Who you gonna call?

I have finally perfected the art of making thai curry at home. I vaguely remember that there was a nasty tasting meal once, a long long time ago, and I gave up the idea of ever making anything remotely thai at home. But I found these beautiful little purple and white striped eggplants at the farmers market and they were screaming for some curry. So, a can of coconut milk, some brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of red curry paste, basil from the garden those eggplants, some tofu, 90 minutes and a really messed up kitchen later.... Viola. Red curry perfection.

So, I've made it umpteen times in the past 3 weeks, and forced it on the Prof at least twice. He raved about it the first time, but was a bit less enthusiastic the second time. Maybe he was just being nice?

At any rate, over curry, we were talking about friends. We both have a lot of them. Really close friends. Work friends you see every day and know more about your life than your real friends. Close friends who live far away. Far away friends we never talk to anymore. Friends we do certain things with, but would never call when you are in tears and need to be comforted. It was at that point that Prof asked me:

"Well, whose the first person you call when you are upset?"

I pause. So the inside of my brain could say "Oh, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. Its you, of course, you dumb ass. But I don't want to tell you that. Jeezus. Really? Are you going to make me admit how important you are to me? That makes me vulnerable. I can't lie, can I? Crap. I'm going to have to admit that I have feelings. This blows."

(its amazing how quickly the brain processes this information. I only paused for 2 seconds).

So, I have to tell him. "Well, it used to be S, or T, or Kiwi... But I guess now I'd probably call you first."

Honestly, he looked a little smug. He knew what the answer was, but he wanted to hear me say it. That jerk. It was a little victory for him. He knows he's important to me, but we don't really talk about it. We hint at it. He knows it scares the crap out of me. And, I think it might scare him a little bit too. You know, thinking back on it, I don't think I asked him the same question. I was too shell shocked by my truthful answer to ask him who his person was, so he weaseled out of that one. Prof - 1. Susan - 0.