So-and-so.

In the course of telling a story,

you mention someone's name.

You keep talking

a mile a minute,

but then

something breaks across

your listener's face.

"So-and-so?

Wait a minute.

I know him!"

The moment you hear that,

your heart leaps.

She knows So-and-so?

It's so deliciously unexpected.

For a moment

you imagine all

the perpetual absurdity of life

lining up in a

perfect

unexplainable

row.

You take the paper dolls

that you have in your mind

of So-and-so

and your listener friend,

and force them into a room together

and make them interact.

But your mind's racing ahead of you,

of course.

Your fingers and hers

grab for your pockets,

for your phones,

for Facebook

to prove it.

You type in So-and-so,

pull him up,

turn your phone around.

Ta-da.

The big reveal.

It is the same So-and-so.

Now you have no choice

but to retell your story

over again,

as your listener

gladly interjects

biographical facts about So-and-so

and estimations of his character.

Maybe you end up

talking about it

for longer than the story deserves.

But there will be

a half smile on your face

for a while,

now that you live inside

this happy discovery.

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