She was being absolutely ridiculous and she knew it. But Claire was so beautiful, with her perfect figure, blonde hair and blue eyes, that she decided that this would be the best way to separate the wheat from the chaff. I shook my head and took a drink of my Heineken, smiling because a day with Claire was never a dull one and this decision would carry over several weeks.
"His name has to be Richard."
"Richard? Why Richard?"
"What's the nickname for Richard?"
I sat there dumbfounded, combing my dead grey cells for that tidbit of information. "Uh, Rich?"
"No, dumbass. It's Dick. If I only date guys named Richard, I will find the perfect dick." I'm sure that beer spewed from my nose when I laughed but she seemed not to notice, brushing her blonde hair and checking the length of the dark roots. She smiled at her reflection as if waiting for it to respond. "What do you think?"
"I think it's kinda stupid. Like that movie,
The Importance of Being Earnest
."
"Stupid? You really think it's stupid?"
"Claire, the name is not what's important and you know it."
"Why isn't it? Why can't I find a good dick by looking for Dicks?"
"Claire!"
"Jana, I'm serious!" She set her brush down and surveyed her figure. "The perfect dick can be mine."
"Whatever you say, Claire."
"That's why I called you here. I have five of the new guys I've been dating and I want you to help me pick one."
"Pick one for what?"
"Further dating, of course." She smiled, smoothing her hair down. "And maybe marriage."
"Oh, Claire ... "
The doorbell rang and she gave me a big smile. "Here they are!"
"All at one time?"
"Why, yes. I want to get this over and done with so that I can move on with my life."
"You make it sound like a lottery or something."
"It is." Claire grinned, batting her eyes like a silent film movie star. "A lottery for my love."
I made the gesture of sticking my finger down my throat and she laughed, heading for the door. As I watched in disbelief as five guys filed into the living room and was quite astonished to find that I recognized one of them. I couldn't help but laugh and she swept to the front of the line, introducing them to me.
"This is my best friend, Jana. Jana, This is Richard, Richard, Richard, Richard and Richard." Each one waved with a look of astonishment, glancing down the line at his fellow 'Richard'.
"We're all named Richard?" Richard the Second asked.
"Yes." Claire sat, giving her explanation. "You see, I'm looking for the perfect Dick."
"The perfect dick or the perfect Dick?" Asked Richard the Third.
"Both." She said, finishing the task of removing her shoes and stood up. "I'm going to test each one of you, then I'll make my decision."
"A test?" Richard the Fifth turned towards the door. "Fuck that. I'm out of here."
As the door slammed shut behind him, Claire looked at me, then at the remaining men. "Does anyone else wish to leave?" When no one answered, she stepped forward and took the first Richard's hand, heading toward the bedroom. "Come on, Jana. I need your opinion as well."