Gold-Digger, by Randi Braun

Gold-Digger, by Randi Braun

Yet another story from the wonderful world of online dating. Enjoy.

On a Saturday afternoon, during my homeward walk from the gym, I decided to make a quick stop at the market for some basic supplies: toilet paper, paper towels, milk, sugary cereal that would undoubtedly give me cavities, vanilla caramel swirl ice cream, and a 20 oz. diet soda. After trudging over a mile through the snow with my bulky bags, I made it back to my apartment building, walked through the lobby, took the elevator upstairs, and dragged my tired ass and my bags to my door. After putting my key into the keyhole…

(ring ring ring)

It was my phone. Since it had been 25º outside that day, I was wearing my heaviest winter coat, an obscenely long yellow knitted scarf, and a pair of black leather gloves. I turned my key to unlock the deadbolt, and then pushed the door open…

(ring ring ring)

(Damn it!)

I dropped my grocery bags, flung my key-chain somewhere, and tried, with gloves on, to feel around for my phone amongst all of the unnecessary crap in my purse.

(ring ring ring)

(AGHH!! Where the fuck is it!?)

I turned my purse upside down and shook it until it was empty, scattering every business card, tube of lipstick, and travel-sized package of tissues all over the floor of my entryway, only to see the phone’s display lighting up from inside the zipper pocket.

(Oopsies)

(ring ring ring)

I unzipped the side pocket, grabbed my phone, and looked at the display (212-555-0281. Who is this?)

Although I usually screen most unknown numbers, I had been waiting for a call from my doctor about my cholesterol level, and thought that maybe he was calling from his office’s fax line, which was not programmed into my phone. I pressed “Send”…

Me: Hello?

Voice on phone: Hey!…..RANDI!!!!! WHAT’S UP! (Oh my GOD!! Don’t shout in my ear!)

My immediate reflex was to pull the phone about 18 inches from my head, just to keep my right eardrum intact. Then I looked at the display and pushed the “down volume” button until it was on its lowest setting.

Me: Ummm…hi?

Voice on phone: YO!!!! What’s up how ya doin’ how’s your day goin’!!? How’s….EVERYTHING!!!!! (What the fuck…who is this?)

Me: …….With whom am I speaking?

Voice on phone: Oh, that’s right. I guess I didn’t give you my number…It’s ADAM!…from the JDate!….WHAT’S UP!!!!!! (Oh, hello Adam. You sound very happy)

I forgot that I was also expecting a call from Adam: a guy from JDate with whom I had emailed a few times. Despite having never spoken on the phone, Adam was talking to me like we were best buds from elementary school.

Me: Hey Adam. I’m doing well. How are you?

I knew it was a dumb question. The guy sounded happier than a wild boar floating in a giant swimming pool of his own refreshing poo.

Adam: I’m GREAT!!!! (See?) Had an AWESOME night last night went to The Blue Elephant…it was CRAZY!!!!!

Me: What’s The Blue Elephant? (That kind of sounds like the name of an ecstasy tab, like “green triangles” and “purple happy faces.” That stuff is really powerful. Next time, you should consider just taking one)

Adam: The Blue Elephant is the HOTTEST new lounge! It’s AMAZING!!!!!

Me: Oh, ok (Well, it was a good guess). I’m glad you had fun.

Adam: Yeah, I DEFINITELY Did! Soooooooo…HOW’S LIFE!? What are YOUUUU up to!!?! (It seems that I’m talking to a crazy person…and wishing I hadn’t dumped my purse all over the floor. Aww, look at that mess).

It had already occurred to me that Adam had a few loose screws. In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he told me that he had just shot some meth, snorted a few lines of cocaine, eaten an entire bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and happened to be in the manic phase of bipolar disorder.

Me: I’m planning on having a relaxing day (You should try to relax too. It feels pretty good). I just got back from the gym and now I’m going to eat something and read the newspaper.

Adam: Oh yeah!!? That sounds AWESOME!!! (I guess…..Did you sniff some glue too?). So are you new to the website I’ve never seen your profile before am I the first guy you’ve spoken to I’ve been on it for a while HOW DO YOU LIKE IT? (Oh my god….SLOW DOWN!)

The guy was not only talking faster than the old Hot Wheels commercial announcer guy, but he sounded more enthusiastic than a camp counselor trying to get his little campers excited about spending two hours in the blazing heat, making tugboats out of old, rotted 2×4’s and metal washers, only to get home and have their parents throw away their projects to prevent anyone in the family from getting splinters. It was really weird.

Me: The website has been ok so far.

There was no need to tell him my real opinion about the site. Why rain on his gumdrop and candy cane parade?

Me: How has JDate been for you? (Dare I even ask?)

