A Tale of Two Rivals

Getting Back to Conversing With Soledad

Just as I thought about the Fallarbor Contest, I finally noticed that Soledad had said something to me.

Soledad: You know, Drew, I do enjoy our little chats all the time, I really do. I'm always happy to talk with you, except that a conversation is usually a two-way street, which means that when one person is talking, the other person is listening and actively participating in the conversation and giving better responses to their co-converser than just a simple nod every two minutes. At least, that's what the other person is supposed to be doing, and yet you've not been doing much talking this whole time and have only nodded every two minutes. I get the feeling that you haven't really been even tuned into our conversation.

I just blinked a few times if only to focus back on my salmon-pink haired elder-sister-figure of an old friend. The only problem with my end of our conversation between was that I was being far too slow to listen to Soledad for my norm. I had gotten so lost in my own mind when I finally realized that I had not heard much of her end of our conversation at the time. When Soledad was not talking about contests which she had been in since she had yet to participate in any new contests, I had just faded out of our conversation for a bit.

I did not fade out of our conversation after her talk of contests because I did not care. It would never be like that. Soledad was such a good friend to me, that she was like the older sister I never had, and I was always content to learn what was going on in her life, along with her adventures. The adrenaline from my most recent loss had simply kept my brain focused on contests, coordinating and not much else. That was really why I had managed to check out.

Yours Truly: Huh? I'm sorry, Soledad. You, um, say something or other?

Soledad: You seem a little off tonight, Drew. You just don't seem to be as interested in the conversation as I'd normally expect from you. OK, let's hear it!

Yours Truly: What are you talking about now, Soledad?

Soledad: I'm talking about whatever it is that's up with you tonight.

Yours Truly: It's nothing. I'm just thinking about the last pokémon contest I had competed in recently, the one that was set in Fallarbor Town.

Soledad: Oh yeah, we never got around to talking about your most recent contest. Well, if you wanted to stay focused on talking about coordinating and pokémon contests, you do know that you could've just said so, don't you?

I can easily admit that I could not think of a dignified response for Soledad's question. On the positive side, however, she did take the next comment all to herself.

Soledad (continued): I just happened to notice that Roselia looked as beautiful as ever in the contest.

With that comment from Soledad, I actually did manage to think of a response the second time.

Yours Truly: I'll be sure to pass your compliment along to her, then.

Soledad just chuckled at my response before sending her own response back to me.

Soledad: You go ahead and do that.

That was the last I had heard Soledad say before she grew thirsty.