When invitations to go to the fair resulted
in only two guys hanging out for the night
they decided that the fair was kinda lame;
let’s drink beer and shoot pool instead.
So with far more quarters than any billiard skill
they got on with a night full of laughs and swapped stories.
See how these two balls are touching? one of them pointed out.
If I tap the one, the other will go off in that angle
and a Solid fell in the side. The other responded with a shot
hit so hard that his Stripe, quote, Beybladed into the corner.
After a couple hours of this, it wasn’t so much the quarters
that ran out but the ability to shoot anything straight,
a cue to set the sticks down and take a seat
where real conversation could begin.
All the topics were on the table: life, work opportunities,
relationships–they talked a lot about relationships.
One guy, a few months into dating a girl
had only good things to say about her and his well-being,
admitting to just one challenge–different attachment styles–
but he recognized positive value in growing within that.
The other shared lamentations for his status
often going years between girlfriends.
It’s lonely at times, but he does enjoy spontaneous freedoms
such as going to a bar with a friend on a whim,
how this is not the first bro-date he’s been on, the other guys
facing challenges like breakups or divorce,
invitations to turn singlehood into meaningfulness
helping another man keep himself together
but it’s nice to be checked in on every once in a while.
He’s not without days and nights of crushing sadness.
Not tonight, though. Tonight he feels full and content
which in turn uplifts the first guy. They’re doing good, here.
And even if it ends up being weeks
before they hang out again, they’ve achieved
a touching new level of comfort in knowing
a safety net is just a text or phone call away.
