Page 29 of Penalty Shot

Elise:Any time. That’s what friends are for.

March 31

Elise:Saw the Mavericks at the bar. Sorry you guys lost.

Randall:Thanks. What’s the bar scene like in Cleveland?

Elise:It wasn’t that kind of bar. My meeting with costume designers went on forever so we grabbed cheap food. Apparently there are lots of things to be said about shoulder pads.

Randall:And mullets. Don’t forget hockey’s contribution to the 80s.

Elise:Taking notes!

Randall:Is your clown still bothering you? Maybe donate it to the theater as a costume dummy.

Elise:ITclown is no longer a menace because I have a new housemate. Kaden is willing to stay in the living room. It is oddly reassuring to know he’ll be attacked before me.

Randall:You can’t move in with a stranger.[Deleted]

Randall:Is this someone you’ve met before? How do you know he isn’t worse than the IT clown?

Elise:Aww, don’t worry about me. We hadn’t met before but he’s fine. It’s temporary. He’s got dorm housing as soon as university students leave for the summer.

Randall:How can you be sure if you just met?

Elise:Rehearsal and production time isn’t normal time.

Randall:?

Elise:What to some people is one week feels a lot longer to repertory theater folks. I’ll know more about people I meet on this production than anyone I took classes with in college for four years. It’s weird but not unusual. Does that make sense?

Randall:Why isn’t Lily with you instead? I thought she was auditioning for a part.

Elise:She can’t leave Columbus right now. Family reasons so I can’t say more.

Randall:I get that.

A few hours later…

Randall:Thinking about what you said earlier. About normal time. I can’t believe we only met a few weeks before you left. It feels a lot longer.

Elise:In a good way or in a tedious way?

Randall:Definitely in a good way.

April 5

Randall:Hey

Elise:Hey

Randall:I was thinking about heading to Jack & Jill diner.

Elise:What’s there to think about? Why aren’t you already there?

Randall:My cheeseburger buddy isn’t around to keep me company.

Elise:I can’t be the only one you know who eats greasy diner food.