Not a terribly long chapter, and I don't like it that much, but hey, a post is a post. Um, tomorrow (the sixteenth of June) I'll be updating each of my stories to celebrate the last day of school. Sorry for the long wait! Enjoy!
Also, whoever can guess why I made Mimi and Mel from Chandler Arizona gets a prize. If it's one person you can name Joanne's baby. If it's more than one person, well, I'll figure something out. The "contest" ends Monday June 19.
Roger was torn. He loved Mimi, and he loved Mel. But which did he love more? Well, the girls had told him he had a week to figure it out. They were tired of waiting.
Three days into his task, Roger was sitting in a local diner (he was somewhat tired of eating at the Cohen Café all the time) and was watching the TV as he stirred more cream into his coffee. Coincidentally, Buzzline was on.
"Good afternoon America," Alexi Darling said, "And welcome to Buzzline. Today we have an exclusive interview of our top cameraman- Mark Cohen." -the camera shifted to the uncomfortable-looking, small man in the chair next to Alexi- "Now Mark, how long have you been working for Buzzline?"
"Just a few months." Mark answered softly.
Roger chuckled, not taking his eyes off of the TV. Mark never really liked being in front of the camera.
"And what drove you to become a cameraman and, more specifically, work at Buzzline?" Alexi asked.
"My best friend Roger Davis," Mark answered, "When my grandma got cancer. He gave me the camera and told me to document everything so I'd remember. I haven't parted with the camera since. I started working for Buzzline because our landlord, Benny, took all of our stuff. Ya, Roger and I were sharing a loft. We've been best friends since first grade. Anyway, we got our stuff back, but it doesn't really matter anymore."
"Why not?" Alexi asked.
"Because Roger left, and he took our friends with him." Mark answered.
"Where did he go?"
"Santa Fe. I really want him to come back. Or at least go visit him. It's the longest we've been apart since fifth grade."
Tears filled Roger's eyes. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed Mark until now. He got up and walked over to the payphone. After putting in a few quarters and dialing a familiar number, the phone began to ring.
"Hello, you've reached Buzzline, how can I help you?" A monotone voice asked.
"Can I go on the air? Right now? Please?" Roger pleaded.
"What's your name sir?"
"Roger Davis."
"Are you that Roger Davis Mr. Cohen was talking about?"
"Yes."
"Hold on a second Mr. Davis, I do believe I can do something."
"Thank you so much!" Roger said.
Not too long later, Roger heard and saw (he was still watching the TV) Alexi say, "Hello Mr….Davis. How can I help you?"
"Yeah, this is Roger Davis," Roger said, "And I'm Mark's best friend. How you doing Marky?"
Roger watched as the Mark paled. "Roger?"
"The one and only."
"God Roger, I really miss you and Joanne and Collins and everybody! Mimi headed out a few days ago. Did she get there?" Mark said.
"Yup," Roger answered, "Hey Mark, would you like to join us here in Santa Fe?"
"Roger, I'd love to," Mark answered. He then turned to Alexi and said, "I quit."