The Hash Brown And The Country Club (570 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.67 on 8 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Parlor Trick (View user info) at 2004-06-29 21:50:07 EDT
I dated Jack for eight months, which in hindsight was twelve years too long. But hindsight is never around when you need it.
Fourteen years my senior, the man had money, influence and power. Strangely, I didn't acknowledge the toupee' until I woke up one morning and what appeared to be a skinned cat was lying overtop of the nightstand lamp (I wish I were making this up). A naked, now bald and significantly older looking Jack thought it was hysterical. I was well beyond words but smiled sweetly as nice uncultured country girls do in such situations.
Jack was a client until after our second business lunch he adjusted his tie and said 'I think we should see each other on a more social and less professional basis'. I was flattered to think He found me worthy. I never stopped to think that older men frequently find younger women worthy completely independent of any intellect or charm. Go figure.
Jack would take me to restaurants with valets and coat checks. He'd toss the keys of one of his imports to the young men at the valet stations with an arrogant nod of the head as I stumbled out of the passenger's seat trying to appear comfortable with my heels and the affluence. My cotton coat hung conspicuously next to the leathers and the furs.
We had dinner with people of importance.
"Sandra, I'd like you to meet Dick Hamilton, he is the President and Cofounder of Hamilton International and this is Tom Heveron he is the CEO of American City Bank"
"Gentlemen, this is Sandra, she is ....from Flint."
Clearly my new startup business with a booming staff of one was not worth mentioning in Jack's circle. But he would pat me on the head and praise me for my cute ambition.
Funny how you never know when it's the last date. "Be at the country club at 11:30 for brunch" the message said, "my mother will be joining us".
Meeting his mother was significant. Properly groomed, I arrived on time as directed. She disliked me immediately and found me easy to ignore me while proceeding to reduce Jack from imperial God to a nervous, defensive 9-year-old right before my eyes. It was an enlightening transformation.
I had attempted to avoid anything logistically difficult to consume from the buffet line, but found myself trying to cut the encrusted edge of a hash brown with the side of my fork. In the process a small piece launched from my plate into Jack's mother's orange juice. I starred at it floating on the surface wondering whether to confess and watched as she absently picked up her glass and drank. Her expression changed. My expression changed. "What's the matter?" asked the spoiled little boy wearing the toupee'. I just shook my head and watched as his mother; apparently assessing the nature of the foreign object in her mouth picked up her glass and spit the hash brown back into the orange juice where it sank to the bottom. She proceeded with her conversation without missing a beat.
Something in that moment converted these people from the social elite to ordinary citizens and as ordinary citizens they failed to impress. With a new unfamiliar confidence, I ate my remaining hash browns, paid $2 to spring my coat and left Jack that day knowing I wouldn't be back.
User Reviews
Submitted by Ex_Lux_Astrum (user info) at 2004-08-24 05:07:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
As soon as you realize that 95% of everyone you have ever met, and ever will meet, are absolutely stupid and/or clueless, and generally all-around assholes, your life shall be immensely more satisfying.
Submitted by Pooz (user info) at 2004-08-24 04:36:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
PISS
Submitted by ParlorTrick (user info) at 2004-06-30 09:28:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The story is based on actual events. Thanks for the reviews.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2004-06-30 01:23:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
That would make me feel dirty.
Submitted by gain (user info) at 2004-06-29 22:41:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by gbusman (user info) at 2004-06-29 22:25:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very good, but I'm trying to figure out if this is real or fiction. Well written in either case.
-Bus
Submitted by dakingisdead (user info) at 2004-06-29 22:18:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I am trying to think of something to say here Parlour.
I guess this sums it up in that it is about pretentiuos people.
A Gentle Reminder
You wear your rouge and lipstick
Your jewels and finery
but remember ,
underneath it all
Your naked.
Just like me.
Thats the thing isn't it. Despite all their trappings of refinement and power they are still just the same as you or I when it comes down to it.
I hope your business is going well so you can shove it down his paternalising throat.
Submitted by the_lone_stranger (user info) at 2004-06-29 22:00:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
People who live for money suck.