Internet Dating: Richie

After numerous friends’ positive reports on internet dating, Cheer finally decides to give it a try. She begins a conversation with a man who appears too attractive to be on a dating website, proffers signs of intelligence, feels perfectly emotionally unavailable, and seems like just enough of a narcissist to get her motor running.

Cheer and Richie discuss film through the exchange a few messages before Richie asks to meet. Cheer agrees, and a week or so later, they’ve arranged a date on a Monday.

The bar chosen for the date is very small. The entire room can be viewed from the front door, and there are just 8 seats at the bar. Cheer arrives 5 minutes fashionably late and sits at the bar next to the only man who could be Richie. He has facial hair and a hat on—things absent from his profile pictures.

Cheer: “Hi.”
Man: “Hi.”
The man is expressionless, offers no handshake, and does not open his posture to Cheer.
Cheer: “How’s it going?”
Man: “All right.”
Cheer: “What are you drinking?”
Man: “Gin and tonic.”
Cheer orders a Manhattan. It is the worst Manhattan she’s ever had.
Cheer: “It’s really warm out tonight.”
Man: “Yeah.”
Cheer begins to doubt that the man next to her is Richie. She thinks she may be making awkward conversation with a random bar patron—who doesn’t much care for it. She decides to mention something specific, hoping for confirmation, bracing for a truly awkward moment with a stranger.
Cheer: “So, Connecticut, huh?”
Man: “What?”
Cheer: “Connecticut. You just drove down from Connecticut, right?”
Man: “Oh. Yeah.”
Cheer is relieved she has the right guy, but is annoyed by his lack of acknowledgement or enthusiasm.
Cheer: “Your profile says you live in NYC, but evidence suggests that you’re a dirty, dirty liar and you really live in Connecticut.”
Richie: “Yeah, I’m a dirty, dirty liar.”
Cheer: “How long did it take you to drive here?”
Richie: “Oh, about 2 hours.”
Cheer: “Holy crap. You live really far away.”
Richie: “Yeah.”
Cheer: “You’re lucky I like unavailable men. This could still work out.”
Richie: “Cool.”
Cheer: “So, what do you do in Connecticut?”
Richie: “Live with my grandmother for free, and play, I mean, create video games.”
Cheer: “How old are you?”
Richie: “30.”
Cheer: “So, tell me about making video games at grandma’s.”
Richie: “Essentially, I’m building this game that requires thousands of man hours and a team of people. But, I’ve decided to not follow the typical format for creating a game, do the steps out of order, and do it alone, because no one wants to work for free. And I live with my grandmother and play video games, so I can’t exactly pay anyone.”
Cheer: “So, do you feel that you’ll complete this project? And if so, will it be profitable? Or is this a hobby?”
Richie: “Oh, totally profitable. I also have a patent for a design element in this type of game. It’s brilliant, because I’m brilliant, and it’s worth, like, a bajillion dollars.”
Cheer: “That’s cool.”
Richie: “But, I’ll never put forth the effort to make any money from it.”
Cheer: “You’re becoming more of a catch every minute.”
Richie: “I’m a total catch. Have I mentioned that I’m super smart? My IQ test results prove it. I won’t tell you my IQ though, because you’d just feel stupid. Have you ever had your IQ tested?”
Cheer: “No.”
Richie: “I’ve taken all those expensive official tests.”
Cheer: “Why so many?”
Richie: “They thought I might be retarded as a child.”
Cheer: “What a wonderful topic to bring up on the first date.”
Richie: “I’m retarded like that.”
Cheer: “What did you do as a child that made them start testing you?”
Richie: “I didn’t speak until I was 3 years old.”
Cheer: “At all?”
Richie: “Not a word. I didn’t even babble.”
Cheer: “Then, at age 3, you started babbling?”
Richie: “Oh, no. At 3, when I first spoke, I spoke in complete, grammatically correct sentences.”
Cheer: “That’s believable.”
Richie: “So, once I started talking, my parents asked me why I hadn’t spoken before.”
Cheer: “And?”
Richie: “And I told them that I didn’t have anything to say.”
Cheer: “What a plausible tale.”
Richie: “Also, I never walked or crawled. I started running at 9 months.”
Cheer: “Running at 9 months, silent until master of speech at 3. Obviously you’re a genius.”
Richie: “Pretty much.”
Cheer: “So, genius, since you’re not ready to sell your game or your patent, what do you do for money?”
Richie: “I just pick up jobs now and then from Craigslist, work enough to not work for a while, and generally continue to jerk off in my grandmother’s basement while she makes me pie.”
Cheer: “You’re livin’ the dream.”
Richie: “Indeed.”
Cheer: “So, if money were no object, what would you be doing? Would you be making a video game?”
Richie: “Probably.”
Cheer: “Is that your thing though? Anything else?”
Richie: “Well, the other things are very NC-17.”
Cheer: “What?”
Richie: “We’ve been having a very PG-13 conversation, and my other interests are more of an NC-17 topic.”
Cheer: “OK. Try me.”
Richie: “Well, basically I like to have a lot of sex. Like, a lot of sex. And, if I had it my way, I’d have five women.”
Cheer: “So, the answer to your million dollar question is to have a harem of five.”
Richie: “Yeah. I think five would be the perfect number.”
Cheer: “So, these five women… Do they know about each other?”
Richie: “Oh, yeah. Definitely.”
Cheer: “OK. So, why five? Why is five the perfect number?”
Richie: “Well, once you pass five, it’s difficult to see each one very often. I’d like to have them in a good rotation, not just every few weeks. Plus, I can’t have sex with someone for very long without it being more than sex, and more than five of that type of relationship would be taxing.”
Cheer: “I’m starting to find this one hour relationship with you pretty taxing.”
Richie: “It only gets more ridiculous from here.”
Cheer: “Then let’s get another drink. If you’re going to talk about a harem of five—which I’m not yet sure if you’re inviting me to be a part of—I need more booze.”
Richie: “OK.”
Cheer, having learned her lesson with the Manhattan, orders a rye whiskey on the rocks, and Richie follows suit.

