Read Other Page 6

Five

  I sit at my desk, my head in my hands, and wait for my laptop to start. Now that I’ve met him, I can’t resist inspecting “Takehiko’s” blog again. He has a lot of inspired lunacy on there. Last week he posted a comic called “Invasion of the Mutant Tribbles!” An anime-style samurai stands in a bamboo forest as monstrous little furballs jump toward him, fangs gleaming. The samurai says, “WTF? (in Japanese).” Actually with the parentheses. Tavian also has a strange fascination with zombies. He likes putting them into sophisticated situations, like zombies golfing, or zombies sipping champagne and saying, “Indeed.”

  Stuff like that makes me wonder whether Tavian’s just a total goofball with a penchant for the bizarre, but he occasionally posts serious fantasy art. At least he calls it fantasy, but the Others he draws look so very realistic.

  Today he uploaded a quickly colored sketch of a bay centaur standing on a grassy hill. The centaur is standing with his back to us, staring at a flaming sunset beyond a grove of olive trees. I can see longing in the tilt of his neck, the tension in his arms. The title: “Home.” Oh, the centaur must be in Greece.

  Wait. I stare at his dark curly hair. Isn’t this the exact same one I saw at the Safeway?

  I lean back in my chair and frown. Who is Tavian, anyway? I click on the About Me part of his blog. It doesn’t say anything about his age or location, just, “I’m a work in progress.” Up at the top, there’s a button to message him.

  My finger hovers. Should I bother him?

  blackmagic: Tavian? this is Gwen

  blackmagic: we met today at the bookstore

  Takehiko: are you stalking me online?

  blackmagic: maybe ;-)

  Takehiko: O_O

  blackmagic: lol

  blackmagic: I like the art you posted, especially the centaur

  Takehiko: thanks

  Takehiko: brb

  After waiting five minutes, I wonder if I scared Tavian off. Or if he’s just not interested in chatting with me.

  Takehiko: back. I was texting one-handed while eating

  blackmagic: eating what?

  Takehiko: tofu. mmm

  blackmagic: seriously? :-P

  Takehiko: I
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