One Man's Fun

         “Jared please!  Why are you being so stubborn?”

         “I’m stubborn!  That’s rich. I gave you my answer, so let it go.”

         “But I want to go to this party.”

         “Then go.  I don’t want to.”

         “Why not?”

         He spread his hands in exasperation.  “First off I wasn’t invited.”

         “Yes you were.  I was invited to bring a friend.”

         “I don’t know these people.”

         “The way to get to know them would be to go to the party.”

         ‘”Who says I want to get to know them?”

         “You should want to get to know people.”

         “Don’t tell me what I should want.”

         “It would be good for you to get out and have some fun.”

         “A party with your friends is not my idea of fun.”

         “Oh? And what is?  Hunched over your computer all the time?”

         “I don’t do that for fun.  I’m a writer.”

         “You’re a recluse.”

         “If you like.  Call me names.  I don’t mind.”

         “Come to the party.  I want them to meet you.”

         “What for?  We don’t even speak the same language.”

         “It wouldn’t hurt you to ~~ “

         “Go to  the damn party. Just leave me of out it.”

         “I don’t want to go alone.”

         “Then find somebody who wants to go and go with him.”

         “I want to go with you.”

         “Not happening.”

         “These are my friends.”

         “They aren’t mine.  I’m not interested in what they do.”

         “You could have more interests.”

         “What am I? A fixer upper and you’re on a mission to change me?”
         “You need to get out of your shell.”

         “I like my shell.  It’s nice in here.”

         “You’re impossible!”  She walked away
.
         Jared turned back to his keyboard and smiled as he as he began typing.
         
         287 words