"Dude, you just gotta do it. For your own sake. So you don't make the same mistake."
I blinked. "Okay."
Lester was referring to the Anna-incident with which I didn't want a repeat. Lester was going away on another business trip, leaving me alone. I had his new number now, but he told me the week was going to be extremely busy and he wouldn't be able to talk very long over the phone. He suggested I get a texting plan because it was easier to communicate that way and no one cares if you text while you talk to them. But they would certainly care if you were on the phone with someone. I didn't quite understand how texting could be any better. It is still a blatant display of not fully paying attention to someone.
"Great, I'll drive you to the Sprint store right now."
"I've got a bad feeling about this," I said.
At the mall I tripped over a bench while trying not to look at the giant red lingerie-wearing model in the Victoria's Secret window. Lester tried not to laugh. A kid to my left screamed as he was being pulled away from Game Stop by his tired-eyed mother. I gulped the cool fake air, stumbling to the Sprint kiosk.
"Hello," the man in the yellow shirt, goatee, and spiked hair said. "How may I help you?"
I gripped the glass counter of the display case. "I want to get a texting plan for my phone."
"Sounds great. What's your account number?" After I gave him the required information and he typed away at his computer, he said, "Well, it says here you've had a plan with us for over two years now which means along with your new texting capabilities, you can upgrade your phone for free. And you're in luck. Today just so happens to be the last day of a special promotion where you can upgrade to the Blackberry completely for free."
"That's okay. I just want the texting."
"Hold on," Lester butt in. "The Blackberry is for free."
"Yeah, but my old phone works fine. I just wanna get outta here."
"Dude, the Blackberry is a better phone. It won't take that long. Just do it, man. I'll be mad if you don't."
He looked serious so I said, "Fine."
So now I am a Blackberry owner and a texter. I feel so unclean.
The first person I texted was Anna. I only saw her once after that fateful day. Her, Lester, and I went to see Water for Elephants in the theater. She seemed completely normal, but I couldn't look at her even when I talked to her.
Our conversation:
Me: Sorry about the other night. I dont know what i was thinking
Her: Who is this?
Me: Oh sorry ray
Her: Its okay ray. Lets just forget about it. Ok?
Me: Yeah ok. I found a dead bird outside yesterday.
And the conversation went on well into the night. It was a lot easier to talk to her via texting. I don't know how I got on without this technology before.
