My Dinner At Steak And Ale
He was a bit past middle age, a bit past overweight, with a disturbing knot on his right shoulder. He spoke quickly. Eyes darted. And he struggled to force a smile. It displayed more as a grimace.
“She left me. And, can you believe it, moved into the house down the road? I could accept the divorce, but just did not like being reminded every time I would drive down the street.”
The lady nodded politely. She was pushing beyond 40, blond and slim, showing evidence that once this was a very pretty lady. And as the conversation developed, I suspected the guy was in over his head.
“Yeah, my sister's husband left her. She said it was the best thing ever to happen to her.”
He stared for a moment, seeming not to comprehend. Then continued. “I dunno. Sold the house and got another job. We tried to work it out, and just couldn't. So I moved on. Just can't understand it...”
She plodded on with her retortive story: “He got laid off, or fired, I'm not sure. And wouldn't find another job. Finally got to working at Kroger for $6 per hour, and seemed perfectly happy. My sister told him- Look, just because you're not willing to work according to your earning potential, doesn't mean I'm not going to expect proper child support! He just grumbled. She said- Yeah, nothing has really changed. He's still laying around, grumbling, trying to control my life.”
The guy stared again, then continued his monologue. “So I moved to Rome. She didn't seem to want to make it easy for me to visit the kids. Finally we found a church about half-way, and we'd meet in the parking lot.”
He rubbed his shoulder and said something incomprehensible. I leaned a little closer. As much as I could understand, they talked a bit about the weather, traffic, and some more about his divorce. Then they got up to go to the salad bar. She doused her plate with romaine lettuce, feta cheese, croutons and bacon bits. His of course was piled high, with lots of tiny little tomatoes and a lava flow of bleu cheese dressing. They sat and began to eat, and with no blessing I noticed.
The guy had this habit of taking huge bites, and talking out of the side of his mouth as he chewed. Perhaps she did not notice. But it was obvious she kept direct eye contact to a minimum. She spoke of her pet, and apartment. By now it was obvious she was single, with no significant other. He talked of his job- sales, or accounting, I am not sure. It seemed nondescript, and certainly not a passion. Somehow he then returned the conversation to his true passion, his divorce. His ex was money-hungry, and just couldn't seem to let go and move on. Unlike himself.
He would just like to meet someone nice, someone with whom he could talk and have coffee. Someone unlike his ex. She nodded and said Yes, that would be nice. They both ordered specials from the menu. His plate was empty in a hurry. She asked for separate checks and he did not protest. And the tip? He left $2, I guess one for each.
As I watched them leave, I was pretty sure these guys would not become a poster-couple for e-harmony or match-dot-com. Across the table my wife scowled, “Are you going to eat your food now?”
01.14.08 (12:13 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (9:33 am)
Zowie.
Now that's eavesdropping I can respect. What an interesting evening. Separate checks. Obviously a first date; a second not likely in the offing.
Did you and your wife provide any interesting conversation for someone else to overhear? Was your grace worth listening to? Remember, there's an implied responsibility to give as good as you get.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (10:21 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Eavesdropping? Come on, now. Simply a concern for my fellow man.... Just accidentally overheard a few things. Not intentional. I didn't want to hear. It was all accidental. You believe me. Surely?
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (11:55 am)
Now, now..who are we to judge? I'm sure e-harmony would love to help them find a match. for a price, of course.
posted by:
jentlejiraffe (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (1:39 pm)
I have always had the ability to hear more than one conversation at a time. I try not to, but it just happens and I have been privy to some really racy conversations being held in public.
I think your perspective is interesting. I hope he learned something from this dinner - but something tells me he hasn't.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (2:34 pm)
Reply to: jentlejiraffe
I'm going to say something politically incorrect. Many, many women I know make, shall we say, very unwise decisions about men. I'm speaking of women who are sharp, who would be a great catch for a lot of guys. So often they will end up with the most inappropriate of guys. With someone that almost any observant and interested spectator could tell them would be a poor choice. So, with that in mind, it is possible and even likely this woman has continued to date the man. Perhaps even now she is writing him a check for his overdue child support?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (2:37 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
e-harmony. Isn't that advertised as a "Christian dating service"? It has got to be tough to be middle aged, and beyond, and singe. And I will tell you that I know of two couples, with what appear to be good marriages, who initially met on an internet dating site. Hopefully this couple will not be number 3.
posted by:
jentlejiraffe (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (2:59 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
Oh I hope not!!! So deeply in the pit of my belly hope not! But you are correct that I have seen that Love isn't always the attractor. wanting to "rescue" isn't always the mans role these days huh?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
posted by:
Lisa (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (4:09 pm)
what a brilliant character study! nice work sir!
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.14.08 (5:08 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
I believe you. Sometimes people will make a single statement that grabs my interest and I REALLY have to work at it not to listen to them for as long as they go on, and, unless the conversation I'm involved in is stimulating as hell, I fail miserably and end up listening as if it's 1942 and "The Shadow" is on the radio.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
01.15.08 (1:02 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
I don't know if it's a Christian dating service or not. You won't find me on there!
posted by:
spook102956 (
reply)
post date:
01.16.08 (8:58 pm)
Am I supposed to comment on that man and woman's conversation or your nosiness? haha
posted by:
flatism (
reply)
post date:
01.17.08 (11:21 pm)
Amusing story to say the least. I consider this to be eavesdropping: He rubbed his shoulder and said something incomprehensible. I leaned a little closer.
I've listened to many a conversation that I shouldn't, so I will not judge.
Two dollars is a lousy tip in today's financial situation. Should be at least 10.
Separate bills are a funny concept.
Seeing as their is a religious version of YouTube, there probably is a religious version of a dating site. I doubt E-Harmony is christian though.
I also agree with what Lisa says. You are good at finding characteristics in people.
posted by:
Robin (
reply)
post date:
01.21.08 (12:39 am)
At first I thought that both of those people were trapped in their own private hell.
On second thought, it seems that the only one in a hell, created by his own bitterness, was the man. He was being 100 percent selfish and only wanted someone to listen, and was not interested in her in any way at all. The woman was just trying to hold a conversation and somewhat commiserate while letting him know that "we all got problems". As he did not catch on, guess he is a static character in this tale.
