 |
The Week in Women |
|
Hi, I'm Chris T. and here's "The Week In Women": Our week begins Monday at12:35 PM, with a phone call from a mystery woman to a certain Mr. E.H. Lancaster of Danley, Ohio. He has never met the woman - she is calling on the recommendation of a roommate. The roommate knows Mr. Lancaster, or feels she does, through a column he publishes in the local newspaper. When the mystery woman calls Mr. Lancaster at work he tells her he must put her on speakerphone while he searches for a file. They have a looping conversation, vivacious and friendly. Mr. Lancaster is seriously intrigued by the mystery woman. To his surprise, she asks him out, aware that everyone in his office can hear the call. He responds positively to this suggestion and they agree to meet on Friday evening in a local bar. On Tuesday at 8:00 PM a Mr. F. Walsh of Bangor, Maine calls a woman he has met on the Internet. He has recently been to see her in person after a few weeks of e-mailing back and forth. The date is a casual one, he goes to her house (she lives in the same town) to watch TV and sit in the yard and drink beer. Mr. Walsh, feeling perhaps he has "hit it off" with the woman, asks her if they shouldn't meet again. She responds negatively, saying she is currently "seeing someone" and doesn't think it would "be fair". She goes on to suggest that perhaps the two can "be friends" and "you know, hang out". Mr. Walsh, at first not wishing to respond, eventually mumbles "Uh... yeah, sure". On Wednesday at 9:00 PM a
Mr. R.F. Lindley of Tacoma, Washington does some final grooming in preparation
for dinner. It is to be cooked and prepared by a visiting woman friend,
someone he has "made out with" on more than one occassion. She
has earlier told Mr. Lindley she would like to fix dinner for him as a
belated birthday gift and in an attempt to "cheer him up". Around 11:30 PM Mr. Lindley and his guest find their way to the couch, obstensibly to listen to the hi-fi. A recording, recently acquired by Mr. Lindley, of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys performing "Roly Poly" can be heard through the speakers placed at either end of the room. Mr. Lindley places his hand on the woman's back and begins to describe a lazy circle. The woman, perhaps addled by the wine or in the throes of a marijuana "high", turns and kisses Mr. Lindley. The pair begin to neck. At 11:47 PM Mr. Lindely begins to unbutton the woman's blouse. At 11:48 PM he unfastens her bra. At 11:49 PM the woman, visibly aroused, removes her pants. At 12:06 AM - after much intense and heated petting - the woman achieves fruition. At 12:08 AM, Mr. Lindley - eager to experience fruition himself - begins to remove his pants. The woman - perhaps awakening from her alcohol and drug induced arousal - indicates that she can't take part. At 12:09 AM the woman gathers up her clothes and begins dressing. She apologizes for the stir she has created and suggests that perhaps it is time "to go". Mr. Lindley, dejected and defeated, agrees. At 12:15 AM, after several
minutes of explanation from the woman as to why the events of the evening
have taken their particular course, Mr. Lindley rises from the couch and
goes to the phone. He calls a local cab company and they agree to send
a car. Fifteen minutes of uncomfortable conversation follow. The lines
uttered by the woman are variations on three themes, namely: "Are
you mad me?", "Why do I do this?" and "I'm sorry for
doing this to you." Mr. Lindley's responses consist of differently-constructed
versions of: "Don't worry about it.", "I'm okay."
