Catch me in case you can

Playing the social gathering sport together with your psychological rolodex

So we’re at this swank social gathering and having fun with the atmosphere when a man thumps me on the again and says, my goodness it’s you, fancy assembly you right here, very long time no see, the place have you ever been hiding? I’m clean, no clue as I desperately riffle via my psychological rolodex. Now, it could be a lot extra smart to express regret, can’t fairly place you however no, we now have to play the social sport and faux and lie via our enamel as we Sherlock our means via a forest of social niceties.

So, I open the bid with good to see you too, how are you nowadays, that being par for the course. Mostly in Cape Town, he says, you continue to residing right here, how lengthy has it been, over twenty years since we final met. I nod, now looking for another highlight, some glimmer of recognition however the flip of the century, now that could be a clue. “And how’s work, doing well?” Not unhealthy…and also you? “Pretty good, a million here, a million there, you know how it is in my business.”

Actually, I don’t, so I say, robust instances, nonetheless blankety clean about who he’s and nothing additional approaching his enterprise. You are trying good, he says, you could have saved match. Not so unhealthy your self, I reply, you look simply the identical. All this sense round brings us to a momentary silence then I say, staying on the town lengthy? He says, every week at the very least, then off to Japan.

In a bid to make up for the guilt of not having the ability to place him I dive deeper into the darkness and say then we should get collectively. Catch up with previous instances, he says, will probably be enjoyable, you in contact with any of the previous gang? Good lord, did we belong to the identical gang? Where was this gang? I’m in contact with Ravi, he says. Now I’m wrestling with which Ravi. Everyone is aware of a Ravi or two.

Half a dozen clichés tumble out from either side about stuff like nice to catch up, let’s not wait this lengthy for the following spherical, recall the nice instances, let’s make it quickly. Then he says, by the best way, what’s your identify? I increase my eyes in shock. You don’t know my identify? He says nope, as a matter of reality I don’t know you both, we haven’t ever met, I simply do that for enjoyable, provides zip to the night, everybody falls for it. No one has ever known as me on it, isn’t that unbelievable, it’s a riot watching of us struggling to put a stranger. Then he places out his hand and introduces himself.

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