BBQ and badmitton

Lynda called me Saturday night to invite me to brunch the next morning. Sereen was in town from D.C. and wanted to meet up. I had to do laundry. But I said yes anyway.

We met at a store on West Broadway. Lynda said that Sereen was trying on dresses and that she wouldn't come out to show me. She told me to wait outside and look at the art. I stayed in and flipped through magazines. When we were done we rode up to Chelsea market and ate at 202, where the restaurant was placed in the middle of a store. "I'll have the scrambled eggs and the striped dress, please." I was wondering if they throw food in with each purchase. A skirt that Lynda liked was around $600.00. It was nice, but out of her budget.

I had commented on Lynda's clothing and jewelry. She said she had exchanged the necklace for the one she had on. She described the other necklace and I said the one she had on was better and told her why. She said I had good taste. I said I might, but that I don't use it on myself.

After brunch I had to make my way to Brooklyn for Teresa's BBQ. I haven't been to a BBQ in years. I promised to bring chips and Chips Ahoy.

For the occasion, Teresa bought a new grill from K-mart. Her friend Vivian bought a badmitton set there, too. The net seemed too wide and too low, as if the manufacturer had turned the plans sideways. Vivian said that she had leftover parts that she didn't use. I asked if some of those were extra pole pieces. She said no and asked if I wanted to play.

I love badmitton. I haven't played in over ten years and now I'm wondering if there's a league I can join. I'm not particularly good (my body today is sore, especially my forearms) but there's something about it I really enjoy. Maybe because it's less strenous than tennis but more strenuous than table tennis (I'm the Goldilocks of sports). We volleyed and then tried to play a match but the low net made it too easy to spike the shuttlecock.

Teresa grilled burgers and hot dogs. The burgers were great. Some fed the flames, some fed her friends. At around eight she doused the coals and we packed up to go back to Manhattan. I had told Guillemette I would stop by to look at the design proofs for her book at 7:15. I was late.

She was alone when I got to the apartment. Her book club had ended and everyone had gone home. Berit was out with her cousin. Guillemette was working on a story. She offered me wine or juice. I chose o.j. and snacked on the leftovers. A raspberry custard tart was especially good. We talked about the book she chose for her book club and the discussion. I hadn't read the book, but was intrigued. She said we could talk about it after I had the chance to read it.

After an hour, I took my leave. A breeze wound its way through the city, cooling the streets, and I decided to walk home. Nearing Astor Place, I heard what I took to be thunder until I looked down the length of 10th Street towards the water. I could see bits of fireworks blocked by the buildings. I walked another block south and had an unadulterated view. I stood on the sidewalk and watched the explosions, between slivers of concrete. Cabs drove by, slowing to see if I would flag them down. Less than five minutes later, it was over, and I continued on home.
Posted by eku at June 27, 2005 5:33 PM