five_girls

Richie: “So, I wasn’t kidding when I said I like to have a lot of sex.”
Cheer: “Contrary to most of our conversation to this point, I didn’t doubt that.”
Richie: “I mean, like twice a day. Or maybe even like, twice a day, but also, three times a day, twice a week.”
Cheer: “Got it.”
Richie: “So, you know, that’s part of why I need multiple girls, because I’d just wear one out. Like, once I was dating these two girls—who knew about each other—but one got super jealous one day and demanded I be her monogamous boyfriend. I told her OK, but that she needed to understand that that would mean that I would only be having sex with her. And, I had to ask if she was, like, ready for that, cause, she knows me, and knows how much sex I need.”
Cheer: “Let’s talk more about your insatiable sexual appetite and your exes. I’m super stoked about these topics.”
Richie: “OK, well, there was this girl I grew up with who I always wanted to fuck.”
Cheer: “Who doesn’t have at least one of those?”
Richie: “Well, this girl is like, supermodel hot.”
Cheer: “So, why’d you never tap that?”
Richie: “She’s a virgin.”
Cheer: “Currently? Or when you knew her?”
Richie: “Both… As far as I know.”
Cheer: “Why is this supermodel girl a virgin? Religion?”
Richie: “No.”
Cheer: “Missing limb?”
Richie: “No.”
Cheer: “Then what?”
Richie: “Her mom had her when she was 18. She was trying to avoid becoming her parents by avoiding having sex at all.”
Cheer: “What a shitty decision.”
Richie: “I know, right?”
Cheer: “So, this supermodel…”
Richie: “Yeah?”
Cheer: “If she asked you to take her v-card now, would you?”
Richie: “Hell yeah. But, I mean, I feel like I’d have to warn her.”
Cheer: “Warn her?”
Richie: “Yeah…cause, like, maybe she’d want to find a smaller penis that would be easier to handle. But, I’d be so flattered she asked me, I don’t think I’d really say that.”
Cheer: “You’d just pulverize that tight pussy without warning.”
Richie: “Exactly.”

