If anyone else had called me “babe,” I would have given him a thorough lecture on the history of the feminist movement. But ManInBlack was the only one, aside from Aunt Sue, who ever asked about my day. And considering Aunt Sue didn’t remember what I’d told her two seconds later…it was nice someone asked.

Good. Got my column in on time.

Look at you being all prompt.

I grinned at the compliment.

Anything juicy to share? he asked.

Sorry, pal, you’ll just have to read the papers like everyone else.

You’re a cruel woman, Bender.

I know.

Good thing you’re so damned cute.

My stomach did a funny little shimmy. Even though I knew he was full of it. I never posted photos of myself online. The fewer people who knew what I looked like, the easier it was to do my job. The only avatar pic I had up on my MySpace page was of me morphed into a Simpson’s cartoon character that I’d gotten during the movie promo. Not really an exact likeness.

But, instead of calling him out as a blatant liar, I responded with, I try.

Hmm…that was where you were supposed to mention how hot I am.

Like a tamale, I joked back. Even though I had no idea what he looked like, either. The only photos on his page were of Johnny Cash, Darth Vadar, and the Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones duo. You know, all men in black.

So, how was your day, hot stuff? I asked.

Ahn. But it’s getting better.

Rough day at the office?

I had no idea what Black did. He’d joked a few times that he could tell me, but then he’d have to kill me. Not that I minded. It added to the mystique that he had some unmentionable job. In my mind, he was kind of like Batman—too modest to tell me he was a billionaire by day and a superhero by night. So I never pushed the issue. It would have totally killed the fantasy to know he pumped gas for a living.

I’ve had better, he typed back. How about you cheer me up?

Hmm…You like knock-knock jokes?

Not exactly what I had in mind…but let’s hear it, Bender.

Okay…Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Boo.

Boo who?

Don’t cry, tomorrow will be better.

There was a pause. I wasn’t sure if it meant he was laughing or groaning.

Cute.

I let out a breath. Cute was good. I’d take cute.

Thanks.

Hey…look outside.