Book Club Mom’s July recap – walking, planting, reading and dreaming

July 31, 2019July 31, 2019 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 20 Comments

We’re still in the middle of summer, but when July comes to a close, I always feel the rush of days and weeks, hurtling towards fall. And even though fall is my favorite season, my house will be a little less full in a month…children leaving the nest.

I’m also in the middle of my library’s summer reading challenge. This year, it’s called A Universe of Stories, created to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the lunar landing. So I’ve been reading and listening to books outside my usual genres, to complete different categories of the challenge. I listened to two audio books on my walks and I managed to squeeze in a couple books of my own choice, too!

Check out my reviews here:

Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman

Audiobook review: Roar by Cecelia Ahern

Honor Girl – A Graphic Memoir by Maggie Thrash

Audiobook review: Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman,
narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Those People by Louise Candlish

I was happy to meet a new (to me) indie author, Jennifer S. Alderson. If you haven’t met Jennifer yet, please stop by and say hello!

Who’s That Indie Author? Jennifer S. Alderson

If you are a self-published or indie author and would like to be featured, email me at bvitelli2009@gmail.com for more information.

I also posted and author update for Geoffrey M. Cooper. His new medical thriller, Nondisclosure, is available now:

BC Mom’s Author Update: new medical thriller by Geoffrey M. Cooper

I also did a little dreaming this month, wishing for unlimited time to read some best sellers and some classics.

Book Club Mom’s dream list TBR

Book Club Mom’s classic dream list TBR

There have been more Friday Fiction shenanigans in a new chapter of “A Man and His Phone.” Feel free to jump into this little series and relive the drama of the twenty-something dating world!

Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone

I like to think about grammar and new word uses – can you relate to that? Here’s a post about the more recent trend of the word “relatable.”

Grammar check – is relatable a real word?

After reading Those People by Louise Candlish, I thought about all the despicable characters in books I have read, and then I made a list!

Books with unlikable characters – can you add to the list?

I watched The Right Stuff movie as part of the Universe of Stories challenge. Even though there was a lot of hype about the movie when it was released in 1983, I had never seen it!

The Right Stuff – the book by Tom Wolfe, the 1983 movie and how we got to the moon

And last, I was happy to be featured on Norah Colvin’s blog in her special School Days, Reminiscences feature. Be sure to visit Norah’s blog below:

School Days, Reminiscences of Barbara Vitelli

Did you have a good month? What was the best book you read? For me, I’d say Sounds Like Titanic.

Thanks for visiting – come back soon!

Book Club Mom’s June recap – books, authors, celebrations, fiction and a survey

July 3, 2019July 7, 2019 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 8 Comments

Oh boy, June has come and gone! I had a lot of fun on Book Club Mom this month. I read some good books, met an indie author, and celebrated six years of blogging. I also had time to write a little Friday Fiction and conduct a reading survey. Thanks to everyone who visited, commented, shared and participated in my poll!

This is the time of year when all the animals outside get busy and bold. First, I discovered nibbled-down pansy plants and watched a bunny make a nest for her babies in the middle of our yard. She must have decided to have them in a safer place, though. Too bad, we would have loved seeing baby bunnies hopping around. Earlier this week, I was admiring the flowering Morning Glories on our deck, but yesterday I opened the blinds to see a bunch of chomped off vines, with only a few lonely flowers. Oh well, I guess the deer had a good feast. We also had a fox saunter across our front step on the weekend – it’s quite an animal kingdom out there!

In case you missed any posts, here’s a rundown of what went down on Book Club Mom:

I read four books, all great picks for summer reading:

Lot by Bryan Washington
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
Run Away by Harlan Coben

If you’re looking for more summer reading recommendations, check out these previously reviewed books:

Book Club Mom’s summer recommendations

I met indie author D. Wallace Peach and learned about her fantasy and science fiction books. If you haven’t already said hello to Diana and learn why she went from pantser to planner!

If you are a self-published or indie author and would like to be featured, email me at bvitelli2009@gmail.com for more information.

