Friday 21 November 2014

What's in a Name? part 2




I think this story stands alone but it is also a part 2 to this one from earlier this week. 

Mitch was about as interested in the food as a year 11 student might be in a geometry lesson. He pushed it around the plate like a bored actor having to do take 12 of a restuarant scene. The attempt to change his name had gone horribly wrong and now he was back to square one and morbidly depressed. 
He’d started the day with so much hope, the excitemnt of starting again, like a virgin, touched for the very first time. But that optimisim evaporated quicker than his enthusiasm for the pie, peas and mash that had been placed in front of him moments ago. He took one more mouthful, took another swing of his beer and then decided to pay and go home. He’d drown his sorrows in private tonight. 
‘Michigan Ralph Phillips’ the barmaid read the name as she processed the credit card.’That's an unusual name’ she said. 
‘I know,’ he mumbled blushing, just wanting to get out the bar and head home. 
‘I like it’, she said. Mitch looked at her, she didn’t look crazy, in fact she looked just delicious but she must have been taking the piss, no one liked his name, not even his parents seemed to like his name these days.
‘You what?’ he said.
‘I like it’ she repeated. ‘It’s got a nice ring to it.’ 
Mitch looked shocked. This couldn’t be happening. He’d always blamed his name for his lack of success with women, he felt he never had the confidence that went with being a Mark or a Todd. In fact he blamed his name for everything - his mediocre job, his average qualifications, his boring life were all down to having a stupid, pointless name. Who promotes a Michigan? Who dates a Michigan?
But now this woman behind the bar was saying she liked his name. Mitch could only assume she was joking, teasing him like those bastards had in school  But as he went to leave he heard her say something. 
Mitch turned expecting to see her outstretched hand expecting a tip. He was half right. The hand was outstretched  but it wasn’t begging for money, it was offering a piece of paper 
‘Call me, Michigan Ralph Phillips,’ she smiled as she handed over her number.







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