and "Thanks for coming by." At 3:49 PM on Thursday afternoon Mr. Lancaster finds himself thinking abou the mystery woman he is to meet the following evening. He tries to imagine what she'll look like based on her voice and their phone conversations. He fails and finds himself vaguely hoping she has red hair. At 1:34 AM Friday morning, after setting his alarm clock, Mr. Lancaster retires to his bed. On his back, he stares at the ceiling and begins to silently. The prayer is for "just one more chance". He wonders if the woman will smile when she sees him or if any sign of disappointment will play over her face. He determines to keep close watch when they first meet. He explains that any indications from the woman of a physical attraction, no matter how slight, would be greatly appreciated and make him feel "less like a loser". Mr. Lancaster, perhaps feeling tired and beaten down, isn't sure he can "make the effort anymore" and."put on a good show". He decides he must forge ahead and "put on a brave face", despite the dread he experiences at the thought of yet another rejection. He tells himself he will be brave and interesting and charming. He determines to "jump into the void one more time". Sleep comes at 2:05 AM. On Friday at 8:15 PM Mr. Lindley arrives at the agreed-upon meeting place. Before entering the drinking establishment he walks across the street to a green grocer and buys a dozen flowers for five dollars and twenty-five cents. He also buys a pack of domestic cigarettes. He resolves not to smoke one until he's determined if the mystery woman also indulges. He pockets his change, crosses the street once more and enters the bar. At 8:20 PM he takes a position on a stool at the far end of the bar. He orders a 7 and 7 (a mixed drink consisting of Seven-up and scotch) and, forgetting his earlier resolution, lights a cigarette. There are already fifteen or so patrons of all sexes in the bar, each with a beverage, several with lit cigarettes. Mr. Lancaster scans their faces in an attempt to determine if perhaps the mystery woman is already present. He concludes she is not - all those present seem to be in a couple or a group. At 8:24 PM he orders and consumes another 7 and 7. At 8:26 PM he orders and consumes a third. At 8:28 PM he asks for, and is served, a rum and coke. At 8:30 PM the bartender buys him another rum and coke. At 8:33 PM an unacompanied single woman enters the bar. She glances furtively around the bar and it occures to Mr. Lancaster that she is looking for someone. She makes her way over to the empty stool beside him and speaks his name. He responds with hers. She smiles at him and he realizes he has missed the moment when she first saw him. It happened seconds earlier when Mr. Lancaster had turned back to his drink and taken another swallow to perhaps steel himself. They shake hands awkwardly and Mr. Lancaster invites the woman to sit down on the available stool. She accepts. Mr. Lancaster silently scrutinizes the woman. She is wearing a checked dress and a sweater, her hair is short and pulled back, her complexion is slightly ruddy. She appears healthy and strong, with child-bearing hips and good posture. He feels the stirrings of an attraction for her and attempts to imagine her naked. The woman begins to talk and he is snapped forcibly out of his reverie. Mr. Lancaster and the woman talk for an hour or so, both consuming several drinks in the meanwhile. The woman asks for one of Mr. Lancaster's cigarettes, visible on the bar, and Mr. Lancaster indicates his approval of this scheme. While he is lighting the cigarette for her, Mr. Lancaster marvels at the woman's wonderful presence and re-assuring personality. He somehow feels comfortable in her company and wonders what this might indicate. At approximately 10:00 PM Mr. Lancaster and the woman move next door to an outdoor cafe for food. Neither of them are very hungry. When the waiter appears they order margaritas and appetizers. The margaritas arrive at 10:05 PM. As the woman sips from the salt-encrusted rim of her glass Mr. Lancaster wonders if perhaps he isn't becoming smitten with her. The appetizers arrive at 10:20 PM and Mr. Lancaster and the woman decide to share each other's meals. They agree the food and drink are wonderful and spend the next hour talking, eating and drinking. At 11:20 the woman calls for the check. When it arrives she offers to pay it. Mr. Lancaster protests but she insists. He relents. After paying the check and leaving the requisite tip, the pair move back to the bar in which they earlier met. At 11:30 PM. Mr. Lancaster orders a vodka and tonic for the woman and a seven and seven for himself. The woman tells Mr. Lancaster of his supposed celebrity status and how all her friends have read his newspaper column for years. She explains that her female roommate especially likes Mr. Lancaster's work and, in fact, was the one who encouraged the occuring rendesvous. Mr. Lancaster feels flattered and expresses this to the woman. She indicates that they've already been invited to two parties and that her friends are "dying to meet you". Mr. Lancaster interprets this as a good omen. At 12:17 AM Saturday morning Mr. Lancaster and the woman each smoke another cigarette. They also order two more drinks. The song "Let's Spend the Night Together" by The Rolling Stones musical group begins to emanate loudly from the strategically-positioned jukebox. Mr. Lancaster wishes he could spend the night with the woman and wonders if she might be experiencing the same thought. The woman says she has to go soon. Mr. Lancaster offers her a ride to a nearby subway stop. She accepts and says she has to leave within twenty minutes. At 12:30 AM Mr. Lancaster expresses to the woman his desire to kiss her. The woman gets a pained expression on her face and says "I'm sorry -- I'm romantically unavailable right now". Mr. Lancaster is crestfallen, incredulous. He feels as if