Confessions of a Future Politician: Part 23
Moving the TDG Forward/First Real Boyfriend
Year 8, Week 14
The executive committee decided Mustafa, Orville, and I would finish the application for our non-profit society.
And we unanimously decided to support the Battenor Ecological Society in its quest to get state and federal funding to clean up the creosote plant. I recused myself from the vote as I was associated with the Battenor Ecological Society. The other six members supported the initiative. And we allocated $500 to this project.
Staying out of nightclubs for a couple of years, I was in a much healthier mindset for life. But I still yearned for finding a life partner. I wanted a husband. I wasn’t seeing opportunities in my new social circles, so I turned to dating websites. When I started browsing through profiles, I found a few former lovers and few men of whose advances I had spurned. I found it strange that they now wanted a long-term relationship. I gave all these fellows a pass.
I was 23 years old when I found Chris. He was new to Riverbend. We agreed to meet for coffee. We liked each other and started going steady. I really enjoyed being hugged and kissed — and not going any further. Chris took me to his church, and I really enjoyed the company of his friends and family.
On one date, he said, “I’ve been hearing a few things about you. It’s time we got real honest with each other.”
“OK.”
“I’m still a virgin. I’ve been waiting for the right woman and for our marriage vows. It’s important to me.”
This might not be good, I thought. I held his hand: “Chris, you are my first real boyfriend. I really enjoy being with you and maybe there is something more to our future . . . . I’ve been celebate for three years.”
“So I won’t be the first man, then . . .”
There’s no point in hiding my past. It is time for honesty, I thought again. “I lived on the wild side for a few years. I’ve had sex with about 30 men. Maybe 40.”
Chris’ face went unbelieving. He left me with: “I have to think.”
He showed up at my apartment door the next evening. “I’m sorry, Thelma. But this relationship is not going to work out for me. I wish you the best in life.”
Then it was my time to think. It seemed if I was going to find that special man for me, I would have to look beyond Riverbend. But I liked my business in Riverbend. And a long distance relationship was going cut into my accounting training. Maybe patience is its own reward. I’ll give dating a break for another year.