Adam: Oh my god EVERY girl on there is just SNIFFING around for money you know they’re all GOLD-DIGGERS!!! (…..Oh my god. Stop yelling into my ear! I can HEAR you!!!). It’s really IRRITATING (…you’re kind of irritating) and I can’t find anyone NORMAL on there (…Oh, I think that’s because it takes one to know one). I’ve been on SOOO many first dates (Really? Wow. I guess there are some crazy chicks out there who are perfect for you), but not ONE SINGLE second date!! (Oh, maybe you’re even scarier in person. Well…keep on truckin’. You’ll find your cuckoo soul-mate one of these days!). I think the website REALLY SUCKS!!!

Me: Oh, that’s too bad.

Since Adam was already freaking me out, I was waiting for the right moment to interject with my pre-fabricated, one-size-fits-all rejection speech: “You know, I’m just not feeling much of a connection between us.” Since the guy seemed like he wouldn’t even mind if a wild moose burst through his front door; charged at him with its huge pointy antlers, then pranced over to the kitchen, ate every morsel of food, and before leaving, marked its territory by peeing all over his 18th century Chinese area rug; rejecting him would be easier than finding a cheap whore in a dark alleyway at 3 am.

Adam: Oh that’s COOOOOOOL…What’s going on what are you doing today do you wanna come hang out with me?

Me: Do I want to hang out with you? Right now? (Or…ever? No thanks, I’ll pass). I don’t think so. I’m in a really lazy mood (And we might have to stuff your face with Xanax to get you to settle down). And it’s cold outside (And I’m planning on buying a gift for my mother’s 60th birthday. I know she’s only 57 but one can never be too prepared). And I just came back from the gym and need to shower (And I need to do other things…like improve my origami skills by making paper cranes that flap their wings, open their mouths, eat, sleep, chirp and take shits. I was also planning to re-read the dictionary. It might take me a while. I’m just entirely too busy today). And I’m meeting a friend for dinner later (Well, not really).

Adam: Oh man that SUCKS I’m so BORED!! (Really? Thanks! I’m THRILLED to hear that I’m boring you!) I should wake up my roommate he’s still asleep (Oh, I’m guessing he has the downers. You should ask him to share) but I need him to come out and DO SOMETHING with me because I’m JUST SO BORED!! (…Oh my god…You are an adult…..and this is New York CityHow can you be bored!!!!?).

Hearing the words “I’m bored” brought me back to the times when my brother and I were young and had to sit in synagogue on Yom Kippur, pretending to listen to the 3-hour-sermon about atonement and repentance while trying to ignore our severe cases of “ants in the pants”…

Brother and me: Mom! (whispering). We’re bored and hungry!

Mom: Shut up and pay attention!

Adam: There is NOTHING TO DO!! (Oh my god…You are so weird!! Complaining isn’t going to get you anywhere). Seriously…I am SO BORED!!! (Look…I really think it’s time that you worked on your first impression skills. Let’s start with Rule #1: “When first conversing with a girl, if you find yourself acting like a 2-year-old…SHUT UP!”).

Then I threw out a few suggestions of things that normal people do on Saturday afternoons.

Me: If you’re bored, why don’t you go somewhere (You don’t live in a cardboard box, or in Alaska where all there is to do is take drugs, screw and have illegitimate children. Although, being around lots of children might be good for you). Go to an art gallery or a museum (Or get out your 64-color Crayola crayon set and draw something pretty). I’m sure you have a few books (or coloring books), so pick one from your shelf and read something …(And if you’re REALLY desperate, you can take your bucket and shovel over to Central Park and play in the dirt. Make sure nobody sees you though. I don’t think it’s legal. Oh, there’s a zoo there too. Maybe you can walk by and wave at the monkeys…but watch out for flying doody!) Or go on the Internet and learn something (learning is good too).

Adam: LEARN?!? HAHA, WHO LEARNS FOR FUN? (Fuck you. I think learning is fun). I guess I could find SOMETHING to do I mean my building has TONS of amenities like a gym and a basketball court and other good stuff (Oh, that sounds great! You should find out if they have a jungle-gym or a playground for you. I don’t think many buildings allow children play in the big kid areas). There’s also an indoor swimming pool (I hope it’s a kiddie pool). I LOVE my building it’s TOTALLY great I also have a doorman and an elevator and the whole thing (Perfect, lots of things to keep you little ones stimulated. So go get your inner-tube and pool toys so you can stand around in the 2-foot-deep swimming pool. Oh, and don’t forget your floaties!! You should put two on each arm just to be really safe).

Me: See? You just fixed your problem.

Then there was a nice break in the conversation, just perfect for me to slip in my “I’m not interested” speech, but as soon as I opened my mouth….

