Mallory Schlossberg is a writer and performer in New York City. She lives in Brooklyn, and blogs at www.schlossed-by-mallory.tumblr.com. You can follow her on twitter @ malloryschloss.
Me: I have to go after brunch. I have a lot to do. I have to work on my proposal, and I have to read a bunch of books for it.
Him: That makes sense. To compare it to?
Me: Yeah. I mean, but I like the book I’m reading now.
Him: Yeah.
Me: I’ve never had brunch before.
Him: What?
Me: I usually work on the weekends. And I never had somebody to have brunch with before.
Him: Well, baby, you’re havin’ brunch today!
Him: So…what do you like to do in the summers?
Me: Um. . . I don’t know. I mean, last summer I worked on my show a lot. I did it twice.
Him: You don’t like, go to the beach?
Me: Well, I don’t know. The summer to me is just an extension of the rest of the year, except I’m wearing shorts. And I never really had anyone to go with. When I have free time, I take on projects, classes. I work on my show.
Him: I love going to the beach. I went to Fort Tilden last year.
Me: That’s the nude beach.
Him: It is?
Me: Oh! That’s Vampire Weekend.
Him: It is?
Me: Yeah. I was supposed to see them in concert a few years ago, but I got the flu.
Him: They describe themselves as Upper West Side Soweto.
Me: Huh?
Him: Do you know what that is?
Me: No.
Him: It’s South African music. Upper West Side South African. That’s disgusting.
Me: Um, well, I like their music.
Him: So, there’s something that’s been bothering me.
Me: Yeah?
Him: All you ever talk about is work.
Me: What do you mean?
Him: Like. What your’e working on. Your proposal. Your show. Improv. It’s like, all you do.
Me: I mean… I don’t get paid to do what I love. So it doesn’t feel like work. And it’s what I love. It’s what I like to talk about.
Him: But I mean, earlier. You told me you were reading a book for your proposal. Why don’t you instead tell me what the book is about.
Me: Okay. It’s called “My Boyfriend Wrote A Book About Me.” It’s about this woman whose boyfriend wrote a book about her. And then she tells stories about her life post-break up. It’s funny.
Him: See! That’s a conversation! I’m reading a book (I tune out.)
Me: Oh. Wow. Really?
Him: Yeah. I’m enjoying it.
Me: I don’t always talk about work. I work a lot. But it’s not work. I’m bothered that you said that.
Him: Well, I did. And I was really worried about this, but then I saw you and I knew everything was going to be fine.
Me: I love what I do.
Him: And that’s great – but listen. I have passions, too. I moonlight as a video game designer.
Me: I’m not here in New York to teach SAT prep. And you have to realize you met me at a weird time because of the holidays. It’s going to be different soon – I won’t be around as much. I’m a really busy person.
Him: But you do work a lot. And I don’t want it to be – you come home, I come home, we have dinner, and then we have sex. I mean, sex is great, but I’m not going to remember sex. I am going to remember a picnic. I like picnics. Olives, bread. I want to make memories. Go to the park. Go to that movie theater in Dumbo and get a six pack.
Me: I need to get a bike. Want to help me get one?
Him: YES! See, I love that you asked me that.
Me: I also need to get my library card. Wanna come with me?
Him: YES! See, I like this. Doing stuff together.
Me: I’ve never really had someone to do these things with. So I guess I don’t know what I like to do. Besides comedy and art stuff. I’m just not used to this sort of…
Him: Mallory. You’re writing a book about dating OkCupid boys. Now your’e dating a man. Things are different.
Me: I want to go dancing.
Him: Let’s go. Let me get your coat.
Me: (I see someone I know) Hi! How are you! (back to him) That’s someone I know from improv.
Him: Oh. Okay… Cool.
Me: I still don’t like what you said before.
Him: What? I was worried about something, and we talked about it, and I feel so much better about it now. Let’s go. (he takes out his iPhone) I want to take a picture of us and send it to my mom. (Click) Ah, came out too dark.
photos, tri vo
guest edited by samuel lindeman.
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