You Said You Were Paying, Right? − November, 2007
After a quick shower in the morning, I left the hostel to meet Brian (Flattery Might Actually Get You Somewhere) for breakfast. The restaurant was only a half a block away. I noticed him chatting up a young lady down the street. I entered the restaurant, which was a rundown greasy spoon. I had pondered whether Brian would allow me to pay, since he was unemployed. But I’d decided that his manly pride would not allow me to pay.
He entered the restaurant and accused me, in good nature, of not believing that he would show. I thought it funny since it was far more likely that I'd be the no-show. We grabbed a table near the front. He insisted that he was only having orange juice. I tried to convince him that he needed to eat a real breakfast. He protested, saying that he needed to lose weight.
Then he said, "You said you were paying, right?" Why was I surprised? I had said no such thing. So much for manly pride! He was a hustler through and through. How could I say no? Not long after he knew I was paying, he added a plate of biscuits and gravy to his order. I did not point out that biscuits and gravy were one of the worst breakfast choices for losing weight.
We placed our orders and I returned our menus to their holder. He commented on how neat and tidy I was. I explained that it was good manners to be tidy on behalf of the waitress. Brian once again raised the topic of a possible union between us. I scolded him that when you are married you need to behave. But I had already figured out he was hustling me. I just hadn't known how completely until he showed his utter lack of manly pride.
He did, however, show a great deal of thoughtfulness by bringing me the bus schedule I would need to get to the airport. He even helped me find the bus I would need to catch. Had he not done so, I might have been late. I lingered a bit longer over breakfast that I should have, considering that I still had to pack. Getting to the airport on time was well worth paying for an extra breakfast! As we were about to part ways, he asked for my phone number. I told him he had no business calling married ladies! I gave him my email, but do not expect to hear from him any time soon.
He entered the restaurant and accused me, in good nature, of not believing that he would show. I thought it funny since it was far more likely that I'd be the no-show. We grabbed a table near the front. He insisted that he was only having orange juice. I tried to convince him that he needed to eat a real breakfast. He protested, saying that he needed to lose weight.
Then he said, "You said you were paying, right?" Why was I surprised? I had said no such thing. So much for manly pride! He was a hustler through and through. How could I say no? Not long after he knew I was paying, he added a plate of biscuits and gravy to his order. I did not point out that biscuits and gravy were one of the worst breakfast choices for losing weight.
We placed our orders and I returned our menus to their holder. He commented on how neat and tidy I was. I explained that it was good manners to be tidy on behalf of the waitress. Brian once again raised the topic of a possible union between us. I scolded him that when you are married you need to behave. But I had already figured out he was hustling me. I just hadn't known how completely until he showed his utter lack of manly pride.
He did, however, show a great deal of thoughtfulness by bringing me the bus schedule I would need to get to the airport. He even helped me find the bus I would need to catch. Had he not done so, I might have been late. I lingered a bit longer over breakfast that I should have, considering that I still had to pack. Getting to the airport on time was well worth paying for an extra breakfast! As we were about to part ways, he asked for my phone number. I told him he had no business calling married ladies! I gave him my email, but do not expect to hear from him any time soon.
