The Rejection

By Lynnette Horn

"Whatcha thinking?" Alice asked.

"Nothing," Joe replied.

"You gotta be thinking about something. It's just not natural to go around without a single thought in your head. Why, I don't even know if it's possible."

"Well, I guess that makes me special."

"I know what it is. You've noticed I've gained weight. You think I'm fat, and you don't love me anymore!"

"Now don't get hysterical. Of course, I love you."

"Oh, now I see! You think I'm fat!"

"I never said that I thought you were fat. Quit putting words in my mouth."

"But you never said I wasn't, that's just as bad as telling me I am!"

"You're beautiful! I like you just the way you are! Is that what you want to hear?"

"Oh, so now you admit that you like fat women! My sister had suspected as much when you took me out to dinner every night while we were dating."

"No, you are not fat! There. I said it. Are you happy? And since when do you listen to your sister?"

"You leave my sister out of this. She's been nothing but kind to you, which is a helluva lot more than I can say about your mother towards me!"

"Okay, you cross the line when you start talking about Mom!"

"All right, all right, keep your pants on. I get the picture; you don't have to get so upset. You just love her more than me."

"I never said that! I love you both, just different. Why does it always have to come down to this?"

"Well, it wouldn't have, if you had just told me what you were thinking. If you really loved me you would've told me.  That's what couples do.  It's called communication."

"But do I have to be thinking of something every second of the day? Can't I put my brain in passive mode and zone out every now and again?"

'Like I said, that's not possible, except maybe when you're sleeping, but even then you dream."

"Awww! But I don't always remember my dreams nor can I be expected to remember every little thought that floats through my daydreams."

"Now you're going to hide behind logic, as if logic ever held water for me. It doesn't justify the walls you build to shut me out of your life or detract from my feeling of isolation."

"Ohhhh, now I get it.  This isn't about me.  This is about you and your feelings.  There's something going on you haven't shared with me."

"You're crazy! You're just trying to turn the table back on me."

"Come on, what is it...now who's holding back? You were fine when I left this morning, so something must have happened."

"I-I-I-I got another rejection letter on my manuscript."

"I'm sorry, but don't take it out on me.  Your story's good. You'll get it published eventually."

"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry."

"So are we okay now...all made up?"

"Yeah."

---

"Joe?"

"Yeah, Babe."

"Whatcha thinking?"