Getting it right.
“Can I get your name?”
Here goes nothing.
“It’s Rissey.”
“Gracie?”
I internally scoff. Figured. But everyone deserves a second chance…
“RRRissey.”
“Krissey?”
… Or maybe a third?
Maybe she didn’t hear it above all this… noise?
“R-I-S-S-E-Y.”
She looks at me then quickly scribbles “Krissey” on the cup.
Sometimes he writes “Krissy”, you know, without the ‘e’.
Sometimes she writes “Krizzy”. That one reminds me of rain. “Drizzle”. Hah, that would be a cool name.
But I don’t say anything. I don’t throw some random fit in the coffee shop after the nth try. I don’t think it’s worth that. It’s a common mistake. Forgivable. Totally.
“One tall strawberries and cream Frappuccino for KRISSEY!”
The first times, I would forget that they got my name wrong. The poor barista would have to repeat the whole statement again… and probably again, and again until I realize with a hint of embarrassment and slight exasperation “OH, right. That’s me.”
But things change. Normal.
I got used to the world hearing my name wrong. I lost that weak assertion I barely even had in the first place. I would say “Rissey” and without argument, I would end up being called “CRISSY” or “GRACIE” or some other name that’s not mine… and I would allow it, AND without that slight exasperation and embarrassment anymore, too. I’d stand up immediately upon hearing the names of these other people and get my drink, in defeat- WITHOUT even feeling defeated.
What’s the use, right? The world never gets it right. Why bother?
“Your name, ma’am.”
“Rissey.”
“Can you spell it for me, please?”
Screw this.
“Umm… R-I… Just use Sky.”
She takes it down. I sit and wait…
“One tall strawberries and cream Frappuccino for Sky!”
Sky chuckles to herself.
Wait.
Rissey’s not Sky. She’s not even Crissey or Krissy or Gracie or whatever-sy. She’s Rissey. How could’ve it taken so long to realize that? … It’s so fundamental that it’s funny.
What’s even funnier? How she let the world treat her. Just another name, probably one that’s been heard of before (No offense. These names are equally beautiful, nonetheless. I just need to make a point here.) when she’s NOT just another name. She’s a different name. A name worth spelling out every time. A beautiful, unique name that has probably been never heard of before that people tend to box it into something that it’s not. Forcing a rectangular block into an oblong-shaped hole, simply put- possible, but it just isn’t right. Let this be, and little by little, the rectangular block loses its edges and poof! It’s just another oblong, as well.
“Your name please?”
“Rissey.”
“Rachie?”
“Rissey.”
“Gracie.”
“R-I-S-S-E-Y.”
“R-I-… uhh?”
“I’ll write it down for you.”
