A Love Triangle

"Your delusions are more severe than I thought."
-Ben Kingsley as Dr. John Cawley
in the 2010 film "Shutter Island"

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 1, 1985
Friday

While in the Pac Bell Office building cafeteria this morning I ordered a 'meal-on-a-muffin' (my breakfast usual) when I suddenly saw Dale with Sue Leith. I pretended not to notice them. I wished to avoid him altogether after his impractical actions of yesterday. Dale approached me.
"Are you going upstairs or are you eating in the cafeteria?"
"The caf," I abruptly answered.
"Oh Good, I'll save you a seat."
I was astonished. His blatant, murderous and fiendish attitude had utterly disappeared. And I thought I was the Gemini (with the split-level personalities).

I sat with Dale and Sue and they were talking about Dale's recent run-in with Steve (?). Steve is apparently some guy that Dale and I had run into a few times during lunchtime. Dale had drooled over him and even lived with him at one point. Dale had a breakdown over their relationship, especially after Steve gave Dale venereal disease and crabs (not to mention how Steve had tried to clobber Dale with a baseball bat and heavy boots). That's another story in and of itself. Luckily, Dale doesn't associate with Steve anymore.

"Let's change the subject. What about our going to the gym, Michael?"
"Oh I forgot my gear in my car."
I really had no intention of going with him to the gym any longer.

While upstairs in the Business Office Dale started running his mouth off about yesterday and how Steff was saying, "No man can do ---- to her or bad-mouth her!"
Dale continued. "When she said that I couldn't really talk back only because I was in the office. We are limited as to what we can say out loud."

All in all, Dale was overwhelmingly kind today. I did mention his ruthless behavior of yesterday. He responded well to that, too.
"I know. I was so distraught and worried about it...but I was very serious. And it brought me back to when I was sixteen years old. I stabbed my father. It was all thrown out of court as self-defense."
I couldn't believe how nonchalant he was in mentioning that story. I really feel Dale can be capable of violence if pushed hard enough. In a brink of true anger his actions worry me. Perhaps my influence may calm him, teaching him some control. Maybe.

Steffanya and I verified these forthcoming dates:
March 18: Lunch
March 23: Skating in San Francisco
March 24: Horseback riding in Fairfield
March 29-30: A Lake Tahoe Weekend Trip
April 20: The twilight Cruise with the CHICAGO band.
After confirming the dates I said, "Why don't we meet for dinner tonight?"
"Oh, well, I am going to a wedding tomorrow and a dinner at the Cattleman's Restaurant in Dixon tonight," Steffanya immediately replied.
I am beginning to resent her procrastination but then again...Paloma was like that in the beginning. And now look where we are (???) Where are we--Ha? Good question.

Dale and Mary McTiernan shared a few whispering words. I know a lot of them were downgrading words about Steffanya and myself. The whole anonymous "telephonese" relationship burns Dale the wrong way. I, too, am really tired of it all!

At 5PM I confided in Dale.
"You know, Dale, I spoke to Steff today and she told me she was going to be at a dinner at Cattleman's tonight."
"What? I'll drive there with you!"
He was really being nice to 'Chip' (me). Chip is my nickname as I suggested it to him based on the two friendly chipmunk friends 'Chip & Dale'.

I knew I didn't want to see a movie with Dale or go to the gym, so I agreed that this outing to the Cattleman's Restaurant was a good idea.

After work Tim, Dale, Al and I all rode together in Tim's car to the Walnut Creek BART station. That's where they all meet for the morning car pool. It was fun during the drive from The City to Walnut Creek. We asked each other Trivia questions on the Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, Family Affair, and The Brady Bunch. We were all singing the theme song to The Brady Bunch (if you can imagine that).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou-FeOoKDq4
It was fun. All of the 'Mary Jane' smoke in the car really got to me a bit.

Dale and I transferred to his car once we reached the Walnut Creek BART station. Dale drove to the Walnut Creek TSPS and Directory Assistance Operator Services Building. Dale's wife, Dee, is a manager there. Dale shared another astonishing story about Moe (Melinda) Rob and JoAnn (people that work in the Operator Services building with Dee).
"JoAnn, the bitch, got me restricted from the building because my presence irritated her. Can you imagine that?"
I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Well Rob is this green-eyed blond Adonis who was going out with Moe--also known as Melinda. When JoAnn transferred into the office Rob went for her. Then...after some mishap of drunkenness Rob screwed me."
"Wait a minute," I said, as this is when the story got a bit confusing for me.
"Let's put it this way. It was not a love triangle but a love square."
Again, I laughed.