The bar is closing early, due to it being a Monday night, and Cheer and Richie get their bill. They each put $30 on a $43 dollar bill, and the bartender asks if they’d like change.
Richie: “Yes. Absolutely. We need change.”
Cheer: “OK. I’m going to the restroom.”
Cheer returns.
Richie: “Do you have like $1? Or like 60 cents?”
Cheer: “60 cents? For the tip? I would never give you 60 cents to give as tip. But, I have an entire dollar.”
Richie: “OK.”
Richie has left $8 on the bar, pocketed the other $9, and asked Cheer for an additional dollar. Cheer initially puts down the dollar, then two more for their extended time at the bar with few drinks.
Outside the bar, Richie: “But wait, you put in like $5 more than me.”
Cheer: “Whatever.”
Richie: “But, what if you never see me again? You’ll never get your $5 back.”
Cheer: “Seeing as you just pocketed our change and asked me for more money, I know I’ll never get any money back. Also, I just put in $33 on our $53 total. I paid $13 more.”
Richie: “No comment. Let’s walk.”

Cheer and Richie walk a few blocks before Cheer stops them.

Cheer: “Are we walking with a destination?”
Richie: “I don’t know. Where’s your apartment?”
Cheer glares at Richie: “I don’t know. Where’s your car?”
Richie: “It’s up a few blocks.”
Cheer: “OK.”

Cheer and Richie arrive at Richie’s car.

Richie: “So, can I give you a ride?”
Cheer: “No, thanks.”
Richie: “Really?”
Cheer: “Really.”
Richie: “Then will you sit in my car and talk with me for a minute?”
Cheer: “No, I’m good right here.”
Richie: “Really? This smoking 1997 Pontiac doesn’t make you want to get inside and take all your clothes off?”
Cheer: “No, no it does not. You can’t talk to me here.”
Richie: “But, it’s so…public.”
Cheer: “Exactly.”

Cheer and Richie are quiet for a moment before Richie speaks.

Richie: “Do you know what a posterior fornix is?”
Cheer: “Posterior forn—”
Richie: “It’s this cavity behind the cervix. It’s like, the deepest part of the vagina.”
Cheer: “Why are you talking about this?”
Richie: “I like finding them.”
Cheer: “What?”
Richie: “Well, you know, because it’s so deep, most guys can never get near it. But, I happen to have a cock that’s good for locating posterior fornices. I thought you should know.”
Cheer: “When you mentioned your size earlier, while speaking about supermodel pussy pounding, I held doubt. But now that you’ve mentioned it twice, I know it must be huge.”
Richie: “I’d like to find your posterior fornix.”
Cheer: “Please stop talking.”
Richie: “I bet you’ve never experienced the full pleasures it has to offer. Even if you’ve had some big dick, it wasn’t my big dick, with my superior moves for posterior fornix pleasure.”
Cheer: “I’ve been so deprived. My posterior fornix is wriggling with anticipation of your godly penis. Finally, I found you.”

