Circle Talk

The annals of work took me to a home of a client whom I had not met before. Not familiar with my destination, I kept my directions close to my vest since I have been known to get lost going to the commode. I placed an invisible checkmark next to each step of the directions in my crowded head. Pass the firehouse. Check. Pass the blinking light. Check. Pass the railroad tracks. Check. Pass a bank on my right. Check. Turn left into the Aloha Farms development. Check. When you can’t go straight make a right or a left. Check. Look for the only boat in the neighborhood. It’s a big Betsy parked in the double padded driveway. You can’t miss it. The housing development shone gorgeous although oddly situated in one looping circle comprising about 300 spacious homes. I had plenty of time to admire my surroundings since I steered my car around that circle three times before I saw my landmark. I finally saw a boat that I swear was not docked on my last two passes around the circle. Checkmate! Any bigger of a boat and it would be an injustice not to call it a schooner. I exited the car throwing my briefcase backpack over one shoulder and my laptop computer over the other. I hustled to the front door a few minutes late of my appointment time.

After the sound of footsteps cascading in the foyer, the door swung open. A woman greeted me with a smile. “Joe, I presume. Were my directions okay? I was expecting you earlier.”

I replied, “Your directions were flawless. I was bad. You see people say I miss the boat all the time. Today is no exception.”