A Brief Encounter

The Dating Chronicles

A Brief Encounter

January 24, 2019

Mary and Chuck met online at a time when they both needed someone.  Mary had recently divorced and Chuck was ending a tireless search.  Chuck proved early that he had potential, when he asked Mary if she were cold, when she sneezed in the car and offered his jacket to her nod of yes.  (Mary’s ex-husband would have never acknowledged such signs of discomfort.)  When it came to men and her feelings, Mary had high expectations despite her experiences. She liked a lot of attention and she let it be known…

When Chuck went three days without calling, after a great evening of fun, she spoke up.  “I like a lot of attention.  How can you tell me you like me and go three days without calling?”

Chuck was disturbed, but mildly.  He didn’t like outspoken women, but he had been so unsuccessful in the last few months that he was psychologically prepared to put some prejudices aside.  Mary appealed to him physically and seemed to have a lot going for her.  She was smart, and made a good impression on his friends.  He decided to ignore her comments and invite her to his club’s picnic.

At the picnic, Mary sat and refused to mingle.  She was there to be with Chuck and no one else.  She seethed in anger, as he flitted around talking to people.    She didn’t want to share him.  She sat expectant of him to devote all his attention to her.  When he tugged on her to participate in a gathering game of volleyball, she refused.  (Volleyball was hard on her nails.)  When he decided to play, she became visibly upset.

On the way home in the car, she was quiet and withdrawn, while Chuck hummed happily as music filled the silence.  His humming further aggravated the situation, because she was miserable and he was not.)  She turned to him in anger and gave a spilling oratory detailing all the pent-up complaints she had collected for the day.  When she arrived at home, she got out and slammed out the car door.  As Chuck pulled away from the curb, he knew he would never call her again.  He made the decision to take a break for awhile.  Relationships were just too much work.