June is my blog anniversary month and this year marks six years of blogging. I’m happy to say I haven’t tired of reading, writing posts and visiting other blogs, so here’s to more of the same!

Celebrating 6 years of blogging!

If you have been following my Friday Fiction, you’re familiar with “A Man and His Phone,” a fun look at twenty-something dating experiences. It’s easy to jump in to the story so check out these recent episodes:

Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone – June 7
Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone – June 21

Some miscellaneous posts included a What’s That Book about The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore and a Book Talk about a terrific book I just finished today, Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman.

What’s That Book? The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Book Talk – Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman

In honor of my father, I shared a Father’s Day tribute about one of many family trips to Dairy Queen.

Dairy Queen with my father

And related to the bunny activity in our yard, I wrote about Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown.

A backyard rabbit’s nest and Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

And last, I conducted a casual readers’ survey and gathered some interesting info about all your reading habits and preferences. Thank you all for your enthusiastic responses!

The results are in! Here’s what you say about your reading preferences!

I hope you had a good month on the blog and out in the world. Summer’s in full swing now, so after a hot and busy day, grab a lemonade, a good book and hop into your favorite chair!

Thanks for visiting – come back soon!

Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone

June 7, 2019June 8, 2019 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 14 Comments

Welcome to A Man and His Phone – a series of relationship mishaps!

Chris sat at a tall table, far away from Karma’s dance floor. The beat was shaking the room. He drained the last of his Yuengling and looked at the crowd. Somewhere in there were Jane and Adrienne and their gaggle of friends. Karma was not Chris’s usual hangout. He much preferred Chasers in Philly where he could play foosball and drink beer with his buddies, not this suburban New Jersey dance club. But after catching both Jane and the intriguing Adrienne in the stairwell of his apartment building, he wasn’t about to send them off. So he’d smiled when he saw Jane holding Adrienne’s shoes, claiming they were her own, and he’d laughed when he saw Adrienne’s face pop into view through the little window of the seventh floor door to the stairs.

“Who’s your friend?” he’d asked and when Adrienne revealed herself, Chris knew that he’d be hitting Karma.

He was contemplating getting another beer, but the place was packed. And if he left their table, they’d never get it back. Besides, holding the table was a good excuse for not having to hit the dance floor. Yes, Chris was interested, in what, he couldn’t quite figure out, but he wasn’t about to make a fool of himself with dance moves he hadn’t used since junior high.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Why he’d even brought it into Karma was beyond him. It went counter to his “it can wait” way of thinking. He ignored the buzz. Having the phone in his pocket was one thing, but whoever was trying to reach him would need to wait. So he settled into his seat and tried to look casual in the chair that was way too high to be comfortable. From a distance, the mob on the floor seemed to be moving together. No way to find anyone in that crowd. No problem, Chris could wait. That’s what he was best at.

The music slowed and the beat subsided. Maybe the DJ or whoever was running the show was taking a break, although how hard could it be to queue up a playlist? No matter, Chris was glad for the break, especially when he saw Jane and Adrienne walking toward him.

“Why didn’t you answer my text?” Jane demanded, though she was laughing, a little manically, he thought, as she approached.

“What? Why would you text me when you knew I was right over here?”

“I wanted you to come out here with me,” she answered. “When’s the last time you and I danced together, like never?” Jane had a funny look on her face. Kind of territorial, he thought. Before he could get a good look, however, Jane had somehow climbed the tower of his stool and was sitting on his lap.

Chris panicked. Jane was his girlfriend, yes, but making a claim like this in public was something else. Like an animal in a trap, Chris had the irrational idea of gnawing off a limb to free himself. He sprung to action.

“Ack!” he exclaimed. “Hop off – my phone is vibrating and I have to answer!”

Thank you for reading!

Click here to catch up previous episodes of A Man and His Phone.

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Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone – an update and a recap

December 14, 2018 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 5 Comments

I’ve been meaning to write a new chapter of A Man and His Phone, but this is a crazy time of the year and I haven’t had the proper time to make it happen. I want to see what’s going to happen to Jane, Chris and Adrienne as much as you do! 😉

So instead of rushing, I am going to take a break for the next few weeks and start back up with new chapters in January. Who knows, maybe Chris will get a new iPhone for Christmas!