posterior_fornix

Richie: “I’m going to abruptly change the subject.”
Cheer: “Good idea.”
Richie: “You look different from your profile.”
Cheer: “And?”
Richie: “And what?”
Cheer: “You’re not supposed to mention that unless you say I look better, or give a compliment indicating your approval of what you see now.”
Richie: “Oh. OK. I really like your boobs.”
Cheer: “Uhhh…”
Richie: “And, mmmm…your hips.”
Cheer: “Thanks?”
Richie: “And your eyes…they’re alright.”
Cheer: “Just alright?”
Richie: “Yeah. But, your boobs. They’re…mmmm…yeah. They’re like a…a…34C? Yeah? No? Maybe D? You’re not a 32. Yeah, maybe a D. Not a double D. Yeah? See, with sizes, it’s complicated, cause like, the actual size of the cup changes depending on the other measurement, so you could be like a 36C or a 34D and I wouldn’t know. Can’t know, really. I slept with this girl once who was a double F. So, naturally, you know, she was a bigger girl. But, in a nice way. I mean, with boob size, there’s big, and then there are those who are just fat. So, you have to exclude the ones who are just fat, cause that’s different. But this girl, she was just bigger.”
Cheer: “OK, well on that note, I’m go—”
Richie: “She had a really nice round ass too.”
Cheer: “Ohhhkay.”
Richie: “Really round. Unnaturally big and round… But I had to stop sleeping with her because she was crazy. So, yeah, bra sizes are weird, cause, like, Victoria’s Secret’s sizes aren’t exactly the same. Those sizes are a little different. So, it’s hard to ever really tell by size, but yours….mmmm…are nice. I like you.”
Cheer: “Oh, joy.”
Richie: “Yeah, you’re pretty cute…and nice…you’re fuckable.”
Cheer: “Wow, I feel like a winner now. I’m so glad I’ve achieved fuckable status with you. I’m going home now.”
Richie: “Awww. No, don’t go yet.”
Cheer: “Yeah, I’m going.”
Richie: “But, now I’m all riled up, with a long drive ahead of me. And you’re leaving? What am I going to do with this hard on?”
Cheer: “Date over.”

Dairy

dairy

Man: “I’d like the foie gras appetizer, but I can’t have any butter or cream. Can it be made without dairy?”
Cheer: “I’ll check with the chef and see.”
Man: “Thanks.”
Cheer: “What would you like for your entrée?”
Man: “Well, I’m interested in the pork, but again, I can’t have any dairy. Can we make a substiution to avoid any dairy in the grits?”
Cheer: “Sure. We can give you extra vegetables or french fries.”
Man: “Fries sound great. Thanks so much.”
Cheer: “OK. So, we’ll start you with a dairy-free foie gras if possible, followed by a dairy-less pork—no grits, sub fries. To finish up your pre-fixe menu ordering, what would you like for your dessert?”
Man: “The cheese plate.”
Cheer: “It’s not wise to fuck with the people who handle your food.”

Costa Rican Boyfriend

A clerk strikes up conversation with Cheer’s Ecuadorian friend while they are checking out at a market in Costa Rica. With her limited Spanish, Cheer gathers that they are talking about cuy (aka guinea pig), a traditional dish in Ecuador. Cheer isn’t fully listening until she is being introduced to the clerk as a friend. The clerk’s attention shifts completely to Cheer.
Clerk: “If I eat cuy, can I be your boyfriend?”
Cheer: “What? No.”
Clerk: “Why not?”
Cheer: “You’re not attractive.”
Clerk: “What?”
Cheer: “Because I’m a vegetarian.”
Clerk: “If I become a vegetarian, can I be your boyfriend?
Cheer: “No.”
Clerk: “Why not?”
Cheer: “Omitting meat from your diet will not make you attractive.”
Clerk: “Huh?”
Cheer: “Because you’d have to move to New York.”
Clerk: “I’ll move to NY for you. If I move to NY and become a vegetarian, can I be your boyfriend?”
Cheer: “Your stalker dedication is flattering, but no.”
Clerk: “Why?”
Cheer: “How do you know I don’t already have a boyfriend?”
Clerk: “I can see it in your face.”
Cheer: “Oh? What about my face tells you that?”
Clerk: “I can just tell.”
Cheer: “Un-huh. You’ve got a sixth sense for boyfriends, eh?”
Clerk: “Yeah, I’m talented like that. You want a talented boyfriend. So, can we meet up later?”
Cheer: “Oh, clerky-clerk, you’re a helluva bargainer, but, I’m still going with no. Sorry.”
Clerk: “Awww, c’mon. Really?”
Cheer: “Really.”


