YOUNG CHANG -- REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

EDITOR’S NOTE: Starting today, the Daily Pilot will run columns by its

reporters on Fridays.

I should have expected more from my best friend’sboyfriend.

About two weeks ago, during a phone conversation about work and school

and everything else, I sneaked in a reminder: “Hey Eric, Valentine’s is

coming up. Be thinking, OK?”

Tami -- Eric’s girlfriend -- and I were clueless as to what he had in

mind. I hoped he’d be silly and sweet.

He ended up being much more.

Eric skipped the elaborate daisy arrangements and boxes of chocolate

truffles. He dodged the fancy restaurants and the romantic evening alone.

He reminded her, without all this, that he’s a profoundly thoughtful guy.

He played boyfriend to both of us -- Tami and boyfriend-less me.

They met me here, at the Daily Pilot, because I was the last to leave

work. He drove down from Yorba Linda, she from Santa Monica. They knew

how impatient and unpleasant I’d get waiting for a seat at a crowded

restaurant. They abandoned all ideas of dining anywhere that would be a

typical Valentine’s Day stop.

We went to IHOP.

We small-talked. We ate burgers and pancakes. We got in an argument --

initiated by me -- about something too complicated to explain. Later we

made up and joked the bad feelings away.

Eric gave Tami her present before the night ended. It was an FAO

Schwartz box tied with a red ribbon. Inside was a white stuffed dog with

three little black dots for a face. It looks just like her real-life dog,

Coby.

We “aw-ed” and petted it, squished it and hugged it.

Then Eric said to me, “Sorry I didn’t get you anything!”

I laughed. Of course he shouldn’t get me anything.

“Just kidding.”

He handed me a bag with Pluto the cartoon-dog splattered all over the

front. Inside was a Beanie Baby Winnie-the-Pooh and a miniature

old-school lunch box with a logo reading “America’s Original Dubble

Bubble” in vintage retail font. It was packed with bubble gum.

I felt horrible about picking the fight at IHOP.

Eric -- the poor thing -- immediately asked Tami if she wanted a lunch

box and Pooh too. She shook her head. At that moment, she didn’t need

anything else.

I looked at Pooh -- I’m obsessed with Pooh -- and at my baby-blue

lunch box that would serve perfectly as a makeup case. I don’t remember

if I even thanked him because I was trying not to get emotional.

I guess he’ll know, if he reads this column, that I meant to say

thanks -- for Pooh and the lunch box, for being so considerate and for

teaching me something new.

I have this list of boyfriend rules. The first is height -- I’d like

him to be tall. The second, I’ve now decided, is that he has to be

thoughtful enough to serve double-time as a boyfriend if my best friend

is ever in need of a valentine.

Because no piece of jewelry or chocolate could ever make a girl as

happy as knowing she’s with a really, really nice guy.

Tami can attest to that.

* YOUNG CHANG covers arts and entertainment. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4268.