In the meantime, if you’d like to read some of the earlier chapters, you can check them out here.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading my little stories – they’re meant to be fun, a little cheesy and maybe they remind you of some of the minefields of your own dating years!

Thanks for visiting – come back soon!

Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone

November 16, 2018 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 8 Comments

Welcome to A Man and His Phone – a weekly series of relationship mishaps!

Jane’s adrenaline burst into overdrive when she heard what could only be Chris’s footsteps as he slowly climbed the zig-zag steps to the second floor. She’d never been able to light a fire under Chris and for once she appreciated his laid-back style. But even though he was taking his time, Jane and Adrienne had only seconds to act.

“Quick!” she hissed over to Adrienne. “Get up, and do it fast!”

Adrienne looked at Jane’s face, now spewing authority. She’d always had the upper hand with Jane, but something had shifted. Leaning on her good leg, she pulled herself up to a crouch and whisper-screamed back, “Help me!” And like a 120 pound forklift on jet fuel, Jane went behind her friend, boosted her up to her feet, opened the door to the second floor hallway and pushed her through.

Jane’s plan was for them both to escape the stairwell before Chris got to the top of the second floor landing, but there was no more time.

_____

Something strangely pleasant was itching at Chris. As he climbed the stairs from the lobby to the second floor, he reviewed the recent events. Jane had entered this stairwell just moments before. And only shortly before that, the lovely young woman whose name he didn’t know, with the less than sensible shoes had begun her descent from the eighth floor. They both claimed to have friends in the building. “Hmmmm,” he thought. Well, maybe that was technically true.

As he reached the midpoint, he heard some fierce whispering. He smiled and turned slowly to climb the second half of the steps, hoping to hear what they were saying. Because this was getting interesting. Instead, what he heard was the door slamming and, when the landing came into view, there was Jane, looking charmingly frazzled, holding a familiar-looking pair of shoes.

“Where’s your friend?” he asked.

“What friend?” Jane replied, trying her best to look blank and stall. But by the amused look on Chris’s face, Jane suspected that her answer could get her into an even bigger mess.

“The one who’s missing a pair of shoes,” he laughed.

“What do you mean, Chris? These are my shoes.” And like a gift from above, a brand new story popped into Jane’s head. “I told you I knew someone in your building. You’re not the only one who lives here, you know. She had borrowed my dancing shoes and I told her I absolutely needed them because tonight I’m hitting the dance floor at Karma.”

“Oh, my darling Jane,” he answered. “Those can’t be your shoes because I’m sure I saw them on someone else tonight.”

“What are you, the shoe police? Besides, these shoes are the rage this year. Everyone has them.”

Chris was certain he had just caught Jane in her second lie of the evening. Yet he did not seem mad. In fact, what was that look on his face?

Jane had no idea, but it was a pretty good look.

Thank you for reading – come back next week!

Click here to catch up with all the episodes of A Man and His Phone.

Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone

November 9, 2018 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 12 Comments

Welcome to A Man and His Phone – a weekly series of relationship mishaps!

Chris stood in the lobby and watched Jane march towards the stairwell. Was that dramatic flip of her long blonde hair as she chattered into her phone directed at him? And if so, what on earth was she telling him? He felt a little stung that she’d seemed to have won their confrontation. He had every right to ask her what she was doing in the lobby of his apartment building, just hours after he’d told her he didn’t want her to come over. Could she possibly have a friend who lived in this same building? Chris thought that was highly unlikely. She would have mentioned it, wouldn’t she? Oh what did he care anyway! Chris wasn’t down in the lobby to worry about Jane. She could do what she wanted. He remembered his purpose. Now, where would that mysterious and oh so intriguing girl he’d met on the eighth floor be? If she’d taken the stairs, surely she’d be down by now…

____

Adrienne sat at the bottom of the third floor steps, away from the door to the second floor hallway. She had righted herself enough to fish out her phone and call Jane, but she could tell she’d need help to get on her feet. She looked down at her ankle. Not pretty, but it didn’t look broken. She’d seen plenty of injuries on the lacrosse field and had suffered a few of her own, though never a broken bone. She was no doctor, but since her ankle looked swollen but otherwise together, with nothing sticking out, she guessed that it was just a bad sprain. I can hope, can’t I? she asked herself. But her back was another issue. Her tailbone was not singing a happy tune. So much for hitting the dance floor at Karma tonight. Adrienne’s frustration was beginning to build. She’d conspired with Jane on a few of her own goose chases, but they’d never resulted in injury. This was ridiculous!

