So: clueless young dude (hereafter, CYD) walked up to me at the bus stop at the Metro station and commented on my knitting ("Hey, my Mom does that."), which disarmed me.** Someone who is asking about knitting doesn't really raise my threat level. CYD immediately awkwardly segued from knitting to his spring break. He was returning from a trip to visit his . . . girlfriend (now ex-girlfriend, in case that isn't already obvious). He gave so much more to the relationship than she did (unreliable narrator alert). He made an unannounced trip up to (nearby city) to see her (big, bad warning sign) and she wasn't thrilled to see him (dude, you're already being evicted). Then he saw things on her Facebook account that let him to believe she'd been "unfaithful."***
He said "You know, guys don't ask much of women" (let me just say here, really?), "but we do ask them to be faithful." Did you talk about this and agree on that dude? Or is that just your take? Anyway, her Facebook page, comments, whatever led to fights ,which led to CYD breaking his ex-girlfriend's laptop, which led to ex-girlfriend's family coming to campus, more fight, and finally restraining orders.
CYD didn't think any of this reflected badly on him. Guy, someone gets a restraining order against you, and you've definitely not shown yourself at your best.
*Thank you, Bella Bethesda. Yes, I gave in March of 2007. Yes, normal people's hair grows at a rate of .25" per month. Obviously, I'm not normal.
**Also, let's be honest: I make eye contact with people, which makes me a weirdo magnet. People talk to me, and it's never the Clive Owen/Sean Bean/Alan Rickman/Colin Firth/Sam Neill/Nikki Giovanni/Susan Sontag/Margaret Atwood/Anne Tyler/Guy Pearce/Jeff Bridges people who approach me. It's the not-quite-socially adept people who open their hearts and start chatting.
***Dude: one pledges fidelity in some relationships, but late-teen/early-twenties dating isn't such a situation for the most part. Also, you don't own her, you know?
Posts
6 comments:
What would possess CYD to volunteer such information to a total stranger? Who reminds him of his mom? Was he seeking validation that he was, in fact, a decent young man? Was he high? The mind boggles.
I'd like to point out that the first few of your list of wishful beaus (sp?) were all Brits.
Well done!
Ms. Cat: Complete indifference as to what a middle-aged woman might think of him? I think he thought I would like him. Initially I did. That changed.
CookieDear: Well, Nikki Giovanni and Margaret Atwood aren't wishful beaux of mine. But I'll add Julian Barnes, Colin Firth, Daniel Day-Lewis, David Lodge, and you, cutie, of course, just to mix it up a bit.
As a fellow weirdo magnet, I say "BRAVO"! All you needed to get all of those nuggets was probably a faint smile and an occasional "uh huh"...right?
There's nothing wrong with a 'weirdo', as long as they're relatively interesting & entertaining. The hard bit is knowing how to tell them to fuck off, if they're boring or on your nerves. In case it turns nasty. I suppose a weirdo I can cope with. It's the nutters who are dangerous!
Laurita, mi amiga: I did NOTHING other than knit and nod. NO encouragement. Once we got to the "I broke her laptop" part, I was actually visibly leaning away from CYD. He did not notice. Need I say more?
Rodders: Yes, but weirdos who announce their proclivity to violence really, well, what can you do? I'm weird, but I don't go getting restraining orders placed against me. Good to hear from you, Bunny dearest.
Post a Comment