Alilshy: I don't even know his name. Never have asked. Never could

Alilshy: I mean, here I am living near a nice, attractive, single guy and

Alilshy: I can't even speak to him. Same at work

Igor: Yes?

Alilshy: I had to ask a guy in another department something and

Alilshy: it took me half a day to work up the courage. I even

Alilshy: asked one of the girls I eat lunch with to do it for me, but

Alilshy: she made me do it

Jeff could hardly take his eyes off the "guy in another department" line. His mind, again, turned to Janis.

If this is what it seems . . . Jeff smiled

Igor: I am sure that if I met you, I'd like you

Oops, Jeff thought immediately after he sent the message. That sounds a lot like I am suggesting we meet. I might have crossed a line, just now.

Alilshy: Maybe

Her answer did not tell Jeff how she felt about his remark. Jeff was glad that her response wasn't negative, at least.

Alilshy: Let's get on with this quest. We'll finish tomorrow night if

Alilshy: we stick with it

Igor: Okay. Let's go

By the time they had called it a night, they had recovered the Shaman's scepter, and needed only to escape from the vast catacomb, and use it to free him.

Alilshy: Well, looks like tomorrow night, and we will be done

Igor: Looks that way

Alilshy: Can I ask you something?

Igor: Sure

Alilshy: Will you still want to hang with me when we finish this quest?

Igor: Of course! Why would ask that?

Alilshy: Promise you won't be mad?

Igor: Promise

Alilshy: Well, I noticed the first night that I AM ten combat skills higher

Alilshy: than you and thought maybe you were being a friend just so I

Alilshy: could help you with the hard creatures we have had to fight

Igor: No way. Doing this quest with you has been the most fun I have had

Igor: in game ever. Remember? I was the one too shy to speak to you for

Igor: almost a year!

Alilshy: :-)

Alilshy: Well, see you tomorrow

Igor: Good night

SYSTEM: Your buddy, Alilshy, has logged out

Jeff could hardly sleep that night thinking about the Unix girl from Memphis who had to work up her nerve to ask something of a guy in another department at work. No matter what, he told himself, he planned to pin Doug down and find out Janis's game- name.

But Jeff did not count on Doug having food poisoning and staying home from work. Jeff rolled his eyes and bit his lip as he listened to voice mail, hearing Doug explain his negative reaction to some gumbo he had eaten.

Shaking his head, Jeff resigned himself to the fact that he'd have to wait to find out if Janis was indeed Alilshy. I'll call him at home in the morning Hopefully, he'll be feeling better by then.

The day passed and Jeff hurried home. As he set up the laptop, filled his water glass, and made ready for another night of Sword Dynasty, Jeff thought about Alilshy and his conversation with her the night before. It truly saddened him that she would belittle herself so.

If she is anything in real life like she is in the game, then she'd be a great friend, he thought.

He settled down and logged in. Not too long later, he saw the message he expected.

SYSTEM: Your buddy, Alilshy, has logged in on server 5

Igor: Good evening. How was your day?

Alilshy: Not bad. Same old thing. Yours?

Igor: It was fine. A guy at work was out sick. He plays too

Igor: Death Lance . . . Do you know him?

Alilshy: Everyone knows him. He is your salesman and has a web site

Alilshy: He's almost as famous as the first player ever

Alilshy: to get level 100 Enchantment. :-P

Igor: You embarrass me

Alilshy: Aw, you're being modest, as always

Alilshy: But really, being first to 100 Enchantment. That's cool

Igor: I think being your friend is cooler. Lots more fun. Less clicking

Alilshy: Oh that's it, is it?

Igor: ?

Alilshy: You like me 'cause chatting is easier on the wrist than

Alilshy: clicking a mouse to get Enchantment experience

Igor: Bah. :-P right back at you!

Alilshy: I'm just kidding with you

Igor: I know you are. :-)

Jeff scanned her answer about Death Lance, but could not infer anything desirable from it. He sighed and turned back to the game. They plunged in to the last phase of the Lost Shaman quest with determination and finished it a few hours later.

SYSTEM: Congratulation, Igor, you have completed Lost Shaman Quest!

Igor: We did it!

Alilshy: Yay!

Igor: Yay! Oh!!! I gained a combat level!

Alilshy: :-) Good for you! You need it!

Igor: Hey now!

Alilshy: JK

Igor: :-)

Alilshy: Well . . .

Despite the ellipsis and waiting a sufficient time, Alilshy added no other remarks. Jeff finally breached protocol and replied.

Igor: Well what?

Alilshy: Well, what now?