A friendship becomes emotional.
This story arose after an episode in the UK room stimulated my memory to recall an incident from my past. In the Lit room a lady called Christine who it appears lives in the Greater Manchester area of England was being mildly harassed by a guy who lived within easy driving distance of that location.
The guy just wouldn't leave her alone and was obviously hoping to meet her, much to her chagrin and continually pointing out her conditions for chat in her profile.
I privately suggested she should block him but she said she was ok and would just wind him up. Once he finally understood he was getting nowhere Christine and I had a little private chat about the incident and how she had politely dealt with him.
Whilst talking my mind recalled that I had known a Christine from Manchester in my past, they were not the same person. I gave her a précis of what had happened.
In a world a good twenty-five years before I joined Lit I was a single father with three children who were just starting to make their own ways in life. The internet was in its infancy and my computer experience was in using accounting programmes for my occupation.
We did have a home computer mainly that the kids had used for homework and then their university requirements. It was dial up to get on line using a modem with all its 'bings and squawks'.
I had not formed a relationship while they finished their education and for some reason one day that became the topic of conversation. I was asked if I was going to find myself a 'lady friend'. I jokingly said I wouldn't remember how to go about chatting up a lady from the fairer sex.
Their answer was 'why don't you get some practice in a 'chat room'.'
'What on earth is a chat room' I asked.
I had never heard of such a thing but I guess they had all gained experience at school and university. They explained the theory to me and guided me to a hosting site called 'Freeserve.'
Next time I was on my own I set myself up an account and saw that the rooms were split between decades of age. I entered the '40's' as I still qualified to be in that room, before I realised it wasn't compulsory.
I spent my free time over the next week just watching the conversations in the room and imagining who these people were. I soon was able to identify some personalities if nothing else.
Then one day I noticed a flashing block at the top of my screen. I was unsure, but realised it had the name of a lady who was in the room. I clicked on it to find it had opened fully and minimised the room window. There was a 'hello' waiting for me. I quickly typed a reply.
'I noticed you are a newcomer to our room but you've not joined in yet, do you need any help?'
What do I say? Or do I even reply? I had been put on the spot. It was a polite offer I concluded and I ought to reply in the same vein.
'Hello' I said 'sorry for the delay in replying......I wasn't sure what to say other than hello, but yes you are correct and this is my first ever conversation in a chat room.'
Nothing happened for a moment then she replied. 'We all had to start somewhere you will soon get the hang of it. Just say hello when you log in and someone will reply. Don't worry if it takes a while, the response time varies with how many people are chatting.'
'Thanks for the info' I replied 'I may watch for a bit longer.'
'No problem....bye' she answered.
Well that wasn't too hard and I made up my mind to speak the next time I was on. Over the next few weeks I got used to chatting with a lot of different people, mostly in the main room but a few private chats as well. Nothing like Literotica.
The lady who had offered to help me contacted me again shortly after that and told me they were having a 'chat meet' in my area of the country in the near future and would I be interested in coming along.
I had to get her to explain what it was and found out it was a social gathering at a hotel with usually a meal and disco on the Saturday night. I told her I would get back to her as I would need to think about it.
I spent several days wondering if it was something I really wanted to do. Meeting with a completely unknown group of people, at least unknown in real life. In the end I concluded I may as well take the risk and it was only an hour and a half's drive from home.
The hotel was in a small seaside town called Burnham. It was smaller than I expected but seemed pleasant enough as hotels go. I had booked a single room by phone and it was mid afternoon when I arrived.
I got myself settled in and then wandered down to the bar. There were about thirty people sat chatting around a group of small tables that occupied a corner of the room and a few more stood or sat on stools by the bar. The mix was slightly more females than males and it was one of those strange situations when you know most of them are watching you as you approach the bar.
I took an empty stool and when the bartender was free I ordered a beer and casually glanced around at the other occupants who mostly had returned to their chatting.
After a while I realised a lady in the far corner was looking at me and as I looked back she stood and, weaving her way through the tables, approached me.
'Hello' she said in a pleasant voice 'are you here for the chat meet.'
'Yes' I replied 'but it is my first time and I obviously don't know anyone so was sat wondering who else was here.'
She asked me my room handle.
'Alanc........' I replied.
She smiled 'Yes we have spoken.....I arranged this meeting and everyone sat around the tables is in our group, come on over and I'll introduce you.'
She 'shhhhd' the conversations and duly introduced me to a chorus of 'Hi's and hello's' and a group at one table beckoned me over pulling up another chair for me.
I introduced myself again and recognised the handles that some of them were using but by no means all of them. Some of them had met several times and for others, like me, it was their first get-together. It was surprising how easy it was to fit in.