Jane exploded through the bottom of the lobby stairwell door and tore up the one flight to the second floor. “Adrienne!” she exclaimed. “What on earth happened?”

“What do you think happened, Jane? I was racing down the stairs to get to you before Chris reached the lobby, but I slipped.”

“You didn’t try to run down these stairs in those outrageous shoes, did you?”

Jane was looking a little too much like a scolding parent right now and that’s the last look Adrienne had expected. She wasn’t about to admit that she’d tried her old trick of skipping down multiple steps. This was hands down Jane’s fault. And like an unannounced tsunami, a wave of ferocious anger overtook Adrienne. Forget the fact that she was kind of intrigued herself by Chris, and that she never would have met him alone like that or had the chance to flirt, yes, she could admit to herself, flirt with him. Now she was stuck at the bottom of the stairwell with a fat ankle and a backbone that had bounced along too many hard metal steps. “Do you think I’m stupid? Of course not! You’re a crazy person, Jane. I don’t know why I let you talk me into this asinine plan. Get me up and let’s get out of here before Chris finds us.”

Adrienne’s voice echoed through the stairwell and was replaced by the heavy clank and bang of the lobby entrance door opening wide and slamming shut. No time to tell Adrienne that Jane had already seen Chris in the lobby. The sound of climbing footsteps made their own echo as he approached…

Thank you for reading – come back next week!

Click here to catch up with all the episodes of A Man and His Phone.

Friday Fiction – A Man and His Phone

November 2, 2018November 3, 2018 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 10 Comments

Welcome to A Man and His Phone – a weekly series of relationship mishaps!

Adrienne knew she was in trouble the moment she launched herself from the third floor landing. Three seconds of airborne athletics ended as her right heel landed, not flat on the step, but too far out, just catching the edge of the third step. So much for muscle memory. How long had it been since she’d tried this trick? Her arms flew up and back and she had just enough time to recognize her stupidity before she landed hard on her back and bumped even harder to the bottom of the stairs.

I’m an idiot! she announced and had anyone heard her, they would have agreed. By some miracle, she hadn’t hurt her head. That’s the one good thing, she decided. But her backside was screaming in pain and her right ankle was already swelling to an abnormal size.

_____

The elevator pinged just as Jane positioned herself front and center to the opening doors. Jane was the type, so driven in whatever task was at hand, that she blocked out the goings on around her. And tonight she was so determined to make something happen, that as soon as the doors opened, she charged into the elevator, smashing directly into Chris.

“Whoa!” exclaimed Chris. “What are you doing here, Jane?” Oblivious to the extent that a woman on the hunt would go, Chris had no idea that he was the subject of a stakeout and that Jane’s partner was the lovely woman he had met on the eighth floor. Chris’s mood took a turn. Seconds earlier, the promise of something exciting was only a few floors away. His sole object in riding the elevator was to find this unnamed interest, and now he had the clingy Jane to deal with.

Jane was a planner in so many ways. She had wanted to see Chris tonight and she had tried to make plans with him. He was slippery, but she had merely altered her plans to accommodate his resistance. But her decision to come out from behind the rubber tree was fueled by a fatalistic adrenaline. Now, face to face with the subject, she had no plan.

“Uh, Chris! Hi! I thought you were going out already. I came here to see my friend, but, ha ha! I didn’t think I’d see you too!”

Jane had no hopes of Chris buying such a lame story, but the words had just spewed out of her. Sometimes quantity is better than quality, right? Now, while Chris digested her nonsense response, she had a couple seconds to work herself out of this tangle.

