The Monkey Chain

My story isn't done yet…

I have been MIA…but today I thought about NYC…and dating…and boys…and laughter and decided there's so much to tell you.

So my friend's boyfriend decides that I sit on her couch way too much. So he says that he has someone that I would be interested in. Here we go. He happens to live in the same complex as my friend and he tells him to come by.

I go downstairs and this nice looking kid is there in his sweats and his lil pumas and his fabric snapback and I'm like, "hey" and he's like "hey.." and so we take a nice little summer stroll. I mentioned my background and that my major was African-American studies, and he went into a ten minute rant on the African-American community, men, the new revolution, the list goes on. I smile and nod and as we approach the door, I agree to go out with him soon.

That Friday my friend and her guy invite us to come out with them…Now, don't get me wrong, I know that people have a different interpretation of "fly." For example, what I think might be cute, may not be the same for someone else…but I don't judge…to each's own.

I get downstairs with my friend and he gets out of the car to open my door..gentleman…I like. However, as I scan his outfit he has on a pair of shorts, a wrinkled shirt, some wallabies with socks I think…and this necklace…and there…is something…hanging from the leather cord on his neck. But I can't make it out.

*Sigh*

We drive to the restaurant and I guess in an attempt to impress me he talks about how he always gets pulled over in his car by the police and then he gets in a frenzy because we lose my friends--as if we don't have GPS or phones and then there's more African-American talk.

Fast forward to the restaurant and we're sitting at the table and my friends are cracking up….My friend's boyfriend leans over to me and says…your friend said that thing on his neck…is from Beetlejuice or a shrunken head…He proceeds to sprinkle his fingers in the air as if he's sprinkling dust on a little head and now the three of us are in tears and poor monkey chain is asking what's so funny….

I stare at the necklace and finally make out that it's one of those carved elephants, you know ethnic pieces…

But now it is too late…I am cracking up…my friends are in tears…and this is another date that will go down in history.