costa rican boyfriend

Two days later, Cheer is on the same street walking alone. She sees Clerk. Because he sees her too, she smiles and gives a wave, simply to acknowledge they had met previously. She continues walking. Clerk runs to catch up to her.
Clerk: “Hola.”
Cheer: “Hola.”
Clerk: “Can I walk with you?”
Cheer: “If you agree not to ask if you can be my boyfriend.”
Clerk: “Awww, why, you don’t want me to be your boyfriend?”
Cheer: “Nope. Sorry.”
Clerk: “OK, OK. So, what are you doing here?”
Cheer: “I’m waiting for the bus back to my hotel.”
Clerk: “And where are your friends?”
Cheer: “Watching the game in that bar.”
Cheer and Clerk talk for a few minutes about his fluency in English due to his Louisiana-born mother, Cheer’s travels in Costa Rica and other chit-chat topics, before Clerk brings the conversation back around.
Clerk: “So, what are you doing tonight? Can I be your boyfriend tonight?”
Cheer: “I thought we had an agreement.”
Clerk: “What’s wrong? You don’t want a Costa Rican boyfriend?”
Cheer: “A hot one, sure.”
Clerk: “What?”
Cheer: “What if I already have one?”
Clerk: “You don’t.”
Cheer: “How do you know?”
Clerk: “If you had one, he’d be here with you right now.”
Cheer: “Are you sure?”
Clerk: “Yeah. You don’t have one. You need a Costa Rican boyfriend.”
Cheer: “Oh, and where do you suppose I might find one?”
Clerk: “Why don’t you let me be your boyfriend?”
Cheer: “Why won’t you accept my rejection?”
Clerk: “You’re rejecting me?”
Cheer laughs: “Yes, sorry.”
Clerk: “Awww, c’mon, you know what they say…”
Cheer: “What?”
Clerk: “Once you go black…”
Cheer cocks her head and raises her eybrows.
Cheer: “You’re serious.”
Clerk: “Yeah.”
Cheer: “Why do you assume I haven’t ‘gone black’?”
Clerk: “I can just tell.”
Cheer: “Oh, boy. Here we go again.”
Clerk: “I could go again and again.”
Cheer: “I’m sure you could.”
Clerk: “So can I be your boyfriend again and again tonight?”
Cheer: “While this repetative conversation is highly ammusing, I’m going to again and again turn down your offer.”
Clerk: “But…”
Cheer: “My bus is here.”
Clerk: “But…”
Cheer: “Nice to meet you. I hope you find another to be your girlfriend tonight.”
Clerk: “But I never get anyone to be my girlfriend.”
Cheer: “Maybe you want to work on your approach, and you know, get hotter.”
Clerk: “If I work on my approach and get hotter will you let me be your boyfriend?”
Cheer: “Perhaps. Next time I’m in Costa Rica, give it another try. Adios.”
Clerk: “Adios.”

Listening: No One’s Doing It Anymore II

tomato_bisque

Cheer: “The soup today is a tomato bisque. Do you have any questions about the menu?”

Customer 1: “What’s the soup?”
Cheer: “Tomato bisque.”

Customer 2: “What comes with the steak?”
Cheer: “Fries and a salad.”
Customer 2: “And what is the soup today?”
Cheer: “Tomato bisque.”

Customer 3: “What comes with the steak?”
Cheer: “Fries and a salad.”
Customer 3: “What is the soup today?”
Cheer: “Ask customer 1 or 2.”

Customer 4: “What is a steak?”
Cheer: “Expensive meat.”
Customer 4: “And what comes with that?”
Cheer: “Probably what’s listed on the menu, and what I just told customers 2 and 3.”
Customer 4: “Hmmm. And what’s the soup today?”
Cheer: “I will cut you.”

