Encounter at Johnson's Creek, Part Three (Conclusion)
Originally posted on August 13, 2009
Muriel: You shall have my undying gratitude, kind sir, for watching over me whilst I waded. Who knows what would have happened if I had gotten into trouble, without you here to protect and save me?
Ben: Sure, go ahead, make fun. I’m thinkin’ you need a keeper. Maybe I’ll follow you home so I can warn your aunt about what a rule-breaker you are.
Muriel: If you do that, you can be sure you’ll never see me again, whether you want to or not. Whether I want to or not. She’ll lock me in and throw away the key.
Ben: Serious?
Muriel: Very. I told you she was big on rules.
Ben: No, I meant… were you serious that you want to see me again?
Muriel: Yes, I think that would be nice, but only if you stop calling me crazy.
Ben: Then you have to stop doing crazy stuff. Like swimming alone in strange places, and talking to strangers.
Muriel: *teasing* Oh my, yes, talking with strangers. Like you? That is totally crazy! What was I thinking?
Ben: So how about this idea? You tell me where you live, and I’ll come over sometime. Better yet, I can walk you home, and you can introduce me to your aunt. Once she sees what a great guy I am, I’m sure she won’t make any rules against us hanging out.
Muriel: No, Ben…. That’s…… not a good idea. No, not at all.
Ben: Why not?
Muriel: Trust me – that’s just the way things have to be. *almost to herself* But we can meet here…. Yes, that would work….
Ben: Hold up - let me get this straight – you want me to trust you, but at the same time you’re planning on sneaking around? Sorry Muriel, I don’t like your plan.
Muriel: And I don’t like you judging me, judging what I do. I knew you were too good to be true. You’re just like everybody else…making up your mind about me when you don’t have all the facts!
Ben: But you won’t give me any facts!
Muriel: This was a really bad idea. Like you said, I must be crazy. Forget it. We can just pretend we never met.
Ben: What the heck just happened here?