Thank you Tigerssman for help with the editing for this story.
*****
"What's up dude?! I am Dean, a freshman at a lame university my parents sent me to. I do not make friends well, I guess I am too frank with people. I tend to answer the question asked instead of what the person 'meant' to say.
The University is more than two miles above sea level. I think the thin air causes people to have short tempers. That is a problem I intend to test today. My roommate Jack and his girlfriend Jill are sort of friends. Jill is always around, not that I mind much, but sometimes it is too much."
My test is be nice and see her reaction. I welcomed Jill warmly, for a drink she opted for hot cocoa.
I took her hat, coat and gloves and put them in the closet. Then as expected, (which is why I had the test in the first place), she got mad and madder at me. I just grabbed my stuff including both of my transit passes and left. I was fuming by the time I passed Jack in the hallway.
Jack was confused when he entered the room, Jill was in tears. "What did he do to you honey?"
Through her sniffles she said, "Nothing, he was a perfect gentleman. He welcomed me, put my coat away and made me some cocoa. Then I lit into him for no reason, then he left his own dorm room without saying a word. I feel terrible."
Jack said, "He said he was planning a test for you."
Jill said, "If that was the test, then I failed. I mean saying 'Greetings' and 'Would you like something to drink' can hardly be a basis for what I did to him."
Jack says, "He has a theory about that. I could explain it, but the full effect is better seen in real time."
Later that night Jack had a talk with me. "How did you know she would act that way?"
"Predictability, if someone wants to keep hold of you or someone wants to get a hold of you their message is always consistent. They bang away at the same drum. There are always more than one message, ten fingers holds better than one. If you see an inconsistency, be wary, that may be another attack."
Jack said, "Jill told me you only said seven words to her. It was almost as if she was mad at you because you were here, in your dorm room."
Dean said, "I don't think people realize how much they hurt each other. Have Jill make a list of nine people of her choosing that would not act the way she did. I will do the same thing I did with Jill, I will only answer direct questions."
Jill quickly wrote down eight names, the ninth one would be her ace in the hole. She was still mad at herself.
Over the next ten days, the first eight names were tested, all eight failed. Tonight was the final one, Jill was sure of herself.
The last one was much different than the others. Before she crossed the threshold the cat claws came out, yelling and screaming as well as cursing. Two wrestlers had to come down the hall to restrain her. Jack told her to leave immediately and that she earned the right to walk back to her dorm in the blizzard. "Just think how warm your dorm room will feel after walking a mile in -10 degree wind chill." The guards did not like disruptive behavior so they did not disagree with Jack's assessment.
She considered herself as having good taste in high end fashion. Every once in a while she stepped in a pool of ice water higher than her shoe, she regretted her pick of an open toe, four inch stiletto heels. Her mink had buttons instead of a zipper so the cold and snow just poured in. Her wardrobe was ruined, she hope they could save her mink.
Jill asked Dean, "Dean, Jack said you had some theory as why people treat you like they do. What is it?"
Dean said, "Jill I do not know about those people on your list as I do not know them. The theory is in a relationship both parties have baggage. As it grows the relationship gets worse. From time to time there is a juicy bit of baggage that people use to manipulate the other. At some point, it then becomes a 'Toxic level,' by then there is plenty of mistrust to go around. After you pass that level, you reach 'Critical Mass' that is where your friendship goes into a 'Meltdown,' only 'Divine Revelation' helps then."
After all that, Dean went to his safety spot, the trains. The bus drivers and conductors knew him well and the conductors on the train saved him a seat with an AC outlet for his hotspot and computer. Dean found a website that he could download most of his textbooks, which he put on external hard drive so he could study on the train.
Tonight was different. It was well past his normal study time and he did not have his backpack with him. Dean had a bewildered look on his face, staring off into space, but not able to see the seat in front of him.
One of the conductors went to the engineer and said, "Can you radio the next train Dean would get on to keep an eye on him, he is not himself and clearly does not want to talk about anything."
However, Dean did not get on that train. He took the super cheap out of state rail line; he had three and a half days free.
The train was a multiple day trip. Most people added the sleeper car option to their ticket. The female steward knew something was wrong with Dean. She really had no reason to bother him, he was not a disruptive passenger; he was the 'Perfect passenger' who wanted to talk as little as possible.
Dean had two unopened bottles of water in front of him; he never ate the entire trip.
Back at school people were worried. Dean had his phone turned off, all of his things were still there including his backpack; Dean never went anywhere without his backpack. Jack found out from the station master that Dean was not acting like himself on Thursday night.
Jack and Jill surmised that Dean was safe. Everyone who rode or worked on the local public transit system knew Dean, he made the most of his passes. They would know if Dean was hurt.
Jill came into Jack's room with bags under her eyes, "Jack, I can't sleep or concentrate on schoolwork, I got an 'F-'on my first test. My teacher asked me if I wanted to continue, it would drag my normal grade down by at least one grade. She can't retest me, it would be unfair to the others. I had to drop out of the course, and it was for my major. They will not offer that class in the spring; I need to wait until fall."
All during his trip Dean was consumed with the idea about transferring to another school. He decided to ask the Dean of Students when he got back. With that, he fell into a deep sleep.
The steward on the train, was worried about Dean. She could not figure him out. He had no luggage even though this was a multi-day trip. He could only have time to wash his hands and splash some water on his face during a stopover while people stretched their legs. She never saw him on a mobile phone and he had not said a word since she collected his ticket.
As he disembarked Dean said, "Thank you," this surprised her, as he had not said a dozen words in two days' time.
Dean decided to see the sights, tourist traps was the thing he needed. Later that day while buying his tickets for the following day, he saw a girl who was out of her element. Dean offered his services to help out the young woman who was traveling alone. It turned out that she was going on the same train and same car as Dean.
She was flustered over the day's activities so Dean asked her if she would like to go out to dinner, and only dinner. She accepted. Before dinner they each got a room at a cozy inn.
Dinner was lovely; she picked out a nice steak and ale house near the inn. She almost drooled over the sixteen ounce, one inch thick slab of prime rib steak with all the trimmings. He got the more modest eight ounce sirloin with all the trimmings. We shared a nice bottle of Petite Sirah wine. I am no wine expert, but I have a mobile phone to pick the best one. It tasted great.
As soon as my friend saw me on the train the following day, a matronly woman sat down next to her and started 'Talking her ear off.' I sat in my cubbyhole and fell fast asleep. All too soon, it was my stop, and I waved to my friend. Everyone welcomed me back when I got on the local. I made it to class just in time.
