So Good To See You

(College reunion picnic. A warm spring day with people littered around a grassy park. CINDY, with a drink in her hand, approaches MARC.)

Cindy: Hey, hey, what are you doing here?

Marc: I’m here for the reunion.

Cindy: Oh great! Wow, great. You know, it is so good to see you. It’s been like .. 5 years since I even heard from you.

Marc: Yeah, well, you moved away and I never got that address, so… How’s it going?

Cindy: You know, you know. My husband Josh is right over there. Oops, or at least he was over there. Such a … slippery one. You know Josh.

Marc: Actually I don’t. Last time I heard from you, you were getting over that Lebanese kid, Samuel.

Cindy: Oh my god, Samuel. Oh god, I forgot all about him. It seems like I’ve been with Josh for so long, I forgot, I’m sorry.

Marc: Hey, no apologies. I never liked Samuel anyway.

Cindy: Yeah … yeah. It’s probably better that he turned out to be gay.

Marc: Oh, no, actually that was just a … you know, I don’t know what that was. He’s here with his girlfriend Miriam, so. He got over it? Can you say that?

Cindy: Oh.

Marc: Yeah. I’m sorry, didn’t mean to … bum you out or whatever.

Cindy: No! No, god no. I don’t care about that anymore. I’m happy for him. Yeah. And Josh and I are happy. So I guess everyone’s happy. Did you bring someone?

Marc: Well, no. I just moved back to Minnesota, so I’m still trying to get into the … I can’t believe I’m saying this … the “dating scene.”

Cindy: I’m sorry.

Marc: Why are you sorry?

Cindy: I don’t know why I said that. You always did like your freedom. You certainly did when we were together.

Marc: Oh Cindy, I haven’t thought about that for years. You know I felt so bad about it.

Cindy: No, I didn’t know that.

Marc: Well, I did. I was stupid back then. It was a mistake.

Cindy: Well. Not so much a mistake, as you sleeping five times with Daria Trang.

Marc: Like I said, I was stupid. Look, Cindy, I’m hoping that’s not going to be a thing between us. I mean, it’s been seven years. And it’s so good to see you, I don’t want to rehash old college junk.

Cindy: Ok. That comment was a little out of line. I can’t believe myself, I’m so over that. Hah!

Marc: It’s understandable. It was a big deal to you, at the time.

Cindy: Yeah it was a big deal. I was so in love with you.

Marc: Hah.

Cindy: First love. Remember how I almost failed Econ because I wouldn’t get out of bed?

Marc: Um, no. I don’t think we were speaking at that point, or something. I didn’t know that. Hey, Daria’s here, too. She looks good.

Cindy: Uh huh.

Marc: (pause) Hey, we started off on the wrong foot.

Cindy: Yeah, you’re right.

Marc: So tell me something else. Um. Are you an illustrator now?

Cindy: No, actually. I’m working reception. I’m at Vision World. So.

Marc: Ok. Two wrong feet so far. How about kids, you got any kids?

Cindy: (drinks) You never answered my emails, either. That really killed me.

Marc: What? Oh, those emails you sent me after the Daria thing? I can’t believe you remember that.

Cindy: Well, I did send one every day for two months.

Marc: Did you?

Cindy: Yeah. Did you read them?

Marc: Well, let me think. Hmm. Yeah, I think I did. I did.

Cindy: Do you remember how I signed each one?

Marc: Oh yeah, that was so cute. Broke my heart. They said … hmmm. Oh god, what did they say.

Cindy: … “Until the sea goes dry. Love, your fishy.”

Marc: That’s right! Wow. Yeah, you were Fish, I was Crab.

Cindy: (pause) I see you’re balding.

Marc: Yeah, haha, yeah. Hey, is Josh nearby? I want to meet Josh.

Cindy: (drinks) Forget about Josh. There is no fucking Josh.

Marc: What?

Cindy: Forget it.

Marc: Cindy, you look a little flushed. Can I refill you?

Cindy: No, I think I’m going home. Big President’s Day sales tomorrow, need my sleep. Probably going to take a shower, collapse in bed, pick up the shattered pieces of my teenage illusions.

Marc: Hah. You’re still such a funny kid. Ok, I’ll see you … when I see you, Cindy. Give me a call sometime, ok? Bye!

(Marc exits.)

Cindy: Sure thing, Crab. Byeee! Thanks for giving me your new number. Haha, I’m so funny. (drinks)