August 28, 2002

Today is the day to put your name on your work.

You still have time to send in Konerko Fan Fiction.

Last night was (another) one of those nights were I think that the city of Chicago can't be beaten. I saw "West Side Story" at the last showing of the Chicago Outdoor Film Fest. (I regret that I didn't catch "A Hard Day's Night" a few weeks ago.) What a great movie (Rita Moreno is, without a doubt, the highlight of that film.) And what a great setting. The skyline behind us and to the left, Buckingham Fountain to the right and Lake Michigan in front of us. Thousands of people all gathered together and I hate to say it but I was thinking about how if this were oh, say, late September 2001, all these people would have never have gotten together so comfortably and happily in a space as large as Grant Park.

And it was a pleasure. But back to bidness. Because of these last two late nights out today's serial story is short and without much resolution. Next week's will rock, for those 2 of you who read it. I hope.

17

"What on earth are you talking about?" asked Geflen, after he had coughed up a piece of chicken tender and placed it, in full view, on the side of his plate. He picked up another tender and dipped it in honey mustard sauce.

George blanched at the site of the partially-digested food and resisted teh urge to cover it with his own napkin. He fixed his eyes on Geflen. Geflen had a bit of chicken vein caught between his teeth. George was amazed that one person and one appetizer could repulse him so much, and on so many levels. He fixed his gaze somewhere over Geflen's left shoulder.

"Excuse me," he said firmly, "I have to go to the crapper."

George was annoyed with himself for bailing out and postponing what was sure to be a very painful conversation, but he also hoped that by the time he returned, every trace of chicken tender would be gone from the table. He urinated and washd his hands and even bought more time by using thatmost annoying instrument, the hand dryer.

"You happy now?" George addressed the dryer, which still held the original pleading to try the miraculous hand dryer instead of using the inconvenient, chapping, wasteful paper towels.

George still didn't know what to tell Geflen. He considered telling him that it was all a joke. He considered leaving. He considered leaving for a very long while.