My friend, let’s call him Jared, has a problem. It’s a simple problem: Jared has two girls in his life and he can’t decide which one he wants. Let’s call these two girls Kelly and Sarah. Kelly is hot and always has been. Sarah, on the other hand, has more subtle beauty and hasn’t always had that. But, lately, Jared has realized that he has feelings for both of them. In order to make the right decision, Jared told me the story.
Jared fell in love with Kelly the first time he saw her on the playground in third grade. Long, flowing, blonde hair. Blue eyes. Always knew how to handle herself. In high school, of course, Kelly was captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen, Prom Queen, Best Looking, Best Dressed, Best Smile, Best Legs, Biggest Flirt; the girl everyone wanted to date. However, Jared was the lucky boy who stole Kelly’s heart with a roll of SweeTarts on Valentine’s Day in fifth grade. Throughout middle school, junior high, high school, there was no doubt in Jared’s mind that Kelly was the one.
Then the unexpected happened. Kelly decided she was going to move away for college. Jared, who wanted to stay close to his family, decided to attend the local university. They vowed to stay together, stay in love, stay in touch. Surely four years would pass in no time, Jared thought.
For the first couple of years, Jared continued to love Kelly from afar. She was hotter than ever. He admired her crazy party pictures on Facebook and listened to the wild stories about her from his friends who had vowed to keep an eye on her at college. Kelly was the hottest thing on campus but still his. When they saw each other on the weekends, they renewed their promises about the future.
By their final year of college, however, Kelly hardly came home on the weekends and rarely returned Jared’s calls or texts. That’s when Jared met Sarah at the local university. She introduced herself in the library one day: “You probably don’t remember me?” Sure didn’t. Nevertheless, Jared was curious to find out why—“Oh, maybe the name Sarah will help?”—would seek him out in the library. Sarah…then it hit him. Sarah had moved into the school district in junior high, but she’d definitely changed since then. She still had glasses, minus the oversized lenses; the braces were gone, and her frizzy hair was more tame. Before he could ask Sarah anything, she surprised him: “Are you still seeing Kelly?” Yeah, he was; everything was great; they were still together after all this time.
During his senior year, Jared spent more and more time with Sarah, usually in the library, studying. Occasionally, he’d hear from Kelly, who would reassure him about the future. He knew, from the pictures and his friends, she still hadn’t slowed down, but being away just made Jared want Kelly more and more. To confuse matters, Sarah had tried to kiss him while in the library one day. He apologized for her: he still loved Kelly.
Finally, graduation. Now, it was Jared’s time to move away. Jared had taken a job in another state, about four hours away from his hometown. However, as a going-away present, Sarah surprised him and took him dancing with a bunch of their friends. For the first time, Jared realized how pretty Sarah actually was. He was tempted to give in to her advances but had to meet Kelly the next day. He said his goodbyes to Sarah and thanked her for a good time.
After hours of driving, unable to push Sarah completely out of his mind, Jared finally made it to his four-year-in-the-making rendezvous with Kelly. However, it wasn’t the same Kelly he’d fallen in love with. She was still hot, but she looked older, tired. Jared could see the four years of partying and late nights written all over her face; he hoped she couldn’t see the disappointment on his face. After all these years, she told him, she finally realized that she needed him. Today was the day.
But Jared still couldn’t get Sarah out of his head. How she’d surprised him the night before and the emotions she stirred inside of him. He told Kelly that they would stay in touch; he needed more time to think about the future. When he got back in his car to finish his drive to his new apartment, Jared got a text from Sarah: “I know you love Kelly, but I’ll always be here if you change your mind.”
Now imagine that you’re Jared, who would you pick?
…Or, imagine that you’re Jared, an avid Arkansas football fan, and Kelly is the University of Arkansas football team, your first crush; Sarah is your alma mater, Arkansas State, seducing you and surprising you every week. Now who would you pick? I don’t’ know either.
Jared fell in love with Kelly the first time he saw her on the playground in third grade. Long, flowing, blonde hair. Blue eyes. Always knew how to handle herself. In high school, of course, Kelly was captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen, Prom Queen, Best Looking, Best Dressed, Best Smile, Best Legs, Biggest Flirt; the girl everyone wanted to date. However, Jared was the lucky boy who stole Kelly’s heart with a roll of SweeTarts on Valentine’s Day in fifth grade. Throughout middle school, junior high, high school, there was no doubt in Jared’s mind that Kelly was the one.
Then the unexpected happened. Kelly decided she was going to move away for college. Jared, who wanted to stay close to his family, decided to attend the local university. They vowed to stay together, stay in love, stay in touch. Surely four years would pass in no time, Jared thought.
For the first couple of years, Jared continued to love Kelly from afar. She was hotter than ever. He admired her crazy party pictures on Facebook and listened to the wild stories about her from his friends who had vowed to keep an eye on her at college. Kelly was the hottest thing on campus but still his. When they saw each other on the weekends, they renewed their promises about the future.
By their final year of college, however, Kelly hardly came home on the weekends and rarely returned Jared’s calls or texts. That’s when Jared met Sarah at the local university. She introduced herself in the library one day: “You probably don’t remember me?” Sure didn’t. Nevertheless, Jared was curious to find out why—“Oh, maybe the name Sarah will help?”—would seek him out in the library. Sarah…then it hit him. Sarah had moved into the school district in junior high, but she’d definitely changed since then. She still had glasses, minus the oversized lenses; the braces were gone, and her frizzy hair was more tame. Before he could ask Sarah anything, she surprised him: “Are you still seeing Kelly?” Yeah, he was; everything was great; they were still together after all this time.
During his senior year, Jared spent more and more time with Sarah, usually in the library, studying. Occasionally, he’d hear from Kelly, who would reassure him about the future. He knew, from the pictures and his friends, she still hadn’t slowed down, but being away just made Jared want Kelly more and more. To confuse matters, Sarah had tried to kiss him while in the library one day. He apologized for her: he still loved Kelly.
Finally, graduation. Now, it was Jared’s time to move away. Jared had taken a job in another state, about four hours away from his hometown. However, as a going-away present, Sarah surprised him and took him dancing with a bunch of their friends. For the first time, Jared realized how pretty Sarah actually was. He was tempted to give in to her advances but had to meet Kelly the next day. He said his goodbyes to Sarah and thanked her for a good time.
After hours of driving, unable to push Sarah completely out of his mind, Jared finally made it to his four-year-in-the-making rendezvous with Kelly. However, it wasn’t the same Kelly he’d fallen in love with. She was still hot, but she looked older, tired. Jared could see the four years of partying and late nights written all over her face; he hoped she couldn’t see the disappointment on his face. After all these years, she told him, she finally realized that she needed him. Today was the day.
But Jared still couldn’t get Sarah out of his head. How she’d surprised him the night before and the emotions she stirred inside of him. He told Kelly that they would stay in touch; he needed more time to think about the future. When he got back in his car to finish his drive to his new apartment, Jared got a text from Sarah: “I know you love Kelly, but I’ll always be here if you change your mind.”
Now imagine that you’re Jared, who would you pick?
…Or, imagine that you’re Jared, an avid Arkansas football fan, and Kelly is the University of Arkansas football team, your first crush; Sarah is your alma mater, Arkansas State, seducing you and surprising you every week. Now who would you pick? I don’t’ know either.
Comments
As Corey Beck, you'll always have a little hog in you--even if you were gunned down robbing a Memphis business thirteen years after beating Duke :P
out w/ the old, in w/ the new...
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