hookie

Sometimes it's a perfect day outside, a cliched sunny and 72 with a slight breeze. On these days, you would be lucky if a good friend came to meet you for lunch. You might worry about being able to eat in the half hour alloted to you, so you could tell your boss you need a longer lunch because "you have something to take care of." This might allow you to have a wonderful lunch with your friend while sitting in a park under a bridge. But you might then decide you don't want to return to your hated job. It would definitely be a better idea to get ice cream and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Upon crossing the bridge, it would be a good idea to call your boss and tell her that the thing you needed to do was taking longer than you expected, and you won't be able to return to work that day.

Free of responsibility, you might possibly find yourself wandering with your good friend into a tea cafe where you can read your book while she does a phone interview with a clown. You will find this whole situation very amusing but be able to hold it together until you hear the question "Do your children dress as clowns as well?" at which point you could possibly start laughing at the ridiculousness of the world. But the clown on the phone won't be able to hear you, and your friend can maintain a straight face.

After this, you and your friend could wander into a sunny park and have a great time (even though you discover a small sunburn on your neck later) while the recent PhD graduates parade around in a procession led by bagpipers. You will enjoy each other's company until it is time for you to part ways. But you won't be sad at the goodbye, you will be happy that you had such a great time playing hookie from work.

That could happen.