ARE YOU MY GIRLFRIEND?

Gail and I were sitting in the upstairs lounge picking away at a new puzzle. She likes doing the edge and I like working on a big splash of a single color, red this time. We were talking about where in the area it was snowing. There was a warning of snow all over our area but it was still dry here. That’s what happens when you are almost at sea level. We both have daughters and their families living in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains. We wondered if they had snow yet. They always get it when we don’t.

We were interrupted when Clint came and ask if we knew if Sylvia was his girlfriend. We nearly choked to death in an attempt to keep from laughing. Clint is different and I really don’t want to mock him. He has difficulty understanding and cannot interpret meaning when it comes to women. While he will tell you he has had a lot of girlfriends, his interpretation of that phrase is any girl who looks at him. He thinks the cleaning lady the agency sent over is one of his girlfriends. I doubt she know that.

He is nice enough, lives in his own world, but is very anxious for female companionship. He is in his 50’s but has never had that experience.

He knew enough to know that we would not be able to tell him how Sylvia felt so asked where she was. With some fear we told him she was down the hall, last room on the right.
Go and asked, Gail said. Can I? Sure! That way you will know for sure. Sylvia is a strong woman and not easily intimidated and we were sure she could handle the question. He went and knocked. She answered and he asked, are you my girlfriend? No Clint, I’m not. He turned and walked away without further adieu.

He returned and sat back down near the puzzle table. He asked Gail her name. She hesitated and I knew she didn’t want to say. So I said, her name is George and she is my girlfriend. Oh! Gail picked up the clue and said, please excuse me. I must go make our supper now. She left, Clint then said she’s nice! Yes she is. But she is my girl so leave her alone. OK! Then he wandered off.

In just a few minutes Sylvia came down the hall laughing which encouraged the rest of us to laugh. Do you know what Clint did? Yes, we sent him down to ask the question? What did you do to encourage him? I was just trying to be nice to him. Very few people talk to him so I was just trying to be nice. That will teach you. Stop the niceness.

We left her with the assurance that we will happily tell everyone we see about her new relationship with Clint. She laughed. It will get around, won’t it? You betcha!