The words he typed, as buddy chat and not just regular location chat, appeared red in Alilshy's game window proving that she was on his list.

Alilshy: Wow! The most famous Enchanter in SD has me on his list and

Alilshy: I don't even remember meeting him. Dumb me

Igor: I was nobody when we met. You wouldn't have remembered

Alilshy: But now you're somebody?

Igor: I didn't mean it that way

Alilshy: What way?

Igor: Like I was bragging

Alilshy: NO! That's not what I meant either. I meant that

Alilshy: you had to wait until you were famous to say hello to me

Alilshy: to me, just a nobody

Sometimes, Jeff really hated the limits typing put on conversations. This was one of those times. It seemed the whole interaction was spinning out of control.

Igor: I didn't know what to say. I didn't wait on purpose. Not like I planned it

Alilshy: So why did you wait?

Jeff thought hard before typing.

Igor: I was afraid of what you would think. I guess I didn't know what to say

Alilshy: You must be a little shy

Igor: Me? I don't think so. I just didn't want to offend you

Alilshy: Oh. I thought maybe you were shy

Alilshy: I am shy, in real life. I'd understand

Igor: I just didn't want you to think I was coming on to you. I just thought

Igor: you were clever and funny that one time we met

Alilshy: Funny? Me? What did I do?

Jeff recounted the incident with Boris. After that, the conversation seemed to take off, and they kept chatting, long after each had killed a demon and earned the key needed to pass the imposing door.

A few dozen other players came and went, but still Igor and Alilshy chatted away. She could not believe he had been afraid of her, and he could not believe how easy it was to talk to her.

The hours rolled by and Jeff realized he had no clue who won whatever baseball game had been on that night. Nor had either of them passed out of the room in which they had started. Finally, Alilshy called it a night.

Alilshy: Well, it's getting late. 11:44 here (CST, USA you?)

Igor: Same

Central time zone. Jeff smiled. That makes it easier to be friends.

Alilshy: I have to be at work early in the morning, so I need to go to bed

Igor: Work? So you're an adult? I figured

Alilshy: Did we not do that somewhere? I am S, F, 31. You?

Single, Female, 31. Nice to know. Though Jeff was not inclined to Internet romances, and it was often for such purposes that marriage status, gender, and age were swapped such information was a handy thing to know in order to gauge the other person.

Igor: S, M, 36

Alilshy: Look, don't take this wrong, ok? Do you want to meet tomorrow?

Igor: How could I take that wrong?

Alilshy: Well, I was sort of afraid you'd think I wanted you to give me

Alilshy: free enchantment services or something. You ARE famous and I

Alilshy: bet you get asked for stuff all the time. I just thought we

Alilshy: might actually use these keys and see what comes next?

Igor: I'd love to meet. Same time? Same server?

Alilshy: :-) See you

Igor: I'll be here

Alilshy: One last thing . . .

Igor: ?

Alilshy: I'm glad you took a chance to introduce yourself

Igor: I am too

Alilshy: :-) Sleep well

Igor: Good night

SYSTEM: Your buddy, Alilshy, has logged out

Jeff logged out, too, and looked at the clock. The night had flown by and he had made a new on-line friend. He went to bed pleased that he had finally said, "hello." Of course, beating the incalculably small chance of actually bumping into her again in the game helped him with his courage, but after that, things had gone pretty well, by his estimation. Jeff slept well that night.

The next day at work, he thought the world had fallen into a time warp and everything seemed to be moving so slowly. The rational part of his brain reprimanded the rest of him that so eagerly awaited the end of the day and a chance to hang out on- line with Alilshy. The irrational part won out and Jeff hurried home as quickly as his Jeep could carry him.

That night, they used their keys, moved past the demon chamber, and freed a Non-Player Character, "PollyWolly" from where she had been locked in a cage. She "told" them what to do next.

Igor: That was easy

Alilshy: :-) It was

Igor: Well, off to the cavern moss patch, whatever that is

Unlike many players, Jeff refused to look at the walk- throughs that inevitably were posted on the bulletin boards within 48 hours of a quest release. Jeff liked to play it through, making his share of mistakes, but ultimately feeling satisfied with the success.

Alilshy: You don't know either?

Igor: ?? Not yet

Alilshy: So you're not using a walk-through either?

Igor: !! Hate them. :-( I never use them. You?

Alilshy: Nope. Takes the fun out

Like-minded. Nice, Jeff thought.