Best of Yelp

Every once in a while, I find it entertaining to read reviews of the restaurant that employs me. During a recent visit to Yelp, I found the reviews to be full of moronic quotes. As I read, I realized this isn’t just a sample of the general public, this is a sample that I have actually interacted with. These are the people who inspire entries on this blog. So, for your reading pleasure, I give you the inane Yelp dribble from the dolts that pay my rent.

yelp_logo

“I don’t know if rhubarb and strawberries go together.” –Leo O., Brooklyn, NY

They do, Leo. The rest of the world had a meeting a long time ago and agreed on it. Catch up.

 

“A better man than myself would be able to tell you ‘well you see he just needed a dash of lemon in the risotto to cut the fat’ or ‘tossing the tuna tartar in soy BEFORE plating it would make it richer’ but i will just say that something is missing…” -Furyk C., Chicago, IL

Hand me my DOUCHE stamp, Furyk’s forehead needs some ink.

 

“I would not hesitant to visit again.” –Jeannine L., San Francisco, CA

I love it when people don’t hesitant. Not hesitanting is really the best way to live life. Once I knew this girl who hesitanted and she ended up a broke cripple. True story.

 

“The waitress completely gave me the wrong drink. I wanted the mango martini, I received white wine. Whatever. I sucked it up and didn’t complain. Good wine is good too. This was not so good.” –Irene H., Middle Village, NY

Irene, please take yourself out of the gene pool as soon as possible.

 

“Positives: bathroom is very nice.” –Matthew F., Huntington Station, NY

Matthew, you’re a man with his priorities in order. Who cares about food in a restaurant review anyway? Am I right?! Hey, can you score me an 8 ball?

“The train announcements in the background were at first distracting, but became a part of the scene, signaling that you were near the center of the universe.” –Devyn S., Rensselaer, NY

Double rainbow.

 

“I can’t quite recall what we all had.” –Michelle H., New York, NY

“I don’t remember how each specific item tasted.” –Keith K., San Francisco, CA

Keith, I know this girl named Michelle. I think you’d like her.

 

“It was as if the ‘real’ servers had all been kidnapped, and the runners and dishwashers were left to hold down the fort.” –Mariana L., New York, NY

C’mon, Mariana. You know better. Just because the servers aren’t white doesn’t mean they’re dishwashers.

Burger

Cheer: “Do you have any questions about the menu?”

Lady: “The ‘Comes-From-A-Local-Farm Burger’, that’s vegetarian, right?”

Cheer: “Uhhhhh, no. That’s whole lotta beefy, meaty-meat. A hamburger.”

Lady: “Oh, OK. Well, that’s OK, I’m not a vegetarian. I’ll have that.”

Cheer: “Uh-huh.”

veggie_burger

Listening: No One’s Doing It Anymore

Cheer: “Hi. I’ve come to serve you. To appease your every need. To wait on you hand and foot. For a few dollars.”

Customer: “After the third quarter review, Flotsam realized he was losing time with the NQRP, and he went behind Jetsam’s back to initiate the sale with Kleinstein. The LDT never changed its course until the NWS gave the signal to access the VQ Fund. Only then, with the contract on the table, did Blinkerflacker call on the elite network for a brainstorming session to come up with more lingo to use at restaurants while we ignore our server.”

Cheer: “I’ve been standing here, patiently waiting, for a good minute. Waiting for you to finish your thought, and shut the fuck up, so I can get your damn martini order. If you even dared to glance in my general direction, to acknowledge my existence, I might not have a strong urge to whip out my vagina and piss on your face right now.”

Customer: “Then the head of the RN187 division…”

Cheer: “Fuck my life.”


toast_douchebags3

Apartment Cleaning

Day 1: Lease Begins

Cheer: “When will the apartment be cleaned? It looks like the love nest of caramel apples and concentrated New York City sludge in here.”