Oh, technology: sometimes your friend, sometimes your enemy, but always in your life. Jane’s iPhone was her crucial social connection and, much to her friends’ annoyance, she insisted on setting her ringtone and notifications to an unacceptable volume. Earlier that night, Adrienne had given her grief about the ringtone volume. “Your phone is driving me crazy, Jane. How old are you, fifty? If you don’t change those settings, I’m going to do it for you!”

“Oh, stop, Adrienne,” Jane had replied. “I need to know if Chris is trying to reach me. And besides, would you want me to miss one of your calls?”

Timing was everything and for once, Jane was right about her phone. Just as Chris demanded an explanation, her device broke out into a threatening sequence of alarming tones. Jane looked at her screen. Adrienne. “It’s my friend,” she announced. “I have to go.” She swiped the screen, turned on her heels and, with a newfound nonchalance, Jane raised her arm and gave Chris a backwards wave as she greeted her caller. “Hey, where are you?’ she asked.

Thank you for reading – come back next week!

Click here to catch up with all the episodes of A Man and His Phone.

Friday Fiction – “A Man and His Phone” Part 4

August 31, 2018September 22, 2018 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 8 Comments

“A Man and His Phone” – Part 4

Welcome to Friday Fiction! If you are just jumping into this dating saga, “A Man and His Phone,” here’s a rundown of what’s happening:

Jane is in a twenty-something predicament. Her sometimes boyfriend, Chris, likes his own space and is in no hurry to change his life. Tentative plans to get together have ended in a tense phone call and Chris has powered off his phone. Meanwhile, Jane is determined to make something happen. She’s recruited her friend, Adrienne, to drive with her down to Chris’s apartment and see if he’s still home. What they do then is anyone’s guess!

Now you’re set – read on!

I-295 S was jammed with cars and Jane and Adrienne were in the middle of the mess.

“Where on earth is everyone going tonight?” Adrienne asked the air. It was pushing eight o’clock and she was itching to go to Karma. She didn’t want to miss her chance to find the guy she’d met last night. Who knew how long it would be before he noticed someone else? She flipped down the visor and checked her hair in the mirror.

“Relax, Adrienne. We have plenty of time. And besides, if we get to Chris’s apartment too early, I won’t be sure if he’s in for the night.”

“Okay, that’s just stupid, Jane. In for the night? How old are you? I only saw Chris from a distance at Zadar’s, but he didn’t look like a guy who pays attention to the clock!” Adrienne flipped up the visor in frustration.

Jane’s thumb was nervously tapping the steering wheel. “Whatever, okay? Let’s just get down there and see what happens. Maybe we’ll see him leave, then we can follow him!”

“Yeah? I don’t think so, Jane. You talked me into a drive-by, not a pursuit. I have my own chase planned.”

Traffic started to move. Jane pressed the accelerator. “Finally!” she exclaimed

—

“See? There’s his car. He’s still home. I knew it!”

“Okay, so what? You know this is stupid, Jane.” Adrienne checked her phone. Felicia and her friends were out to eat and would meet her at Karma. b there by 10, she tapped in her message.

“Let’s park and go in. I know how to get buzzed into the building. We’ll wait for a group and roll in with them. Then we’ll go up to his floor and check out his apartment from the hall.”

This might have been Jane’s plan, but Adrienne knew she had to take the reins if she had any hope of Karma by 10 o’clock.

“Look, I have an idea,” she said as they walked to the high-rise. “Let’s get inside, then I’ll take the elevator up to Chris’s floor. I’ll see what’s what. You stay in the lobby and I’ll text you when I know something.”

“But I want to see for myself,” Jane complained.

“See what?” Adrienne answered. “A door?”

“Well, I was thinking I would try to look under it. Maybe I could see some feet moving around or hear some music.”

“No, I’ll go up alone. What floor?”

