My New Bff

Jimmy was one of those guys who probably was good looking about thirty years ago.

He seemed to miss the fact that today he was flabby, balding, and no longer had whatever allure he once held.

I have met a lot of guys like him over the years so there was no dislocation. However, the difference between Jimmy and guys like him was his complicated history that was fogging up the venue where we encountered.

Jimmy had been trying to chat me up. I noticed a lot of eyes hitting me, and being new and unsure, I moved away from him. I kept my expression flat and my thoughts to myself.

Suddenly, I saw a large woman who gave me a big smile and introduced herself as if she'd always been dying to meet me mixed with the impression we used to share pencils in primary school.

Having never seen her before in my life I didn't do more than play along with her rather dramatic presentation.

As I attended meetings each week, she would sit near me and chat and, well, being new I was comfortable with the attention.

There was some function the organisation was hold. I had no intention of going but Shirley had bought two tickets. About four hours before the dinner she rang me, inviting me to go with her, saying that she had an extra ticket.

It sounded okay to me so I agreed to join her.

We sat at one of the best tables with others and I had a great time. The food was great, and the 'warmth' pouring from Shirley and her group added to the pleasantry.

Shortly after that dinner I gained the unnecessary opprobrium of three sisters whom I mentally labled the Witches of Green Street. For some reason these three despised me.

I hadn't done anything. Been polite, but they glared at me as if I'd kicked their puppy.

Shirley had, in dribs and drabs, made me know the Witches hated her, so I suppose being her BFF I was getting the reflection.

Until I found out why they hated her.

Years ago, Jim had been married to Nancy, the middle Green Witch. They had a child. Subsequently it became clear the child was severely retarded. The problems in taking care of such a child caused the marriage to fall apart. Nancy and Jim were divorced.

After some years Shirley came into the picture. She and Jim began a relationship, became engaged. They were about to get married, when Nancy began ringing up Jim crying about Gertie, the child.

One evening Jim decided leave Shirley home alone to see about Gertie. It didn't take long for Shirley to appreciate that her relationship with Jim was going to be 'me or Gertie' and me would lose.

So Shirley broke off the engagement. She left the relationship, but still had feelings for Jim.

Hence, seeing Jim speaking to me, Shirley felt that blob of jealousy had to hone into my life, which explains why she made me her new BFF.

Which explained why Nancy, who also had feelings for Jim, considered me a dangerous rival.

Hence both Shirley and Nancy focused on me from different angles based on my connection to Jim.

Jim, however, had a sick mother a thousand miles away.
And his mother Always trumped.

Hence Shirley didn't have him, and Nancy didn't have him.
He was Mama's boy all the way.

When Jim flew out, abandoning every one for his mother, (who had been dying for the past 15 years, although she looked rather smart when I met her).

Nancy and Shirley started to exchange war stories on how Jim would always race to his mother's side. Soon they became BFF and I was forgotten.

Alas.