Chapter 2
A week had passed since the big breakup between Roger and Jenny. The news of the split had turned the entire youth group into a bustling rumor mill with phones ringing at all hours of the night and day. However, all the stories were speculation. The two people that knew what happened, Roger and Jenny, were not talking. No one even knew who broke it off much less why. The only thing that all the stories had in common was that it was a bad fight.
When Tim heard, his first instinct was to call Roger and get the scoop. However, he thought better of it. He knew from experience that it was nice to have some time alone after a major break. It was easier to heal the wounds. So Tim had waited. As more days passed, Tim started to get concern. He asked around, but no one had seen Roger in days. It was very unlike Roger to miss church and church events. So Tim decided to give him a call anyway. After being passed through Roger's mother and sister, he finally was able to talk to Roger and set up a time to hang out.
Walking toward the corner grocery store where they had agreed to meet, Tim was enjoying the weather. It was a wonderful day for a walk. The sun was bright and warm. The effects of the sun in the city of asphalt and concrete was far from the picnic scene, but it was still nice. It was not too hot so that the heat would bounce off the road into your face, but yet not too cool.
When Tim arrived at the store, he saw Roger and was horrified. Roger looked like a zombie that had just crawled out of a grave. His face was the color of ash with hollow dark eyes for contrast. Whereas Roger's hair was always perfect in the comb back look of Elvis, this creature had hair that was unwashed and pointing straight up. This Roger was a shell, a ghost of the man that was there earlier. Tim knew where he was and what he was feeling. He had experienced it many times.
"Hey Roger," Tim greeted his friend.
"Hi," Roger responded.
"You look like dirt, man. Let me buy you a Coke?" Tim said. He had learned long ago that it was best to be honest with Roger. They entered the store and walked to the soft drink section. Tim pulled a Classic Coke for Roger and a Welch's Grape Soda for himself. Neither one of the friends spoke another word until the drinks were paid for and they were out of the store.
"Are you OK Roger?" Tim asked as they walked down the street. Neither one of them asked where they were going. It was unnecessary. There was a small park about 6 blocks away. It was where they always went to talk. This was a place where they always talked.
"I don't know," Roger said. He paused for a few seconds before continuing. "It hasn't been easy. What kind of stories are they telling about me? Have you heard?" Roger asked.
"No one knows anything. They are all making up stuff. Don't worry about them. All they know is that you guys broke up and that its over. Is it over, isn't it?" Tim asked.
"Yea, its over. God I wish there had been another way. I tried to find it. But, there was just no other way."
"Who broke it off?" Tim asked.
"It was a mutual decision. It just wasn't going to work. I don't really want to rehash it. I have been nothing but thinking about it for the last 3 nights. I think I have gotten about 1 or 2 hours a night since it happened."
"Well that explains how you look. God, Roger you need to let it go. You have got to get on with your life. Are you sure that you don't want to talk, I am here if you need me, you know that," Tim responded.
"No, I don't want to rehash everything again. It is over. There is just no getting around some of this stuff."
"Do you remember how we worked it when I broke up with Jenny the first time?" Tim asked.
Roger face took on the look of surprise, then concern. His eyes showed the first sign that he recognized where this conversation was going. The rest of his face drew up into a firm frown. "No! we are not doing that again"
"Roger, it worked last time. Listen, I was going steady with her. She was so in love with me that she wasn't going to give you the time of day. When I saw that Jenny and I were breaking up, we talked, do you remember? You told me that you were interested in her. And we decided to try to swing her your way. Do you remember?"
"That was different," Roger started.
"Yea, it was. I threw her at you. I told you everything that I knew about her. I told you what foods that she liked and what music that she hated. You had more information about how to make her fall in love you than any other guy around. I even built you up with her. I remember telling her how great you were. How you were this really great guy. Roger, I couldn't have done anything else to have put her on your plate than I did. Jenny and I were over. You wanted to give her a try. So, I gave it to you. If I am not mistaken, isn't that how our friendship work.
Roger just stared in the blackness. "This is different Tim. Jenny is not like the other girls. She is good people. I don't want to see her hurt. I don't want to see her become one of your play things. I couldn't handle doing that to her."
Tim continued, "Roger, I know that she is special. I am not looking to get some quick action. God knows that I have had my fill in the last six months. Roger, you need to get on with your life too. I won't come between you and Jenny. But, if it is over, I would like another shot at her. Will you give me the chance?"
