Guy-think

The world according to Stan. He and I were emailing. In the course of the discussion, he asked what I thought about the latest exchanges on our high school class’s Facebook page. There were some not-too-subtle references to Bart and Daryl hooked up with young women.

Bart had been one of the major dreamboats. A star on many of the teams with the California surfer look that was so popular at the time. And detached cool that made Steve McQueen appear jumpy. No one got a rise out of him and he floated regally above the fray of the puerile dramas of the high school mentality. In the eyes of the girls, he was the most.

Now, he was the least. Or so it seemed from some of the little barbs the women were slipping in, concerning the latest in his string of youthful girlfriends. The guys appear a lot more positive about it, almost winking and high fiving in the text.

Daryl was no prize in high school and married a girl in our class who bordered on frumpy, even then. He involved himself in politics after graduation and eventually got himself appointed to a high post. In Philadelphia politics, this means substantial income, usually in the form of envelopes passed under tables at a bar and nontaxable. Daryl became very wealthy and dumped his wife in favor of a newer model who he brought to the last reunion. She was young, personable and had dance moves that would make Christine Aguilera blush. Given his resources, you’d think he could’ve afforded to buy her a dress that provided complete coverage. She was quite a contrast to Daryl who now disturbingly resembles Boss Hawg.

Neither the guys nor the gals in our class appeared to approve of Daryl. Stan noted that I hadn’t engaged in the banter and wondered what I thought about it. I said who people paired up with was no concern of mine and I had no appetite for petty squabbles, anyway.

“Do you want to hear my theory on why the guys view Bart and Daryl differently?” He didn’t wait for a response, as is his custom. “Bart won his trophy. Daryl bought his. That’s guy-think.”

Possibly. What’s for sure is that the women don’t approve of either one of them.