Sunday, October 27, 2002

People who need people

When I got home last night, there was a message on my answering machine from The Movie Star. "Call me when you get in. I need a favor."

Mind you, I haven't seen -- except on the screen -- or talked with the guy in almost two years, but small talk and pleasantries were overlooked when I returned the call. "What was the name of that frozen yogurt stand you took me to the last time I was in St. Louis?" he asked.

"Ted Drewes," I said, "and it's frozen custard. There's a difference."

"OK, whatever. It's delicious. And you said they ship tons of the stuff out of town, right?"

This much is true, if a little exaggerated. Apparently, Ted Drewes -- which has only two locations and is available only in St. Louis -- has fans all over the world, many of whom will pay for overnight shipping and dry ice enough to get their fix long-distance.

The Movie Star came quickly to the point. "I need you to order a batch for me and ship it to a friend in Chicago," he said. "It's for a birthday party, on Friday. Can you do that?"

"Glad to," I said. "And I'm fine, by the way, thanks for asking."

"Good, good." He then reeled off a Visa number and a Gold Coast address. "Thanks!"

I read the information back to him. "So, don't you have people to do this sort of thing for you?" I asked.

"You've been watching too much E!" he said. "Anyway, in this case, you're 'my people'."

The conversation went casual after that and life updates and work grouses were duly exchanged, as well as a promise to buy me dinner the next time I hit the coast.

I suppose if I can't have people of my own, being someone else's people is the next best thing.