Matt Meets Mara

“It’s this girl. I don’t know, It feels like I see her everywhere.”

“What girl?”

“I don’t know. She’s different every time. When I’m out eating, or on the bus.”

“Different every time? What do you mean?”

“These women come up to me, and they—“

“That sounds like a deal.” Matt interrupted.

Jason furrowed his brow, “They come up to me and they tell me things. But always the same exact thing.”

“Chalk it up to lack of imagination, man.”

“No, it isn’t that. It’s the details. Her name is Mara.”

“Which one?”

“All of them!” Jason guestured wildly. “They are all Mara.”

“Who’s Mara?”

“God, I have no idea! These women, who just, I don’t know. They seem so unrelated. And they just introduce themselves. They tell me something about my eyes, something about their father. "

“Pretty name. You ask any of them out?”

“I never get to that.”

A waitress, snapping gum, came up with a cheery, all-too-happy smile, “Can I get you boys anything else?”

Matt eyed the waitress for a second . “Uh, no, we’re good umm—“ He looked at her nametag. “ Just the check, ok, Cindy?”

“You got it!” and with a loud snap, the waitress shuffled off.

Matt turned back to Jason, who was now pouting with his hands folded in front of him. “Jason, you ever think that she’s in your mind? You know, seeing what you want to see?”

“No. Well, sure. Maybe.” Jason reached out and slowly rotated his glass of ice water in front of him. He frowned at Matt, “I don’t –“ He stopped, and then breathed a few shallow breaths and a choke. “I miss her.”

“Hey bro, we all miss her. But you’ve gotta stop driving yourself crazy with this, you know?”

Jason looked away. “I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s just –“ He stopped himself and stammered for a moment. “Just—“ He put his hand to his eye and slyly wiped a tear, pretending to preen his hair. He looked back at Matt, “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now.”

Matt smiled at Jason, “Buddy,” He leaned forward, “You are allowed to be sad. I mean, it’s a good thing you know. You get it out and you move on. You aren’t supposed to just get over it. Michelle is a big part of you.” He laughed, “You’d be one sorry suck if you forgot her.” He tapped the table, “Hey, man.” Jason smiled back weakly. “Hey, you are doing alright. You just need to get around people again. You know, talk, party, relate.”

Cindy had returned and set the check in front of Jason with two obligatory peppermints. Matt reached over and snatched up the check and a mint. Cindy had not moved yet.

“Thank you, Cindy.” Jason looked up at her. She was looking intently at him.

Matt noticed her attention, “Thanks, Cindy. Here.” He held out a twenty.

“Hi.” Cindy said to Jason. “I just –“ she fumbled for her words. “You seem familiar.”

Jason smiled and nodded, “I get that.”
“No, it’s –“ She seemed a little disoriented. She reached out her hand to shake his. “I’m sorry, you just seem-- Your eyes. Have we met?”
Jason flicked a look at Matt, who was now just staring at the waitress with more than a little curiosity, his hand still outstretched.
“Mara?” Jason said in a low, soft voice.
“I think so.” She whispered. “Do we know each other?”
Jason took her hand. “I think we do. I’m Jason.”
“I knew that.” Mara smiled, and then blinked, and looked over at Matt. “Yeah, ok.” She chewed on her gum. She took the bill from Matt, “Well, thanks. Be right back with your change.” She sharply pulled her hand from Jason. Matt cocked his head, “Keep it. Mara?”
“No, Cindy.” She tapped her nametag, “Cindy. “ She walked away, “You boys have a great day!”
Matt turned to Jason, who was looking a little proud of himself. Matt stood from the table. “All of them, huh?” He popped his mint in his mouth and threw the wrapper on the table. “Let’s start over. Tell me about this girl.”