Adam: —yeah maybe SO…..RANDI!! Tell me more about YOU! (Oh poo. You want to you about me? Well, let’s see…I want to get off the phone with you, I act like an adult, and I’m normal. I think that means it won’t work out).

Me: I’m a student.

Adam: OH THAT’S REALLY COOL!!! I wish I was still in school but I had no reason to go to graduate school so I just started working but I really like my work and I have an AWESOME salary and get a GREAT YEARLY BONUS!!!! (Very nice…thank you for making me a bonus and salary pie and smushing it into my face. That reminds me of a wise old saying… “Men who talk about their money to women they barely know are IDIOTS.” I can’t remember where I heard that).

Me: Oh, ok. What do you do? (Other than complain like a child who has eaten ten individual packets of sugary, goo-filled fruit snacks?)

Adam: I work in trading (Ohhhh, like “I’ll give you six tabs of ecstasy for your Nosey Bear and My Little Pony?”) It’s pretty cool (Uh huh).

Me: Ok, I don’t know much about trading (Drugs are for losers. My Little Pony can be cool though). So where are you from? (I’m guessing you’re from LA)

Being from LA myself, I know too well that my native city of angels is populated with enough “unbalanced” people to throw the earth off its axis.

Adam: I grew up in Manhattan (Well, I wasn’t too far off. Native Manhattanites can be pretty messed up too). But my parents live in Buffalo now and I visit them a lot because I own three duplexes there that I rent out ….(Whoa…three duplexes. That’s very impressive).

Me: You OWN three duplexes? Like, free and clear?

Adam: Yup they’re all rented out it’s like having three money machines (Money machines??? Ugh! Did you NOT listen to my wise old saying? I should call your mom and tell her that you have ADD). It’s so convenient and….

Me: Wait. Can I stop you for a second? (I’m going to tell you something that you clearly haven’t figured out yourself, so either pay attention for the next 30 seconds or I’ll have to get out the paddle and give you a smack on the fanny).

Then I gave Adam a piece of information that I thought was perfectly obvious to most men, women, and single-celled organisms.

Me:…If you are NOT looking for someone who wants you for your money, you probably shouldn’t tell strange women that you live in a doorman building, make a “GREAT” salary, and own three duplexes in Buffalo (………Duh).

Adam: Well it doesn’t really matter do you even KNOW how CHEAP real estate is in Buffalo?!!!! (Yes, I do. But that won’t help me make my point).

Me: No. I don’t know anything about the real estate in Buffalo, and I’m guessing that a decent number of other girls don’t know anything about it either (…And that’s probably true).

Adam: But it doesn’t matter because you can buy a duplex for like FIVE CENTS there!! (That’s not the point! Come on now. Take your Ritilan and focus. Or just close your mouth and use that energy to power your brain. That might work too).

Me: Yes, it may be cheap to own real estate there, but…(Ok, if you listen to nothing else, listen to this)…a woman who doesn’t know that might hear, “Oh!…I own three duplexes!” and start having an orgasm at the thought of you sliding your hard-earned, seven-carat diamond onto her finger (Comprende?).

…………………………….

Adam: ………….Well………………YOU probably only know that because you’re a GOLDDINGGER YOURSELF!!! You KNOW WHAT?? ………..I’ve LOST interest!!…..GOOD—BYE!!!

Me: ……………………….hello?…………………………………………………

……………………………………………………….Hello????……..

I looked at my phone and saw “12:16” flashing on the display…….

(Oh my god, that idiot hung up on me!)……..HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHA…What an

asshole!…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!………..

I laughed for at least three minutes. There was just no other way to react. I was shocked! (What adult hangs up on people?). And I tend to react to shocking situations by having uncontrollable laugh attacks. On top of that, I’m the type of girl who, if I loved a guy so much as to say “yes” to a marriage proposal, would accept a cheap plastic ring from one of those 25-cent toy machines you see at the supermarket.

When I got ahold of myself, I scooped up the contents of my purse and put all my things back where they belonged, finally took off my gloves and coat, unwrapped myself from my scarf, and started putting my groceries away. I wanted a caffeine buzz (hey, maybe I’m a drug addict too), but when I unscrewed the lid to my Diet Coke, the soda turned to fizz, overflowed and dribbled all over my kitchen floor.

(Oh fuck)

What a waste. My pint of Ben & Jerry’s was still rock hard though. At least I figured out faster than it takes ice cream to start melting that Adam was just another guy whose name I add to my ever-growing list of JDate weirdos. Actually, the fact that I even had a JDate-weirdo list should probably been a clue that Manhattan’s online dating “pool” was more like a pond of stinky swamp gas. But…I didn’t get the hint. Instead, I continued on my fantastic journey through the world of online dating. Stay tuned for more…