Pause.
“Yes, totally. The last name is Emerson, in Franklin, Nevada.”
Pause.
“Really? You know such random things. So anyway, they just moved to Franklin, so you could like figure it out with a newly hooked-up Internet connection or something, right?”
Pause.
“Hacking the city’s water company is even better! You’re a genius!”
Pause. Giggle.
“Sure, sure, I know you’re busy. But I’ll be forever in your debt, and…”
Pause.
“You know what? I’m not even sure!” Megan bursts out laughing, and I can hear David laughing on the other end of the line as well. When they recover, I hear David’s muted voice say something else.
“Okay, great. Thanks for your help.”
Pause.
“You, too. Bye.”
“What was so hilarious?” I ask after Megan ends the call.
She smiles broadly. “He picked up on the fact that I wasn’t saying ‘he’ or ‘she,’ ‘him’ or ‘her,’ ” Megan says. “He asked whether he’s looking for a boy or a girl.”
I laugh, getting it as she says it.
“He knows I participated in an online party for transgender kids last weekend, so he totally bought it when I said that I honestly had no idea.”
“You’re brilliant,” I say, hugging my friend.
“Ditto, Miss D.”
I’m staying at Megan’s tonight, like I always do when we’re in Seattle. In flannel pajama bottoms and ironic T-shirts, splayed out on her fluffy pink rug with bowls of popcorn on our tummies, Megan and I watch TV, then argue for half an hour about the pros and cons of slutty Halloween costumes.
“Save it for the blog!” I shout at her as I leave the room to pee. When I come back, she’s at her desk, typing furiously.
“I didn’t mean that you should blog right now,” I say as I flop onto the bed. I roll over on my back and laugh at the poster of Jake Gyllenhaal on the ceiling. Apparently, my friends make up the Jake G. fan club. I don’t really get it. I mean, he’s sort of old.
“David came through,” Megan says excitedly.
“Did he call?” I ask, eyes still on the ceiling.
“Yes, he called! He found the name. And I just found our girl!”
I pop up off the bed and hurry to the desk. I look over Megan’s shoulder: She’s on Facebook, typing a witty comment to go with her friend request. I read it and laugh, then my eyes find the profile picture and my laughter is gone.
The hair is shorter and a different color, but the face is the same.
It’s…
Oh my god.