Don't Wait Up!

     There are few things more rude than someone standing up another person. It is a waste of your time and completely thoughtless. That being said, you don't have to take that person's behavior lying down.

    A few weeks ago, I was eating dinner at the bar of one my favorite downtown haunts, when an attractive older gentlemen started chatting me up. He gave me his card and encouraged me to call him. About two weeks later I decided to do just that. We set up a date for that coming Friday. We agreed that either one of us would call to confirm with the other.

    On Thursday, the day before our date, I called to confirm. I left a message. When I didn't hear back that night I decided we didn't have a date. On Friday, I took myself out to dinner after work and chatted with friends who were at the same restaurant. I went home and didn't think on it. Besides, I had a date the next day. In my opinion, someone who is that rude doesn't deserve my time.


Alexander Graham Bell invented it for a reason. Use it.

     The next day as I was getting ready for my date, my line beeped. It was him. I was on the phone with my aunt, so I ignored him. When the line beeped again I decided to click over and let him have it.

     "Hello," I said not masking the irritation in my voice.

     "Hey, it's Rich."

     "Uh-huh."

     "What are you doing today?" he asked.

     "I have plans. Our date was yesterday." I exploded.

     "Yeah. I know. I'm at Blackstone's. Come down," Rich said confidently.

     "I have plans. Our date was yesterday." I exploded.

     "Yeah. I know. Come down."

     Now I was really angry.

     "No. I have plans and I don't take kindly to being stood up. If you couldn't have made it on Friday, you should have called or texted. You should have called me back on Thursday," I fumed.

     "Yeah, I know I am an asshole with my phone."

     "To say the least," I countered.

     "I'm trying to make it up to you," he said sounding indignant.

     I wasn't having it.

     "No. I. Am. Busy."

     "I thought we'd have a late lunch."

     "No. Our date was yesterday at Da'Edoardo's and today my day is spoken for."

     "If you want to come down here and punch me in the face, I understand."

     What a pompous jerk!

     "I don't assault people. I have things to do."

    He was in mid sentence when I'd heard enough. I hung up on him. Normally, I don't do that to people, but my buffoonery quota was met for the day.

     As I headed to my date, he called again. I didn't pick up. I'm certain the call was the result of liquid courage brought on by a few shots of Glenfiddich.

     Bad behavior persists because good people tolerate it. I will not put up with disrespect or having my time wasted because of a another person's lack of regard. No one should accept this as appropriate. No one stands me up. Time waits for no man and neither does Crystal S. Demps.