Sin Boldly [excerpt]

Anna and Paul, in their now-comfortable habit, lay on the floor next to each other and stared at the posters on Paul’s ceiling. Solas played reels in the background as they talked.1

“You know Tyra Allen?” said Anna.2

“Short, blond girl?”3

“No, that’s me.”4

“You’re tall blond girl.”5

“Oh. Yeah she’s short, but more of a brunette.”6

“Since when?”7

“Since last week. Oh that’s right, you wouldn’t know, you weren’t there last week.”8

“Oh, so this is not about her at all, but about the fact that my family was out of town and I couldn’t come to youth group last Sunday.”9

“Well, sort of, but there was something about her too. Where was I?”10

“Short, blond brunette.”11

“Right. I think she has a thing for you.”12

“I’m sorry, have we met? I’m Paul, Mt. Sinai’s biggest loser.”13

“All I can report is what I’ve been told.”14

“By who?”15

“Tyra.”16

“And?”17

“And what?”18

“And who else?”19

“No one else.”20

“So you’re getting this from just one source? You didn’t bother to check, do some follow-up interviews, make sure she wasn’t drunk when she said it?”21

“Looks like. Take it or leave it.”22

“Hm.”23

“Yeah. So what are you going to do about it?”24

“I dunno. She’s the one who likes me. Shouldn’t she be doing something?25

“Well, yeah, if you want it that way…”26

“Yeah, yeah. Well, I’m no good at this. What am I supposed to do?”27

“You’ve never had this happen to you before?”28

“’No good’ does not preclude it’s having happened. I just suck at handling it.”29

“Ah. Well, do you like her?”30

“Based on my brief experience with her? She’s alright. Seems nice. I don’t know.”31

“She is. Very nice. Very good friend, too.”32

“That’s good…”33

“You sound kind of shocked.”34

“I am, a bit.”35

“Need some time to think?”36

“Yeah. Make her think I don’t know for a while, could you?”37

“Sure.”38

“Thanks. By the way, how’s your romantic life?”39

“What romantic life?”40

“Oh, come now. A fine girl like you must have oodles of gentlemen callers.”41

“Henry James?”42

“[Tennessee Williams]. Loosely. Don’t change the subject.”43

“Just because I have a lot of choices doesn’t mean I like any of them.”44

“Jack? By the way, you’re blushing.”45

“You were red as a beet before.”46

“My apologies, ma’am. The beet calling the rose red. Jack?”47

“He’s alright. Certainly wants to date me.”48

“So what’s standing in the way?”49

“His parents. My parents. His scruples. Me.”50

“You don’t want to go out with him?”51

“I don’t know. The handsomeness thing kind of clouds everything else. I don’t want to go out with him just because he’s ‘hot.’ But I don’t want to not go out with him just because he’s hot.”52

“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The old paradox.”53

“Aye. It’s a bloody great load of bollix. By the way, you’ve got me reading Irish.”54

“Couldn’t tell. What’re you reading?55

“Celtic Childhood. Green Suede Shoes.”56

“Great books. Have you ever noticed we talk like minimalists?”57

“Really? I just sort of follow your lead.”58

“Oh sure, blame me.”59

“If the shoe fits…”