People tell me things

Well.

That muffled thud you just heard was the sound of the other shoe dropping. The echoes are still reverberating in my head. Maybe telling you about it will help me understand it myself.

When our Tuesday night game gets down to the final table we take a break for five or ten minutes. I went up to the kitchen to snarf a few almonds from our host's cupboard (hey, I keep him supplied, it's cool). The kitchen light is off, so it's dim in there, with light coming in from the dining room and the basement stairwell.

Mr. WPY comes in. I ask how he's doing. "Do you mean in the game, or in life?" Either one, I guess.

"I'm breaking up with J."

He tells me that things have been difficult since Christmas, when she and her son went with him to his parents' place. Apparently they don't see eye to eye on key issues of child-rearing, and of course the child is hers, not his.

I tell him I'm sorry, it's always sad when something ends, even if you know it's for the best. It feels like a failure and a loss. People can disagree on politics, but shared interpersonal values are absolutely essential to the success of a relationship. He says he's going to miss just hanging out with her.

In the midst of this conversation, new player S. ~ a woman ~ comes into the kitchen. There's definitely something in the air and she can feel it. She's also an extremely forthright person: "Are you two dating?" she asks.

There is a pause. "No," I say. Pause. "No," he says.

"Because you always seem to be together," she says.

"We're conspiring," says Mr. WPY. We return to the basement for the rest of the game.

Mr. WPY busts out about half an hour later. I ask if he's going to stay for the second game. "No," he says with a wry smile, "I have to go break up with my girlfriend."

"You mean, right now?" I thought he had been talking about a fait accompli. Apparently not.

"Yes."

"Well, I hope it goes as well as these things can go."

"Thanks." And he left.

*Head asplode.*

I do believe that Mr. WPY just told me that he was breaking up with his girlfriend before he told her. WTF?? Who does that? And why?

Okay, people. Here's the thing. I knew something was different. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. It's nice to have one's intuitions validated.

But the real problem is that this changes NOTHING. He's still too young. Now, however, I will no longer be able to ascribe the lack of a more intimate relationship to him having a girlfriend. Now, I'll have to face the reality that it's just really not on. So, the break-up of their relationship basically spells the death of my fantasy-life.

Great. It's a win-win! :P