American Hardball

Ah, alas it is the glorious month of October! October has been my favorite month for years... the season change, leaves changing color, when we break out the sweaters and jackets, perhaps heat up some hot chocolate, sit by the television on Sunday afternoons watching football, and - above all - October is the one month when every baseball fan in the country joins together for three glorious weeks praying to God - again - that the Yankees will lose.

I love this time of year.

This October seems to be particularly glorious as I reap the benefits of all October has to offer since October was pretty lame last year in Los Angeles. On top of all the changes I listed above I can now add that I have a new job - yes, the one at That Seafood Restaurant - and in addition to a new job I would like to announce that I also have a new friend.

Yes, I have adopted a brit. He is my new friend.

I was going to write a post back in the summer (when the season was different) about how odd it is that I seem to run into Brits wherever I go. Brits in Adams Morgan, Brits in New York, Regular Brit customers who come into the Corporate Coffee Shop and order a double espresso. I love Brits, mostly because every time they speak I am reminded of my time in London. It just makes me smile.

My new Brit is also my twin. His friends call him Ali, he is my age, our birthdays are eight days apart, he wants to be an actor, he is planning to move to NYC and he really likes to "go for a pint" with his "mates." I love it! Additionally, my brit does amazing Ali G impressions which make me laugh really hard.

(Also, my Brit is an excellent addition to The Urban Achievers at Pub Quiz and promises he will become a member of the team starting next Tuesday where he can answer all those tough British questions since a) he's a Brit and b) he used to host a pub quiz in Edinbugh. How perfect!)

Anyway, this past Saturday the Brit stopped by the Corporate Coffee Shop Where I Work (he lives next door). We spent a couple hours chatting, sitting in the park, eating bagels, getting to know one another, becoming mates, and all that. We talked about family, school, travel, work, coffee, how he's adjusting to the states - all that normal stuff. Well, until the very end.

Just before we parted ways I had to stop myself. Something was missing. A topic of conversation that is usually required this time of year was not touched upon. I turned to him, "Hey, Al, are you into any American sports?"
"Well, Andy has taught me a little about American Hand Ball..."
"Hand ball...? You mean, football?"
"Yeah, but not football -"
"-right, not soccer... but, um, what about baseball?" I looked up at him, the not-so-British October sun shining around us.
"No, not so much, not really."
"OK. Hold on one second," I said, "We need to stop."
"OK..."
"Al," I went on, "This is a very important time of year, and if we're going to be friends I need you to understand what is happening during the month of October."
"OK..."
"This weekend, you see..." and I went on to explain the AL and the NL, the way the playoffs work and who was paired up to play the last weekend of regular season. "So, Al, what I need you to understand is that right now we have to be huge Cleveland fans and huge Boston fans. Whatever happens," I said rather intensely, "the Yankees must not win. Do you understand this?"
"OK, yes."
"We hate the Yankees."
"Got it."

Now I know many of you at this point might call me out on preaching - something I hate - and say that I shouldn't peg my beliefs on another person. However, I know most of you are applauding. As you should be.

Sunday night my new "mate" and I went for a few "pints" of Pilsner after work. As we sat at the bar he turned to me.
"Oh! Alli!" he said. "I was watching the news this afternoon and saw that Boston made it into the playoffs. I figured you'd be rather pleased about that."
I looked at him. "Well... Al... see, I don't like the Red Sox really, at all, actually, except for this time of year. It's not so much about them winning so much as it is about the-"
"-the Yankees losing," he interrupted.
I smiled. "I think we're gonna be good friends."


Here's to another great October!