Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: COUNT (01/27/22)
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TITLE: Words of Wisdom | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dennis Gallemore
01/28/22 -
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I introduced myself to both shortly after settling into the dreaded middle seat. “Dan Silverton,” I said to Janice, receiving only a curt nod and a short introduction. I then turned to my right. “Dan Silverton,” I repeated with slightly less enthusiasm.
He turned back from staring out the window, evidently wanting to grab one last glance of the Heathrow tarmac. “Tobias Jennings. Pleased to meet you.” He offered a hand which I shook. “I’m looking forward to going home,” he added with a quick smile.
“I am too,” I replied, “I’m anxious to see my wife again. It’s the first time that I’ve been away from her for more than a day.”
He nodded. “Never been married myself. Oh, I’ve had a string of girlfriends, none of them serious though. Too many to count.” He smiled again, but it seemed rather forced. “I’m stringing along three different women right now.”
“You lead a complicated life,” I observed.
“That I do,” he said. He raised his shoulders an inch and dropped them. “What can I say? The ladies like me and I like them.” Tobias glanced at the window again. “How long have you been married?” He asked without turning around.
“26 years come next Tuesday,” I said with just a hint of suppressed pride.
That captured enough of attention that he turned back toward me. “Really? That long? Don’t you get tired of her?”
I laughed. “I honestly can’t say that I have. Oh, I think she gets tired of me on the occasion.”
Tobias thought about that for a moment. “I haven’t met a lady that I would want to spend more than a few months with. I like to count the number of women I’ve dated.
“You know,” I said with a smile, “What’s really important is finding the right one for you. You only need one. The right one.”
Janice harrumphed. “Men. You guys can’t get your heads screwed on straight for nothing, can you?”
Tobias and I hadn’t agreed on anything until our seatmate uttered that pronouncement on males of the human species. “I’m offended by that comment,” I replied lamely.
Janice snorted. “You should be.”
Tobias leaned forward in his seat to get a better look at Janice. “Who are you to judge?”
She laughed. “I’m Janice, your not-so-friendly judge.”
“You can’t judge someone,” Tobias said, a hint of whine in his voice.
“Actually,” she replied with a grin, “I can. I’m a real judge. I can’t tell you how many divorce cases I’ve heard over the years. Find the right person for you---your soulmate. When you find her, hang on to her, and treat her like it says to in the Bible. Pretty simple. You would be astounded at how so many people don’t get that.”
I nodded. “That’s exactly what I did. I’m just trying to convince Tobias here that’s what he needs to do.”
Tobias shook his head. “I have to admit, there’s this one lady that I really like, but…”
“But what?” Janice prompted.
“Well, I don’t want to be tied down.” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
“Look,” Janice said, “Let me give you some really useful advice. Life is complicated enough so don’t make it more complicated. You want to be happy and lead a fulfilled life? Read the Bible. Find your soulmate and treat her like the Good Book says to treat her.”
Tobias lapsed into silence. Janice wasn’t finished. “And you, how do you treat your wife?”
“I,..”
“Yes?”
“I could always treat her better.”
Tobias coughed. “I’m going to think about what you said, Janice.”
I nodded. “We both will.”
Janice smiled and closed her eyes. “Then my work here is done.”
The funny thing was when we landed in New York I saw her walk down the aisle but when I walked down the jet bridge, I didn’t see her…
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I loved this so much.
So well written.
Blessings~
Blessings~