We drove to Pittsburg to Dale's house which was "A-1 Beautiful". I thought he kept a very nice home. He allowed me to wear his gray shiny WillyWear coat to Cattleman's. Dale was full of a few more interesting stories during the drive to Dixon. First, he said, "You know, one time I observed some friend of mine jack-off a horse. That was really gross."
The disgusted expression on his face was one not to be forgotten.
Later, I had mentioned this to Steffanya (given her knowledge of horses) and she said, "That is impossible to do!"
Dale continued with the disgusted look on his face, "But the horse was into it and gave no trouble whatsoever!"
"Eww...gross," I said, thinking it was probable and possible.

The drive continued. Dale kept trying to point out his righteous views in the matter of the Steffanya (telephone) relations deal.
"It's just bunk--and it will never work out," Dale said positively.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't know either."
"Let me give you a recent example. Two weeks ago I met a guy named Marlon of AT&T. We've spoken on several occasions and it turned out that Marlon was six foot three inches tall, black and N.M.T."
N.M.T. was our known acronym for 'Not My Type'.
I laughed aloud.
"And there was another guy, named Gary," Dale continued as he relished in seeing my reaction to his tales.
"Gary?" I asked.
"Yeah, I met him when I was an Operator and we first met at six in the morning at a DENNY's. We went to his house on a Sunday morning and his girlfriend was in the other room. Gray was so horny you wouldn't believe it."
"Yeah, and then what happened?"
"Well, I didn't want to do anything with his girlfriend in the other room, so I suggested going elsewhere. Gary suggested we go to the Fremont Hills. At this point I was fearful for my life. You know..driving in the hills with a strange man and you start thinking dead bodies left in the hills. All of that kept crossing my mind during the drive up."
Dale went on with gory details about "rimming" and "oral sex" that they both engaged in up in the Fremont Hills.
Dale continued. "Wait...wait...it gets better!"
"Better?"
Dale replied. "Gary said 'this is it'. It's over. All you were good for was cheap sex. Don't read anything more into it!"
Needless to say, Dale was very upset.
"It's not like I was planning on any sort of commitment with him. I didn't even know his last name. But I got even."
"You did? What did you do?"
"I called his girlfriend. I mentioned that Gary had forgotten his gloves and that I wanted to stop by. Oh I blew her mind by acting really gay. And then...once I was home Gary called me all pissed-off."
"Oh my God, What did you say?"
"Oh I just had to have the last word. My exact words escape me but I said something like 'Don't ever leave loose ends untied'."

We finally reached Cattleman's Restaurant. Thank God! I wasn't ready for another story. We had no luck at the restaurant. I did not see Steffanya or any one who I thought may look remotely like her. I telephoned Steffanya from the restaurant and left a message with her Dad.

I drove Dale's car (a stick-shift) for the first time. Dale was determined to have me learn. It was a cinch on the freeway.
Dale kept having to yell, "Clutch, Brake, Clutch then gas, Clutch all the way, Brake Clutch, Clutch Brake...Clutch, then gas."
He was a good instructor but I screwed-up slightly at the Richmond BART station. He made me laugh especially when I went after the green arrow and on the red light. It was fun. I took BART and got home by 11:45PM.

The telephone rang. It was Steffanya. We do seriously think a lot alike. I was amazed.
"I'm so glad you called. You won't believe this. I was in Dixon!"
"No way! You know what?"
"No, what way?"
"I went to Alameda! I came there with Tabitha! We must have passed each other on the freeway," Steffanya exclaimed.
I thought, "What a mishap."
And it seemed so true because she invited me to come to Fairfield now...tonight. We compromised for 8PM on this Saturday night. That should prove fun and interesting to say the least. I loved her letter and the 'balloon ride card' she sent that was in my mailbox today. I am emphatically romanticized by her thus far. Tonight will be a proving factor. (?)

"Are we still mad at each other?"
--as heard while watching
"Dorian Blues" (2004 film)