One Friday I was working in the office and my phone rang.  I was hoping it was a client I had been waiting on all afternoon.  I was ready to go home and relax.  My girlfriend had called me earlier in the day and said she wasn't feeling well.  So I had a night to do nothing.  However, it was my friend Charlie on the other end of the line.  He said, "Hey douche bag.  What's up?"  I said, "Nothing Charlie.  What's going on?"  Charlie replied, "Let's go shoot pool tonight down at Rudys."  I rolled my eyes and said, "Well, I was going to stay in tonight."  Charlie said, "Dont be such a queer!  Lets go raise hell."  I said, "OK... what time?"  Charlie said, "How about nine...and dont be late fag!"  I assured him I wouldn't and we hung up.  Shortly after, my client called and I closed my last deal of the day.  Ahhh...I could go home at last.

   I arrived home and plopped down on the couch.  I flipped on the television and a Mr. Belvedere re-run was on.  "AWESOME!" I thought.  I watched for a minute and then dozed off.  I awoke at 8:30 PM.  "Oh shit!  I have to meet Charlie in 30 minutes." I said to myself.  I changed out of my work clothes and hurried down to Rudys.

   I arrived right at nine and did not see Charlie.  However, the place was really packed.  So I made my way through the crowd.  I still didn't see Charlie.  So I ordered a drink and started talking to another friend.  About an hour passed and Charlie never showed.  I went over to the pay phone and called his apartment.  No answer.  I went back to my other friend and we shot some pool.  The night went on and a few more people we knew showed up and I ended up having a good time.  Charlie never made it.  I'd hoped everything was OK.  At 2:00 AM the bar was closing so my friends and I left.  I got back home and checked my messages.  None were from Charlie.  I called him again and got no answer.  I was worried, but I went to bed anyway. 

   I got up the next morning and was having coffee.  My phone rang.  It was Charlie.  He said, "Hey fag!  Whats going on?"  I said, "What the hell happened to you last night?"  He said, "What are you talking about?"  I said, "Rudys...pool...nine oclock???"  Charlie said, "Oh yeah, sorry.  I forgot about that and did something else."  I said, "Are you serious?  You're a jerk.  I cant believe you stood me up."  He said, "Get over it pussy.  Well do something tonight."  I replied, "Whatever man.  I had a great time anyway.  What do you want to do tonight?"  So we made plans for that evening.

   Time went on.  Charlie and I started our own truck rental business and became very successful.  We each bought large houses, drove expensive cars, and married beautiful women.  Our families were very close.  We vacationed together, spent holidays together, and our kids went to the same schools.  We had awesome lives.  Everything was perfect.  Perfect until Charlie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Both of our families were devastated.  Charlie received the best treatment available.  For the next year and a half, Charlie and I went all over the country getting doctors opinions and praying for the best.  The diagnoses were all the same.  Nothing was going to save Charlie. So we went back home.  Our families spent the remaining months together as we had done prior to the cancer. 

   One day, when Charlie was too ill to get out of bed; he asked me if I had any resentment towards him.  I told him no.  Then I thought for a moment and said, "Well this is stupid, but you remember that time you stood me up at Rudys?"  I expected him to not remember such an insignificant event.  After a few moments Charlie said, "Yes I do remember that.  I hope you will some day forgive me for that."  I laughed and said, "You are forgiven Charlie.  I'm sorry I even brought it up."  Charlie said, You don't understand.  I got you to go out that night and got our other friends to keep you out."  I was puzzled.  I asked, "Why?"  Charlie looked away sadly and said, "So I could have sex with your girlfriend.  I am so sorry."  I looked at Charlie.  His face was pale, his cheeks and eyes were sunk in, his hair was almost completely gone...he was dying.  I looked into his eyes and could see he was truly full of remorse.  I grabbed an extra pillow off the bed, put it over Charlie's face, and suffocated him.  I hate being stood up.