he's been "sucker punched". He wonders how one moment things could be going so well and in the next his hopes are violently dashed. At 12:34 AM the woman delivers the coup de grace. She indicates that to Mr. Lancaser that perhaps they could "be friends". She then asks iMr. Lancaster if he is upset. Mr. Lancaster doesn't know whether to thank her for being so observant. He responds honestly, claiming not to be able to "do the platonic thing when I'm really attracted to a woman". The woman thanks Mr. Lancaster for the compliment. She expresses more concern. She asks if maybe she should leave. Mr. Lancaster tells her "yes". At 12:43 AM the woman rises from her chair. Mr. Lancaster also rises. The woman kisses Mr. Lancaster on the cheek. She suggests he think about her claiming "It would be great if we could talk sometimes". Mr. Lancaster wonders if the woman talks to the men she is sleeping with. At 12: 46 AM Mr. Lancaster is alone. At 12:47 AM he finishes his drink. At 12:49 AM he gets up and leaves/ At 1:30 AM Mr. Lancaster gets to bed. Just before drifting off to sleep Mr. Lancaster wonder if he should ask the woman about her roommate. On Saturday at 8:30 PM a Mr. R.S. Batten of Boca Raton, Florida drive his 1974 Chevrolet Impala to the home of a woman on whom he's long had an intense crush. He is somewhat stoned so he feels "okay". Mr. Batten's first thoughts upon seeing the woman are a strange mixture of sexual fantasy and tenderness. The woman, very beautiful and several years younger than Mr, Batten, has already rebuffed his advances several times. Mr. Batten has agreed to remain friends with the woman even thought it's not what he would prefer to do. At 9:15 PM Mr. Batten and the woman are seated in the theatre and the movie begins. The movie ends at 11:05 PM. Mr. Batten and the woman decided to attend a party thrown by a mutual acquitance. They arrive at the party at 11:40 PM. Mr. Batten feels a pang of disappointment upon entering. It is full to overflowing with long-since graduated frat boys. They all appear to be sans dates. Mr. Batten watches the woman step inside to the kitchen for a drink and wonders how she will fare among the frat boys. At 10:43 PM the first the first former frat boy tries his hand. The woman chats with him for awhile and then moves away. At 10:52 PM another frat boy approaches the woman. She talks to him for a few minutes and again moves away. At 10:59 PM another frat boy approaches her. She again speaks for a few minutes and then moves away. At 11:16 PM Mr. Batten begins to regret having come to the party. He cannot fathom how he can be friends with this particular woman, especially in light of the crush. Mr. Batten dreads the moment when he will be alone together with the woman and he will once again have to beat back the desire to tell the woman how he feels At 11:24 PM the woman approaches Mr. Batten and asks if they can "go home". At 11:35 PM Mr. Batten is seated alongside the woman on a couch in her apartment, listening to a jazz station on the hi-fi. He feels the dread moment arriving. He leans back on the couch. She leans forward. Mr. Batten studies the curve of her back. He wonders what it would be like to lay his hand there. He is quiet. She is quiet. They pass several minutes that way. Mr. concludes it is better not to do a thing. At 11:37 PM Mr. Batten tells himself he should no longer consider embarking on platonic friendships with women. At 11:38 PM he tells the woman he must leave. She accompanies him to the door. He turns and says "good-night". The woman extends her hand and shakes his. On Sunday morning at 4:03 AM a Mr. S. DeLana of New Orleans, Louisana, wonders if he can slip any deeper into the chasm of depression which now claims him. He deduces that the depression is linked to his inability to find love or acceptance. Or possibly, he reasons, it's because he "can't get laid". Mr. DeLana wonders when he will ever grow up, find some happiness, get moving with his life. At 4:07 AM Mr. DeLana hears the voice again. It is the same one and it says, "Everything is crap. It always has been crap. It always will be crap. You have nothing. You never will. You will be in debt until you die. No one will ever love you. You are a no good, lazy, useless, rotten bastard." Mr. DeLana wonder s why it is this voice he hear and who's it might be. He wonders, also, how long he'll have to listen to it. At 4:08 AM another voice, answers, saying "As long as you choose to." At 4:09 AM Mr. DeLana realizes who the first voice belongs to: it is his family's.. He remembers that his mother is and was a bitter, angry woman who never recieved love from her parents and couldn't be expected to pass it to her children. He also remembers that his father has been absent from his life for nearly twenty-two years: he is thirty. And finally he recalls how, as the youngest of many children, he was the target for all the abuse in the household. He concludes that he has never felt loved or accepted and has good reason to feel thus.
At 4:11 AM he nearly panics when he realizes that his family's voice has become his voice, or one of them. Mr. DeLana wonders if the other voice, the one reminding him he needn't suffer, the one he feels is "the kindness of my soul", can prevail over the dire voice. He listens hard and believes he hears: You're not so bad. What they said about you isn't true. It isn't right. They shouldn't have said those things. They should've treated you well, like they wanted you around. They just were stupid, is all. Deep inside you are a fine person. You have some problems but so does everyone else. You're problems aren't insurmounable. You just need to begin caring for yourself if no one else will. Besides, you can't count on anyone else to love you unless you love yourself." Mr. DeLana realizes this talk feels absolutely foreign to him. At 2:30 AM Mr. DeLana falls asleep. And so concludes our Week In Women. |
