"Ray.
You're staring at me again."
"Nah.
I'm staring into space. You just happen to be
in the space I'm staring into."
"Ah."
"Ah.
Right. There ya go with that 'Ah' thing again.
"I
don't mean to annoy you. "
"I
know that. You do it when either a) you don't know
what to say or 2. you think you shouldn't say what
you want to say. And I'm not annoyed. So, which is
it?"
"A"
"Good.
Cause you know you can say whatever you want to me,
right?"
"Mostly,
yes."
"Mostly.
What's that mean?"
"Well
Ray, no one can say whatever comes into their mind at
all times."
"I
do."
"No
you don't"
"Stop
arguing with me, Fraser. And I do."
"No
you don't. What were you thinking when you were
staring at me?"
"I
told you, you're occupying the space I was starin'
into. And I do."
"If
you say so, Ray."
"I
do."
"Fine,
Ray."
"You're
doin it again. What are you really thinking?"
"That
this conversation is inane."
"Told
ya you could do it. I'm not mad. Inane? You mean
stupid?"
"No,
I meant inane. It's the word I chose."
"OK
then. Good. You think they'll show tonight?"
"Perhaps."
"Hand
me the thermos, wouldja?"
"It's
almost empty."
"I
brought two."
"I
thought my tea was in the second."
"Nope."
"Oh."
"Don't
go actin all wounded there, Frase. Your tea's in the
third."
"Ah,
thank you."
"You're
welcome. What are you thinking about now?"
"Dinner."
"Jeeze,
Fraser, we just ate two hours ago. Are you always
hungry?"
"That's
the dinner I'm thinking about."
"Oh."
"Did
you notice the waiter acting strangely?"
"No.
Strange how?"
"She
was staring at you. Did she look familiar to you?"
"Nope.
Checking me out staring or knows me staring?"
"The
second, I think. I think we should eat there again
tomorrow and confront her."
"And
what logic brought you to this conclusion?"
"She
could have misrepresented herself to gain employment
and is planning something illegal. She may have
recognized you as a police officer and became nervous."
"That's
quite a leap there, buddy."
"Not
really."
"Fraser,
you're arguing with me again."
"I
believe it is you that is arguing with me, Ray."
"OK,
go through the steps. Why do you think she mis-
misrepresented herself?"
"Because
she was quite an inefficient service person"
"Fraser,
they probably pay three bucks an hour plus tips in
that place. Good waiters work in good restaurants."
"I
was quite satisfied with my meal."
"I
mean good like classy good."
"She
was wearing uncomfortable shoes."
"You
looked at her feet?"
"After
I noticed other things amiss, yes."
"Can't
we ever just have dinner?"
"We
did have dinner."
"No,
I mean just dinner. Dinner without supersleuthing."
"Ray,
I can hardly help it if I am observant."
"Observant,
right."
"I
consider myself a very observant person."
"You
are, Fraser."
"Then
why did you say 'right' in that tone."
"I
was agreeing."
"That
didn't sound like agreeing."
"Jeeze,
Fraser, give it a rest already."
"Ray,
I believe you're overstimulated from the coffee...
... and Diefenbaker agrees."
"What?
What? What did the damn wolf say? Forget it. You
know, it's convenient that only you know what he's
saying. Makes it easy for him to agree with you."
"Ray,
I would hardly say that Diefenbaker takes my side. In
fact, more often than not..."
"Fraser
-- you see headlights? Fraser... get back here...
shit!"
********
End Un #2
- Unconvinced
Next in series -- Convinced
*******