Stood up by a Friend

Tonight I was stood up by a friend. I had received an email about live Brazilian music at a downtown club and had asked three people if they would like to join me. Two said no, one said yes. We made plans to meet at 8, and I confirmed--thrice--by leaving messages on her home phone and cell.

I got to the club about 8:15. It was just me and the bartender, so I ordered a club soda and lime. I nursed it for 40 minutes while the band members straggled in. They weren’t going to start playing for another hour, so I gazed at the flatscreen and the colored lights behind the liquor bottles, then walked out.

I go out so seldom. It’s so hard to find someone who doesn’t have a wife, husband, boyfriend, or girlfriend who is taking all his or her time. Once in a while, a single friend is available, but not very often.

I called her home and cell this morning, saying that I hope she is OK and that when she is able, give me a call to let me know she's out of the hospital or whatever prevented her from showing up or calling. Of course, it's possible that she was injured or violently ill, but I suspect she just blew me off. Or maybe someone asked her out, and she didn't think to call me. And now she's embarrassed to call.

I've been stood up so many times in my life that I was not upset. It was nice just to go out into the world and see what people with wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, or--miracle of miracles—friends do on a Friday night in Long Beach.

I wandered the streets for a while after leaving the club. A salesclerk at an interior design store was very welcoming, and I’m thankful for the pleasant interchange I had with her. Sometimes we have to get from strangers what friends are not ready, willing, or able to give.