—

Adrienne stood alone in the elevator and pulled at the hem of her dress. It was a great dress for dancing, but maybe not for espionage. She’d already decided she would not be peering under Chris’s door. She slipped her phone into the discreet pocket sewn flat into her dress and thanked the dress designer gods for thinking of all a woman’s needs. The elevator pinged and opened on the eighth floor. Adrienne fluffed her hair and looked straight into a pair of amused dark eyes.

“Oh, well hello there,” he smiled and looked her up and down. “If you’re looking for a dance floor, you may need to get onto the Ben Franklin first.”

Adrienne was not the type to get flustered, yet she could feel a drip of sweat trickle down her back.

“Yes, well maybe I will,” she answered. Somewhat lame, but she was holding her own. The charmer smiled.

“You look a little familiar,” he said. “I’m Chris, have we met?”

Adrienne stood frozen in the elevator. Chris put out his arm to stop the doors from closing and she thought he looked quite gallant doing so. He made no move to enter and so instead, she stepped out into the hallway. She could feel her phone vibrate. Jane, most likely, anxious for a report. But the update would have to wait…

Thank you for reading – come back next week!

Click here to catch up with all the episodes of A Man and His Phone.

Friday Fiction – “A Man and His Phone” – Part 3

August 24, 2018September 22, 2018 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 10 Comments

“A Man and His Phone” – Part 3

Welcome to Friday Fiction! If you stopped in the last two Fridays, you may have read Parts 1 and 2 of “A Man and His Phone.” If not, here’s a rundown of what’s happening:

Jane is in a twenty-something predicament. She has a sometimes boyfriend who likes his own space. But Jane wants more. Chris is in no hurry to change his life. He’s planted on his couch, drinking some beers and watching ESPN. Maybe he’ll go out, maybe he won’t. But he has no interest in making plans with Jane tonight. After a tense call with her, Chris has powered off his phone. Meanwhile, Jane is determined to make something happen. His phone may be off, but that’s not going to stop her.

Now you’re set – I hope you enjoy!

“Let’s do a drive-by,” she said. “I’ll pick you up in a half hour and we can drive over there and see if his car is still in the parking lot.”

Adrienne was usually game for this kind of thing, but tonight she had plans to go out dancing with the girls from the apartment across the hall. Now Jane was on the phone and obsessing over this Chris guy. Maybe Adrienne could get her to go out with them and forget about Chris.

“Jane, you know I like to spy as much as you do, but I’m going dancing at Karma tonight with Felicia and her roommate. You should come with us instead.”

Jane was in no mood for dancing. She was furious with Chris and wanted to make sure he was still in his apartment. Let him sit there and drink beer all night, but he’d better not go out. If he did, she was going to find out. What she’d do then, who knew? She would figure that out if she had to.

“Look, we can drive over there first and then maybe I’ll go to Karma with you. Or, I can take you there to meet your friends.”

Adrienne stalled. She had met someone last night at the dance club and wanted to get back there tonight to see if he’d show up. She was pretty sure he would, based on the dancing they’d done the night before.

“Jane, doesn’t Chris live practically in Philly? That’s an hour from here! Just come with us and forget about him.”

“No, I can’t. I need to know if he’s still in his apartment.”

“What good is that going to do? And how are you going to find that out? Doesn’t he live in a high-rise?”

“Well yes, but I know where he parks his car. We can drive to his apartment building, see if his car is there. If it is, maybe someone can buzz us in to get up to his floor. If I hear music and see a light under the door, then I’ll know for sure if he’s home.”

“Jane, that’s madness. Even I can see how stupid your plan is. What if his car isn’t there? What are you going to do then? And what if he went out and someone else drove? And even if he is there, what are you going to do? He could be getting ready to go out. You have no control over this.”

“Adrienne, he blew me off last week and said he was tired. But you saw him at Zadar’s. He certainly didn’t look tired there. And tonight he didn’t want to make plans. I need to know what’s happening. I’ll feel better if I know he’s just stewing in his apartment, alone. Please come with me. I promise I’ll make it up to you. It’s only seven right now. We have plenty of time to get down there and back before you go out.”