Manager: “The cleaning dude is coming tonight at 6pm.”

Cheer: “Do I need to be at the apartment to let him in?”

Manager: “No. Just leave the apartment door open. He can get in the building without you.”

Cheer: “OK.”

Cheer leaves her new apartment unlocked and vulnerable for a much needed scrub down. She sleeps at her old apartment one last night, and wakes early to begin moving into her newly painted, squeaky-clean apartment.

Day 2

Cheer: “I’m so glad that the cleaning fairy came while I was sleeping. I’ll just mosey on over to the new place and start basking in freshness.”

Cheer goes to her new apartment.

Cheer: “Whatthefuck.”

Cheer calls the manager.

Cheer: “I left the apartment open all night and the cleaning guy never came. When will he be coming today?”

Manager: “He was there.”

Cheer: “No. No he was not.”

Manager: “He told me he was there. What’s not clean?”

Cheer: “Everything.”

Manager: “Everything?”

Cheer: “Yes. I believe the bacteria have multiplied and it’s actually worse than when I was here yesterday.”

Manager: “OK. Let me call him and see when he can get there.”

Cheer: “Thanks.”

8 hours later, the manager calls Cheer back.

Manager: “He can’t make it today. He’ll be there tomorrow.”

Cheer: “Oh, good. That will give me just enough time to eat, sleep, breathe, bathe, and cherish the grime of the previous tenants, who were obviously a feral child and a troll that sweats motor oil.”

Manager: “That’s hot.”

Cheer: “What time shall I expect him tomorrow?”

Manager: “1pm.”

Cheer: “OK. I’ll be here.”

Day 3

Cheer continues to treat her entire apartment like a public bathroom–refusing to touch anything with her bare skin. Come 1pm, no one has come to clean. At 1:30pm she calls the manager.

Cheer: “The cleaning guy hasn’t shown yet. What’s the deal?”

Manager: “Oh, I don’t know. Here’s his phone number. His name is Bubba. You figure this shit out.”

Cheer: “Bubba?”

Manager: “Yeah. Bubba’s your man.”

Cheer: “Right.”

Cheer calls Bubba. She gets his voicemail and leaves a message. Hours pass. She calls again. Voicemail. Second message. At nearly 5pm, Cheer is certain Bubba isn’t going to show and she puts on her shoes and jacket. As she is opening her door to run errands, Bubba calls.

Cheer: “Hello?”

Bubba: “Hi.”

Cheer: “Bubba?”

Bubba: “Yes, this is Bubba.”

Awkward pause.

Cheer: “So… I thought you were going to be here at 1 today. What happened?”

Bubba: “Yeeeeaaaahhh… See, when I woke up this morning, I had this, like, really bad headache. So…”

Cheer: “A headache? A goddamn headache?!”

Bubba: “A really bad one.”


my_head_hurts2

Cheer: “Are you completely inept at phone use? Completely unaware of social etiquette pertaining to appointments arranged with strangers?”

Bubba: “Well, obviously.”

Cheer: “So why are you calling me now?”

Bubba: “Oh. Well, I was going to come clean now.”

Cheer: “Now? 4 hours late?”

Bubba: “Yeah. I mean, is that a problem? You’re not home?”

Cheer: “Well, I was just walking out my door…”

Bubba: “We can arrange another time.”

Cheer: “Dear god, no. Just get your ass over here.”

Around 5:30 the doorbell rings.

Cheer: “Bubba?”

Bubba: “Bubba.”

Cheer: “You don’t weigh 300lbs, have low riding plumber pants with visible crack, and you’re not breathing heavily, in a manner which makes those around you concerned they may have to call 911 on your behalf at any moment.”

Bubba: “No. I’m a tall, thin, soft-breathing man with well-fitting pants.”

