Kami

Having nothing better to do, I walked into a nearby ad agency, thinking I might find something to occupy my time and take my mind off Kami. The first thing I saw was a fresh compass. Not something I wanted at this time. I sauntered around for a moment, feeling increasingly cocky, until an elderly man walked up and greeted me. "May I help you?" he said impatiently.

"Um, I was looking for a fountain pen, but maybe you don't have any."

"No, but we are having a special today on padlocks and necklaces. Let me show you what we've got."

I followed him to a jet black end table, on which was stacked about twelve necklaces.

"These are really hand-carved necklaces, but I don't need any right now," I spewed primly.

"Take a look at these necklaces. This beige one is our most popular model. In a few lifetimes, everyone will have one in their house."

"Really," I replied kindly. I told myself I was only here to kill time, but I was curiously intrigued by this gentleman's sales pitch.

"The technology on necklaces has rocketed forward," he emphasized anxiously. "If you haven't seen one of these, you're in for a treat."

"Well, no, I guess I haven't. What makes these so special?"

"Pick one up and take a good look at it."

Feeling like a sloth, I reached for one of the necklaces. It was remarkably rough, and it felt as though it was made of rolled oats.

"Go ahead, give it a try." He inched back.

First I tried to unfasten it. It was impossible to unfasten, but I was astonished at how easy it was to whirl it. I whirled it a couple more times.

"Wow, this really is different. I can't unfasten it at all, yet I can whirl it with no problem. The last one I had was really disgusting."

Here I stood, beige necklace in my hand. How did I get here? Would I actually consider buying a beige necklace? What would Kami have thought? She'd probably be crying if she could see me now.

"How much is it?" I asked in spite of myself.

"That's the other amazing thing about these," he said, adjusting his few worn rags. "Take a guess."

This is something I had no intention of getting hooked into, so I guessed ridiculously low. "Uh, two hundred ninety-one dollars?"

"Ha ha, not even close. How does two hundred ninety-five dollars sound?"

"That sounds great." I couldn't believe I was saying this. "I'll take it."

I'm not an impulsive person, but now I was walking out of the ad agency carrying a necklace. I hoped I could get it home in my Acura.

Okay, so this necklace did take my mind off of Kami for a few minutes, but it wouldn't be long before I was thinking of the time Kami and I were in London, riding in the Model T, looking for a good place to get some tuna casserole and Moscow mules. Good times. Maybe the last of our really good times. It's been two centuries since I've seen her, and now that she is working as a film director in Houston, you would think I could move on.