Page 9 - CMTeen_Volume2_Issue1

Okay, Cupid

By Bethany Meloche*

situation/what have you, and I also knew that people
dismiss partners for much sillier reasons like bad taste in
music or literature. It wasn’t personal, I told myself. Just …
preferences! That said, I preferred to avoid direct face-to-
face rejection, opting instead for a process that wouldn’t let “I’d love to hear more about type theory,” I found myself
me know if I’d been cast aside or not. saying—or rather, typing—to Josh after hours of
I went for a carefully crafted two sentences in my profile— messaging back and forth over a period of a few days.
under the category The Most Private Thing I’m Willing to This was not true. Although it was true that I was
Admit: “I have a neuromuscular disease and use a scooter interested in hearing him talk—actually talk, hear his
to get between buildings on campus. But it hasn’t stopped voice on the phone for the first time—even if it was about
me from living an awesome and full life.” something as boring as type theory probably was.
And there was definitely a smiley face at the end. To show And so we agreed to have a call—later—giving me
that I’m super cool with it. enough time to first read the Wikipedia article on type
:-) theory so I could come prepared with an intelligent

On December 7, less than two weeks into my search, I question. (It worked, by the way, prompting the response,
logged on and a new match popped up on the front page. “That’s a really good question, and there is a lot of
Username: sinclair44 - Match percentage: 87% - Enemy debate…”)
percentage: 7% That first call lasted only five minutes, which was good
Age: 20 - Location: Pittsburgh, PA - Photo: Wearing a top since I only had one question prepared. My parents got
hat; cute home just after Josh had explained the intricacies of the

Click. type theory debate; I didn’t want to listen to my dad
making fun of me, so I hung up before my parents could
Sinclair44’s profile was both unusually well-written and hear me say, “Oh, fascinating, wow, never thought of
long, especially considering it said he had signed up for infinite recursion that way!”
the site that day. I was home for winter break now, and just a few days
I sent him a message immediately. Four carefully chosen prior—about a week after I sent Josh that first message—
sentences, one emoticon. I had been in the process of sitting down on the toilet when
When I woke up the next morning at 6:30 for my I felt my kneecap pop out and back into place. (Why is it
Invertebrate Zoology lab, the first thing I did was check never something dignified?)
my messages. And so for the second time my bed was brought down to
He had responded. Score. the dining room where I would spend the entirety of my
days while my knee healed. Having my potential suitor to
His response was seven paragraphs long. And he had talk to online made the fact that I couldn’t walk easier to
upped the emoticon game to four. handle, although it would have been nice to have a little
It ended with: more privacy.

How long do these responses typically go on? If writing a One night, not long after my introduction to type theory,
3000 character essay in response to a simple question is Josh and I were up late messaging each other and our
overly excessive, please excuse me since I haven’t really parents had long since gone to bed.
done this very much at all. :) This was the opportunity to have a real conversation on the
Curious to hear from you! phone.
Josh We stayed up all night talking—about ourselves and our

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