chats since she finally gathered her nerve to click on his name and initiate a conversation. He was funny, charming and made her smile with his witty responses. She hadn't felt this comfortable with someone since. . .
"Hellooooo!… Earth to Nora!"
Startled, she glanced up from her coffee cup and saw Hank standing there with his usual exasperating smile.
"Where were you just now?"
"Huh?"
"You!… When I walked up, you had this amazing smile on your face and never heard a word I was saying," laughingly, Hank took the seat across from her and Carlotta quickly had a cup of coffee in front of him.
"I don't' know what you're talking about Mr. DA," Nora laughed as she finished her last French fry and pushed her plate away.
"Oh, come on… I know that look. What's his name?"
"Hank Gannon!" she scolded but Hank maintained his knowing smile and waited. "OK! OK! I was just recalling a conversation I had with a friend earlier this evening. That's all."
Smiling the "I knew it" smile she had seen so many times on his face, Hank sipped his coffee. "So…. What's his name?"
"His name?" she asked with eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, you know… 'name,' as in I'm Hank Gannon, you're Nora Buchanan and he is …?"
Squirming slightly in her seat and slightly embarrassed that she considered this man she had never laid eyes on a "friend" she decided to just say it, "His name is 'Chilidog.'" She frowned and waited for his reaction.
Hank practically choked on his coffee. Wiping his chin with his napkin, he coughed through his question. "Chilidog?" He said half smiling, half choking. "You know someone named 'Chilidog?'" He couldn't suppress his humor.
"YES!" she said as she straightened her back against the seat. "It's a screen name."
"A screen name?" he frowned. "Like an internet screen name?"
"Yes, just like that."
Laughing out loud, "You've met someone over the internet???"
Feeling embarrassed and trying to quiet Hank, she frowned and leaned over the table, speaking just above a whisper. "Hank!" Looking around the Diner. "You don't have to broadcast it to everyone!"
"The woman who holds her personal life and feelings under lock and key is chatting with a complete stranger over the internet?"
Shaking her head as she rested her forehead in her hand and realizing what a mistake she had made in trusting Hank with this information, she attempted to explain. "Look, Hank." She said sighing, "I thought the same way you do. Then one afternoon, I was talking with Kay at work. We started talking about internet message boards and chat rooms. She said what amazing people she had met and how she considered so many of them friends… I went home hat night and just gave it a try." Laughing at her memories of the first time she chatted. "I met this person. He's funny, sensitive, understanding, witty…"
"He's GAY!" Hank blurted out with a smile.
"What?… He is NOT! And even if he were, he's still someone who listens and I listen to him." Sighing, "It's just nice having someone listen to and support your decisions and not make judgments.
"Hey! You have ME!" He smiled broadly.
"Yes I do Hank." Reaching into her purse to pull out her wallet. "And with that thought, I think I'll call it a night!" Hank continued to smile at her as she slipped out of the booth and placed a kiss on his forehead."
"Goodnight Hank," she said with a smile.
"Goodnight, Honey!" Turning serious and reaching to grab her hand. "Listen to me." Nora's smile fades as she sees the seriousness on his face, "You have fun with your chats, but please be careful giving out personal information-No phone numbers, no names, no addresses…"
She stopped him by patting his hand and smiling, "Ill be careful Hank." Looking lovingly into his dark brown eyes, "I love you."
Smiling, he slowly shook his head, "I love you too."
"Good night Hank!" She turned to leave.
"Oh, wait a minute," she paused and turned to look at him still sitting in the booth, "What's YOUR screen name?"
She began to answer and then stopped with her mouth partially open, slowly beginning to smile, she waved goodbye to Hank and turned to leave only to hear Hank's final parting words.
"Oh! I know!! You're 'BunLady!" He couldn't suppress his laughter.
"Nice 'chatting' with you, Hank!" she replied over her shoulder as she refused to turn and acknowledge his comment and she refused to allow him to see the grin on her face. His laughter followed her out the door.
**********
Hank was just finishing up his own dinner when Bo walked into the Diner.
"He Buddy! Can I join you?" he asked as he stepped up to the table.
Hank motioned for his best friend to join him. "Want something to eat?"
"No Thanks!" Patting his stomach as he slid into his seat. "I just polished off half a pizza."
"What brings you out this late, then?"
"Well… I was really hoping to find you."
"Me?"
"I just need you to tell me that I've not gone off the deep end."
Hank chuckled at the look on Bo's face. "Why would I say that?" he smiled back.
"Because I've met someone new," he said with a sheepish smile on his face.
Smiling broadly, "Hey Bo! That's great news! Who is she? Where did you meet her? What's her name…"
Holding up his hand, "Whoa! Whoa! Not so fast," chuckling nervously as he glanced away from Hank. "Let's just say I haven't REALLY met her yet…"
"Huh?" frowning slightly, totally confused. "You just said…"
"I know, I know," he interrupted, running his hand through his hair, trying to work up the nerve to continue. "What I should have said is… We've chatted."
"Chatted?" Hanks heart started beating faster, just saying the words. What would the odds be?? Nah, he said to himself. It couldn't be… The odds would be astronomical… What would the chances be that he could actually be… All these thoughts ran through Hanks head as he continued to stare at Bo with a puzzled look on his face.
Finally Bo couldn't take it any longer," Stop looking at me like I've lost my mind," he half chuckled. "I know what it sounds like, believe me! Chatting with a total stranger. I still can't explain how it all happened. But she's amazing, Hank!"
"Really?" was all he could think to say. His mind was still abuzz with the possibility that he could be chatting with… "No way" he finally said out loud before catching himself.
"Hey!" Bo frowned. "Wait a minute… It's not as weird as it sounds…"
"No, no… I'm just… I'm just surprised that you would go into a chat room," chuckling at the coincidence.
Rubbing his forehead, Bo sighed before he continued, "Hank, I can't really explain to you how important talking with this person has become. She's bright and funny and a total puzzle to me. And I don't have a clue who she is, but I wake up in the morning wanting to chat with her and I go to bed only after I see if she's on-line."
"Oh Buddy, you've got it bad."
"I know, I know Hank!" Leaning over the table slightly, "But I haven't felt like this since…" pausing before he continued, "well, since…"
"Nora?" Hank interrupted with eyebrows raised.
"Well… Yeah… Since, Nora," sighing with exasperation. "I'm excited that I have some of those old feelings coming back that I haven't felt in a VERY long time. I…"
"I have only one question for you, Bo" he interrupted again.
"What?" Bo asked, totally puzzled by Hanks seriousness.
"What's your screen name?"
"My screen name?' he frowned.
"Yeah! Your login name, what this 'new woman' calls you?"
"Why do you…?"
"Just interested. Let's just say my curiosity is peaked…"
"OK, but no laughing." Hank shook his head as he held his breath, waiting for Bo to say the words he already knew he'd hear. "Just keep in mind it's kind of an anonymous…"
"Just say it!" Hank blurted out.
"OK!… It's… It's Chilidog!" Bo said, waiting for a reaction.
The smile that spread across Hank's face was like the cat who ate the canary.
To be continued…