Done for the day.

I was finishing up the next three jobs for the coming weeks, babbling on the phone with Margaret Stafford-- a society broad from San Marino...

"Okay, Mrs. Stafford, we're gonna have a hundred tiny candles floating in your swimming pool, waiters dressed as medieval characters, and when they sing your husband's birthday song, we let loose sparklers by the Rinaldi Family... you do know the Rinaldi Family?" I asked.

"Of course, Andrew! This is fabulous! What about the finale?" she asked.

The finale? I thought I had just told her the finale... shit.

"Uh.... well, uh... let's see. We close the evening with uh... the Mark Morris Dance Company... I've got a call out to them now... and present each of the guests with outrageous gifts."

"But it's my husband's birthday, Andrew. Why would they receive the gifts?"

"Uh... did you ever read, "The Hobbit?"

"The what?"

"'The Hobbit,' in 'The Hobbit,' it's customary to give everyone else a gift on your birthday!"

PAUSE.

"I love it, Andrew! You're a genius!"

Phewww!

*****

It was quitting time. But I was in the mood to entertain.

Suddenly, I had the greatest idea. I punched in Eric's work number on speed dial.

"Hello?"

It didn't sound like Eric, it sounded weird.

"Eric? It's Drew."

"Oh. Oh. Oh. Hi, Drew.... what's up?"

It was Eric. Obviously, I'd interrupted him. Hmmm.....

"Are you okay," I asked. "You sound funny."

"I'm fine, Andrew. What's up?"

"I just decided to throw one of my famous dinner parties and I wanted you to invite some of your friends from work. I thought it'd be great to have them over to the house. You know, so I could become more a part of your life. Especially that stunning Rebecca Granville. She seems terrific!"

"NO!" he snapped loudly. I was completely taken aback. Had I said something wrong?

He went on... "Andrew, I told you it's touchy here with me. I told you that it's not the best thing to have my work life and my private life mixed. Having a dinner party is a really bad idea."

"Okay," I said. Clearly, he hadn't made any progress in the "coming out" department at work. I was instantly in a lousy mood. So much for bringing us back together, I thought.

"Fine. I gotta go, Eric," I said.

"Andrew -- I'm sorry, it's just not a good time for this. Okay?"

"Sure. Fine. Goodbye."