Just barely, thought Adrienne. She didn’t want anyone else moving in on this guy she’d met. But she had her share of obsessions, so she couldn’t really judge. Still, this sounded like a terrible idea and she was itching to find that guy. Things had gotten pretty intense with him…

“Okay, Jane. It’s a horrible idea, but okay. Come over now, we’ll drive to Pennsauken, see if Chris is there. And Jane, wear something hot, okay? Don’t show up at my door in jeans and sneakers because I’m dragging you Karma after this.”

Thank you for reading – come back next week for Part 4!

Click here to catch up with all the episodes of A Man and His Phone.

Friday Fiction – “A Man and His Phone” Part 1

August 10, 2018September 22, 2018 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 28 Comments

“A Man and His Phone”
Part 1

Chris sat in his apartment reading. It was Saturday. Music was on. Playing loudly. He was reading a book about the Civil War. He liked to listen to loud music when he read. It was the perfect atmosphere for him and always had been. It did not distract him. It allowed him to escape into a different world. He was relaxed. It was getting to be time for dinner, but he was in no hurry, would figure that out later.

His cell phone was on the kitchen table. During the day, he would occasionally check for missed calls. He didn’t like running to a ringing phone so the sound was always off. He’d set it to vibrate. But he rarely paid attention to it and he almost never made calls. Now it vibrated as he sat across the room, at a safe distance. This time he just didn’t hear it. He continued to read and listen to music.

Jane had been trying to call him. She didn’t have a good reason, but she wanted to talk to him. She wanted to feel reassured that everything was good between them. She had not seen him or talked to him since the night at Club Zadar’s. They’d had plans that night but he’d blown her off, saying he was tired and then there he was, out with friends, flirting with women at the bar. She had given him a few days and still had not heard from him. When Jane felt uneasy, she jumped from one thing to the next. She could not focus until that one thing was settled.

Jane wanted to be settled, as in married with a couple kids. She envied that life. But she was so far from having any kind of life besides a working one. She could not imagine how she could get there. At twenty-five, with nothing going on, she was beginning to realize that she had a long way to go.

She checked her phone. Nothing, no call, no text. What was she thinking? Chris never texted. She knew he hated being tied to a device, but she could always hope. And he occasionally surprised her by doing something out of character. He had emailed her now and again and she loved reading them. She clung to that idea. Maybe Chris had sent her one. Nothing. Late Saturday afternoon, almost night. She had no plans. She thought about calling friends, decided against it. She decided to wait. “Maybe Chris is busy right now, but he’s getting ready to call me as soon as he’s finished whatever it is he’s doing,” Jane thought. She knew how ridiculous that sounded, even in her head. She didn’t care. She continued with this exercise. “It’s 5:30. He’s probably waiting until 6:00 to call me. I’ll wait until then. If he’s sent me an email, I’ll call him. Maybe he’ll call me while I’m checking my email. Then I won’t have to call him. If he hasn’t sent me an email, I’ll decide at 6:00 whether I’ll call him or not.”

Chris was oblivious to this. He had no idea that Jane even thought this way. He would probably be horrified to know it. He was sitting in his apartment, reading his book, listening to music. He was thinking about nothing else except the words he was reading. He was not thinking about what he would do after he finished reading. He didn’t even know how long he would be reading. When he finished, would probably think about dinner. Maybe after that, he would think about what he might do that night.

When Chris did stop reading, he got up and turned off the music. He looked at the clock. 6:17. Then he grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and headed back to the living room. Seeing his cell on the table, though, he stopped and picked it up. He pressed the home button and saw that he had two missed calls. Jane.

Jane. “She’s probably already made plans by now,” he thought. “If she calls again, I’ll see if she wants to do something.” He put the cell back on the table, then sat on his couch and took a drink from his beer. He would have been more comfortable had he not checked his phone and seen that Jane had called. He had not planned on calling her, but maybe he would have. Now he would not. He finished his beer and got up for another one. When he sat down this time, he turned on the television. Flipping through the stations, he settled on ESPN.

His phone vibrated and this time he heard the sound. But Chris was so comfortable on his couch. The highlights from last night’s Sixers game were just coming on…

Click here to read all the episodes of A Man and His Phone.

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