Only Zul

So there's this guy in Philly Singers that has a tendency to rub people the wrong way, and because I don't really dislike him (most of the time), I will only refer to him as Zul from now on. If you get the reference, great. If not, oh well. Those of you who know him and like him, and those of you who know him and dislike him, please remember that I'm not trying to ruin his reputation or anything like that. If you don't know him, I'm not going to tell you what his real name is.

Zul and I actually have a lot in common, including, both having been in the same vocal quintet in New York (although not at the same time). We've sung in various Philadelphia choruses together, and we both live in New Jersey and have often carpooled to and from rehearsals. He was doing the Berio/Wagner concert with me, and we sat next to each other on the bus up to New York for the Carnegie Hall concert.

Sometimes he has a tendency to be a little self-centered, which is pretty normal for a singer, especially a tenor (sorry, guys, I had to get at least one dig in). But he was being pretty self-centered and ADD-like during the bus ride, and by the time we had gotten to New York, I was ready to get away from him for a while. I pulled SK aside and asked if we could have lunch before the rehearsal. She said sure, as long as I didn't mind eating with JT. That was fine with me, and we got ready to go to lunch. Unfortunately, Zul appeared out of nowhere and said, "Hey, what are you doing for lunch?" I said, "Well, SK and I are having lunch with JT."

Pause. Uncomfortable silence. Please don't ask to tag along. Please, please, please don't ask. "Do you mind if I tag along?" he asked. Grr. "SK, do you mind?" I asked. She looked at me and shook her head slowly. "Okay, then!" he smiled and followed us out of the building.

Now you have to understand that JT really doesn't like Zul. "I'm Switzerland about it," said SK. "Really? Because I think I'm Hitler, and he's a Jew," replied JT. Wow. "Guys, I'm so sorry about this," I mutter.

I have to say that JT was very polite, especially for Hitler. We chatted and told stories. I told the story of how Ray and I met, and because the end usually evokes an "aww" from my audience, and these girls were no exception. But Zul had to pull the attention off me and back onto him by saying, "Didn't you and Ray have problems about a year and a half ago? Weren't you thinking about leaving him?" Umm...no, not that I remember, Zul. Why would he be so rude? "It sounds like Ray and Maren have a pretty healthy relationship to me, Zul," quipped SK. "You wouldn't understand, SK. This has to do with something you just don't understand," griped Zul. What?!? Did I lead him on? Did I somehow make him think that Ray and I were having problems and that I wanted to turn to him? God, I hope not.

Anyway, conversation after that became more and more tense. It was almost like Zul was alternately flirting with and quarrelling with SK, ending the afternoon by interrupting one of SK's stories by saying, "Boy, you sure like to talk, don't you?" Then he kind of backpedaled once he realized that what he said was pretty rude, saying, "I mean that in a good way." Oh, sure. JT was amused. Finally, he had to go to the men's rehearsal and left us to breathe a sigh of relief.