“hi,” i said into the phone.
“heeeyyy,” FFJ said.
“guess who called me?” i asked.
“sweet rob?”
“YES!”

then there was much indecipherable screeching and laughter.

“as soon as he said his name i thought for sure he was gonna say something like, ‘hey freakshow i read your web site, how about you not come to class’.”
“does he know about your web site?” FFJ gasped.
“i dunno.”
“so what did he want?”
“he wants me to bring a story to class the first night.”
“shut up!”
“i know!”
“he called you because he knows that you are a fan-fucking-fabulous writer.”
“nah, it’s because he knows i’m probably the biggest sucker in the class.”
“repeat after me,” she said.
“ok.”
“i jodi chromey.”
“i jodi chromey.”
“am a fantastic writer.”
“am a fantastic writer.”
“and the only person who doesn’t know this.”
“and the only person who doesn’t know this.”
“is me.”
“is me.”

then, of course, we had to see if we could do three-way calling to get smelanie on the phone. and then there was much more screeching and laughter because three 30somethign women should not be made so giddy by a silly phone call. but we were, and i don’t think any of us cared.

and in the end, he called me to bring a story. me!