June 30th 2014

My roommate sits in front of the mirror, teasing her hair like she does all of the guys at the gym.  I stand behind her, my gaze drifting from her curls to the smirk she wears. She looks up to me and asks what time it is.  “What does it matter to you,” I say, “Time is no issue when you have all night to do what you want with…what’s his name?” 

“Gabriel,” Annette says, rolling her eyes.  She gets up and pushes the stool back in.  She looks me in the eyes, takes my hand and places it on my heart.  “It’s no big deal, anyways,” she says, “He’s just a chimpanzee.”

“Another chimpanzee, huh?” I ask, taking her hand, swinging it back and forth.  “What is the point in this rendezvous of yours?  God knows you don’t need the confidence boost.”

“How would you know,” Annette says, flopping down on the second bunk.  “You’ve had John all your life.  You and him go together.”  She picks up her clutch, unzippers it, and digs out her wallet.  “Do you have a few dollars I could borrow?”

“Answer my question, Annette.  Why don’t you start dating someone seriously?  Are you afraid of commitment?  Or are you just too good for the guys of this school?”

Annette takes a deep breath.  She throws her head back, without laughing, rolling it around a pivot; typical Annette behavior- demand an answer, don’t expect to get one.  “I need my chimpanzees,” she says, “They are my bananas when I’m hungry.  They make me free when I’m encaged.  I can swing from one to one without any questioning.  I need my fun, Bridget.  Even more importantly, I need something to do on a Saturday night without any kind of commitment.  Call me a butt-scratching-animal lover, but they are what keep me alive.  At least until I can find the type of species I am in a guy.  What kind of animal do you think I am?”

“Would you get mad if I said you most remind me of a rabbit?”  I ask her.

She stands up and takes her jacket off of the door knob.  “Why a rabbit?” she asks.

“Because,” I say, “I can see the red in your eyes when you are about to hide.”