Day 99 - Everybody Knows Your Name

 Everybody Knows Your Name

 Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

Andy asked if my name was Mitchell because he couldn’t remember it was Mike. He was already beginning to sway back and forth and he leaned too close when he spoke. He was either too drunk or too high or a little of both.

I looked him square in the eyes and told him my name was Randy. Not because I was a liar, but because a mutual friend had been telling Andy the wrong names of people for the last hour and thought it would be funny to get some of us to play along when new people arrived. Funny prank, or mean-spirited? Maybe a little of both.

Andy was a nice guy. I had only met him a handful of times. I thought we got along well and I might have even started to think I liked him. But it was a little disappointing that he didn’t know my name. Last time I had seen him at a bar he had asked me if he could kiss me. It was late and we were both drunk and I didn’t think it would mean anything, so I said yes. It was a casual thing on a casual evening, where lots of people were just having fun. But still, I remembered it, and him and his name, and it did sting just a little bit that apparently, I was so forgettable. Maybe it was just the drugs. But maybe that was just an excuse.

I was a little bit jealous when I saw Andy talking to closely with Henry. I had the urge to interrupt into the conversation and break any rhythm forming between them. It was stupid and I was stupid and Andy didn’t even know my real name. Now he was calling me Randy and laughed because our names rhymed. Maybe a good opening line or a call to flirt further, if that had been my actual name and if other people weren’t playing name pranks on him. But there would be a time that someone would tell him, or if I wanted him to remember me, I’d have to tell him, and then Andy would get hurt or angry and perhaps blame me. And besides, he looked like he was having a good time now. Why would I want to interrupt that and be known as a spoiler.

I got myself another drink and talked to my friend Sydney. I kept glancing across the room, and at some point, noticed Andy and Henry were gone. No one remembered them saying goodbye. No one knew if they were in another room at the bar or had simply vanished without a word.

Lucky Henry.

I watched my friend Adam kiss Jay and thought of my moment with Andy. Not that it was memorable to anyone but me. But it was still mine and I could remember it in anyway I wanted.

Sydney had always been a mind reader and asked if I wanted to leave. I did and I didn’t, but it was probably wise and it was late and I could use a breakfast burrito if there was still someplace open.

I don’t remember throwing up, but I woke up in my bathroom and it was pretty obvious that I had. I really needed to drink less. Mornings after were always difficult.

I felt like an asshole. I couldn’t call Andy to apologize and the name pranks because he probably wouldn’t remember Randy or Mitch or Mike and then I’d just feel like three times the asshole that I felt like right now.