Cheer: “I didn’t think men of your appearance were allowed to be named Bubba.”

Bubba: “I got a special exception.”

Cheer: “Ah.”

As Bubba enters the apartment, Cheer peers around the corner into the hallway looking for cleaning supplies. There are none.

Cheer: “You didn’t bring any cleaning supplies?”

Bubba holds up a small grocery bag. Said bag is that which one typically receives at a New York corner store–black, plastic, and small. It is not full. Cheer could have been convinced that it contained only a sponge and a Snickers bar.

Cheer: “Please tell me that bag has Mary Poppins powers.”

Bubba: “Huh?”

Cheer: “Nevermind.”

Bubba: “So, I was here yesterday. What isn’t clean?”

Cheer raises an eyebrow and seriously wonders if Bubba is actually blind. She feels awkward as she tells him things that need to be cleaned, because she feels she is just stating obvious facts.

Cheer: “The entire bathroom is covered in a visible layer of dirt. If you were to run your bare finger down any surface in there, it would be qualified as a biohazard, have to be removed, and then disposed of via special containment. The stainless steel sink is a brownish-green color and I’m certain that radioactive tadpoles are living under the sink strainer. Every surface in a two foot radius of the stove is covered in a urine and honey reduction. I’m scared to touch any cupboard because I would become permanently bonded to it. Due to the inability to escape the flypaper cupboard, I would eventually perish in my dirty kitchen, 4 inches out of reach of all food and water. I don’t want to die.”

Bubba: “OK.”


Biohazard-Warning2

Cheer web-nets while Bubba cleans. Every now and then he calls on her for approval.

Bubba: “Clean?”

Cheer: “Cleaner than before.”

Bubba: “Clean?”

Cheer: “Ummmm.”

Bubba: “All done?”

Cheer: “If I were a goat without a sense of smell, it might suffice.”

Bubba: “So, I can leave now?”

Cheer: “Yes. You’re obviously the manager’s second cousin’s husband and were never meant to be employed in the cleaning industry. Thanks for wiping the first layer of dirt off. I will clean for real now.”

Bubba: “Works for me. Laterz.”

Cheer spends approximately 30 hours during the following weeks cleaning her apartment to her standards. Bottle after bottle of cleaning fluids are emptied, sponges and brushes are worn and tattered, and perhaps a year’s supply of paper towels are kaput. She regrets not hiring a cleaning company, but her apartment fucking sparkles.

Click to enlarge
faucet2


Illustration below copyright Haven Duveyoung

layers_of_dirt

Dessert

Cheer: “Would you like to browse our dessert list today?”

Lady: “Oh, heavens no! I’m so full. I’m so full, I just, I just can’t.”

Cheer: “OK. I’ll just take this plate full of butter from you, as it appears that it was left behind when your table was cleared.”

Lady: “No! I’m, I’m, I’m a stuttering mess at the thought of you removing my precious butter slab. And, I’m, I’m waiting for, going to have, some more, ummm, of that delicious cranberry bread.”

Cheer: “You’re so full you couldn’t possibly stomach a mouthful of sorbet, but you’d like to consume more dense bread with dried fruit and nuts in it, with a hefty amount of butter on top.”

Lady: “Yes.”

Cheer: “You’re going to have to show your work on that one.”


cranberry-bread

I’m Not Making This Up II

facepalm

What do I need a knife for?

Customer: (In Grand Central Terminal) How do I get to the train?
Cheer: The train? This is the largest train station in the world. You’re going to have to be more specific.

Is there any calamari in the grilled calamari salad?

I’ll have the confetti duck. (Menu reads: duck confit)

Customer: Do you know where the bathroom is?
Cheer: No. I work here, and I have no idea where the bathroom is.

I need a nice glass of wine, so I can throw it at my husband.

Lady: Why has this become such a man’s menu?

Can you make that a double-size order? I probably won’t eat all of it.

Are you the dessert?