On the Other Side(17)
“Hey! Damita! Damita, is that you?”
She didn’t hear her coworker, Tina, trying to get her attention.
“Hey!”
Damita turned to find Tina Rogers, tapping her on the shoulder.
“Hey, married lady.”
Damita’s expression was emotionless. “Oh, hey, Tina. What brings you to my neck of the woods? I thought you were a downtown, girl. Murray Hill, right?”
“I’m kind of on a date. He lives in the area. The guy’s never got a thing in his refrigerator. I wanted to make sure we have something for breakfast in the morning.”
Whenever Damita saw Tina she thought of a line from the movie Working Girl. Much like Melanie Griffith’s character, Tess McGill, Tina had a head for business and a body for sin. Damita often watched the men (and some of the women) make idiots of themselves whenever they were in her presence. Even their boss, Michael Underhill, was rumored to have slept with Tina. Damita tried to keep an open mind about Tina, but when she came into the office with her tight skirts and low-cut tops, Damita had a great deal of difficulty not judging her. Now, here she was at a time when Damita felt more insecure about herself than ever before.
“Sounds like my refrigerator.”
“At least you have an excuse. You just got married. I can imagine food has been the last thing on the minds of two newlyweds. It must be nice.”
“Yeah, it’s nice.”
“Whenever someone else gets married it gives me hope that I’ll have my chance one day.”
“Take your time. It’ll happen exactly when, and if, it’s supposed to. I find it fascinating how so many single people want to be married, and how many married people wish they were single again. It’s funny how we idealize things and situations, just because it’s what we think will make us whole.”
“I’ve never thought of it that way. Thanks.”
“For what?” Damita asked.
“I’ve always gotten the impression that you don’t like me very much.”
“No. No. Where on Earth did you ever get that idea?”
“You don’t have to deny it, Damita. I realize what people think of me.”
“You’re so smart. I hate to see any woman sell herself short.”
Five seconds after the words were out of her mouth Damita realized how hypocritical it sounded. She, of all people, was not in the position to preach to anyone about selling themselves short.
“Well, it feels good to know that you consider me smart, anyway.”
“Of course I do.”
“I should get going and let you finish your shopping. It was nice seeing you.”
“It was nice seeing you, too.”
As Tina walked away she wondered what Damita’s story was. She had worked with her for at least three years and she always seemed so happy, especially at her wedding. Now, one week later, she was a different woman; distracted, edgy, even sad. Tina turned back and waved goodbye.
Tina said, “See you at work.”
“I’ll see you at work,” Damita responded.
Damita glanced at her watch and wondered how it was that she became the kind of person that was afraid of how long she’d spent shopping in the supermarket. She rushed through her shopping, so she could make up for the time she lost talking to Tina.
“Look who is finally back,” Neal said, waiting at the door.
Damita sighed. “I saw one of my coworkers at the supermarket.”
“I’ll bet. What’s his name?”
“Her name is Tina. I told you about her. The investment banker who wears the tight dresses to work.”
“Ah. I do remember you talking about the fair Tina. She’s the blonde with the Jessica Rabbit figure. I saw her at the wedding. She was wearing a pink dress, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah, that’s her. She seemed to stick in your mind.”
Neal smirked. “Why, Damita, are you actually jealous?”
“No, I’m not jealous. It’s just, how often does a man remember what a woman was wearing?”
“When the woman’s measurements are thirty-eight, twenty-four, thirty-six, you can’t help but remember. Hell, I got married. I didn’t stop being a man.”
“I guess that’s what men do. Quantity always overrides quality.”
“It sounds to me like you’re doing the same thing. How do you know Tina Rabbit is not possessing of quality?”
“Quality doesn’t sleep with married men or just about any man who wants her.”
“Wow, if that ain’t the most judgmental thing I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is. One thing I will say about Tina, and women like her, is at least they’re true to themselves and they don’t feel the need to create a public persona that isn’t real.”