Whaaaaat?

I am late posting this. I didn't think to do it until I re-read an old post about Jeff.

I saw him the other day. I had gone for a hike with Karol at Terrywile Park. While It was a beautiful and mild day and I did have a blast playing in the snow, the hike itself wasn't great. Terrywile is small and the trails get boring. There isn't much to do once you've done it once or twice. So we didn't stay out too long, maybe an hour and then we were too bored.

We decided to go to a diner close to my house. Jeff happens to work at this diner. I personally don't care. I like the place and the price and I am not about to avoid whole areas of the city for fear that I might run into him. Besides, worst case scenario, he's a jerk. For this I am prepared. I have my barbs, one-liners and eyebrow raises all set to go.

Anyway. I was actually pretty sure that he didn't work there anymore. But I was wrong. Karol and I walked in and there he was, at the host station. He was nice. It was fine. Until we sat down. I am fine with civility, even friendly banter, but seriously, there is such a thing as too much nice. Not too nice. Too MUCH nice.

He kept making conversation. He would come up to our table (he wasn't out waiter) and make conversation. He's teaching now. He's working in Brookfield. What am I doing? What did I order? Has he met Karol? Have I spoken to Bern? or Carol? or Kathy? How have I been?

I know, maybe you're reading this going "Those are normal, fairly innocuous questions. What's the big deal?" It wouldn't have been a big deal. But it was constant. He would come over exchange a sentence or two then leave. He repeated this little ritual over and over. Now it's not because he's uncomfortable with me and wasn't sure what to do. He's always done this. I went there when we were still dating with a friend and was trying to have a nice conversation with her, he kept interrupting. He would come over and just pick up where he'd left off, as if we had sat there, anxiously waiting to hear the conclusion of his story involving his recent trip to the grocery store. He does this with everyone he knows who comes into the diner.

He's not that important. I wanted to tell him so, but I didn't feel like dealing with the drama which I knew would follow. Also we hadn't gotten our food yet and I didn't want to risk something happening to it in the kitchen. Now I have been back there once since then and he wasn't working. If I go during the day, I am usually safe. But I shouldn't have to worry about it. There isn't another diner that convenient. I guess I'll have to say something if it happens again. It's a pain.

I just wanted a turkey burger.