The ongoing saga

Yesterday, my office phone rang at 4pm.

RA: Editorial Services, this is RA.

Voice: Hi, RA, this is Joe.

RA: Oh! Hi! How are you?

Joe: I’m fine. Listen, I was just wondering if you were coming in tomorrow.

RA: … Yes, I am.

Joe: Would it be possible for me to catch a ride with you? My car is in the garage tomorrow.

RA: (extra chirpy) No problem, that’s fine.

Joe: Can we say the usual time, say, 7:40?

RA: Uh, let’s shoot for 7:45.

Joe: Okay, that sounds good. See you then.

Here we go again, I thought. I had no problem with the idea that we would pitch in when circumstances arose, like a car inspection, but I was wary that this impromptu call would launch another everyday arrangement. Even worse, I was still somehow paralyzed at the thought of suggesting that we change up the schedule. Something was wrong with me such that I was incapable of saying that I usually leave at 8, or sometimes even 8:15! In my opinion, the driver should set the pick-up time, not the passenger. If the carpool is presumably an equal trade-off, doesn’t that seem fair? I mean, I am willing to drag myself out of bed earlier for the benefit of not having to drive. But to wake up early for the privilege of anxiously clutching at my steering wheel because I have a passenger was hardly appealing. Oh, dread.

This morning, I pulled into Joe’s driveway at 7:45 on the dot, at least according to my watch. In addition to my normal driving apprehension, I was nervous about the atmosphere of conversation, which was usually a bit stilted anyway. We hadn’t been in contact for quite a while, and I braced myself for when it would come up again.

Joe: So, I’ve been meaning to call you these last few weeks.

RA: (too brightly) Oh, it’s no problem! I don’t mind going case-by-case like this.

Joe: Oh, okay.

RA: I’m out a lot this coming month, too, so I don’t know how consistent I would be.

Joe: …

Phew. Awkward, yes, but I hope I got my willing-to-drive-but-not-crazy-about-it message across. The rest of the drive passed by without major incident, although I did have to brake rather suddenly at one point, which prompted sheepish apology on my part. I heaved a sigh of relief once I dropped Joe off at his building, that is, after I lightly bumped a curb in the driveway. Oops.

In good news, by some car-switching trickery, I don’t have to drive Joe home today, so I can take advantage of my early arrival time by cutting out before usual. JG is finally on summer break from school, so he took my morning shift with Ted (I walked Ted twice yesterday because JG was golfing), and my routine wasn’t as disrupted as it could have been. And it’s Friday! The humidity is low, and I have plans tonight to meet a few girls in downtown Kennett Square to catch a drink and a showing of Amelie. Things are looking up.