On Friday, not much got done at work. Everyone’s mind was on the Christmas party that night at the San Francisco Golf Club, which is back of beyond somewhere past the Stonestown Galleria. I had no idea how Michael and I were going to get there until Woody, an agent who lives nearby on Pleasant, said he’d give us a ride.

The comroom felt oddly slow and airless, though Kay provided one diversion by having a phone conversation, obviously with Lou. “Oh damn!” he exclaimed. “That’s just too bad! Oh well, you know, it would be better if she didn’t go.” He hung up the phone. After a moment, he sighed heavily.

I finally obliged him by asking, “What’s the matter?”

“Both our dates cancelled out on us!” he said, and then went on to explain, his face doleful, how his date had studying to do that night. (On Friday. Right.) He provided no explanation for Lou’s date not coming through.

I pretended to believe him and looked forward to seeing Kay and Lou finally coming out of the closet as a couple at the Christmas party.