"Jenny can do what she likes, she is free," Roger responded.
"Roger , you are missing it. I want it to be all right between us. I need my friend. I need you back like you were. We were a team, remember? I don't want to compete with you. It is not worth it."
"What do you want me to do?" Roger asked. It seemed that a little more life was in his voice than before.
"I want you to be the friend that I have always had. I want you to tell me that it is OK. You know how important our friendship is. You tell me that you are still going to pursue her and I will step aside."
Roger thought a long time. His face never changed from the stone statue. Then he said, "You hurt her and you are dead. Dead! Do you understand? I mean it. She is very special. She has a lot more going for her than anything that you can get in her pants. If you are going to just do her, you say so now."
"Roger, I give you my word. I will take care of her. I think that there may be something there.. I want to see if she has what I am looking for. Anyway, wouldn't you rather have me watching out for her instead of some Joe Blow from school that you don't know? I will take care of her."
"Yea, you have a point. I know where to find you to wring your neck good."
"Do I have a green light, Roger?" Tim asked one more time.
"Yea, as long as I have your word," Roger answered with a threat hidden in the tone.
"Great, Now, lets forget about her. How are we going to get you out of this slump. Tell me is there anyone that interest you at all?"
Roger's eyes lit up just a little. "Well, I have been noticing Denise. Man, that girl is so fine. "
"Denise? Denise? The new girl that just moved here from Florida?" Tim asked as he sorted through his mind to identify who Roger was talking about.
"No. She has been coming to the early morning service. She is five foot with red hair," Roger corrected.
"Oh yea, now I know who you are talking about. Yea, she sure is a looker. I don't think she is going with anyone now either," Tim rattled on.
"I might need a little help from the Jerk," Roger said with the first smile of the day. His eyes were still dark and hollow. Tim did not expect that anything short of sleep could help that part. Yet, he was glad to see some sign of life starting to show. The mention of the Jerk sent shivers down Tim's spine.
"Oh no, not the Jerk," Tim answered. Roger and Tim often worked together to achieve an objective. The jerk maneuver was one of the most dangerous games that could be played. One of the guys played a total jerk and making a pest of himself to the target. He worked to create the illusion of conflict and stress enough that the target feels threatened. This is when the other guy would come in as the white knight and tells the Jerk to quit messing with the girl. Sometimes, this would appear to be a major confrontation to the outside. There had been times that it had neared physical confrontation. However it happens, the Jerk is backed off by the partner to the eternal gratitude of the target. The partner then uses this established position to start to the relationship.
The problem with the Jerk maneuver is it could create permanent damage to the person running the Jerk character. Therefore, the game had to played largely out of public eye. Tim was often seen as a person that was overly aggressive at times. Therefore, a lot of people saw the Jerk as just a part of his personality that showed up from time to time.
Roger smiled again. Tim suspected that Roger was just pulling his chain to make things more difficult.
Tim said, "Is there any competition?"
Responding, Roger said, "Sam has been showing an interest. And, she has been seating with him."
"You have got to be joking, Sam? This girl is taken with Sam. No one has liked Sam since elementary school. Lets do the sabotage approach?" Tim countered.
The sabotage approach was a systemic method of analyzing the competition and discrediting him to the target. It was never a direct approach. It was designed to make the opposition appear undesirable through rumors, faked notes, or any other means that could not be traced back. This strategy works when the couple are not in full trust mode. She had to be a little unsure of him. The specific attack depends a lot on what she hates the most. For example, if Denise dislike people that got into fights, then it would be useful to bill Sam as a person that would react in anger. Some girls would drop a competitor at the first rumor that he was unfaithful.
"No, I don't think so. Sam is not enough of a threat. I think we need the Jerk," Roger insisted with that stupid little smile on his face.
"If I do the Jerk, will you give me coverage?" Tim countered.
Coverage was another difficult thing to do. It was commonly a part of passing a girl at the breakup time. There are two things that are very possible during a breakup of a long term relationship. First, the girl is often vulnerable. She is alone. Whether she broke it off or not, she can feel very lonely. As some people would say, she is in "rebound". Second, there are always a host of guys that are waiting to take advantage of the situation.
These guys have to be careful. There are a lot of breakups that are not long term splits. If the relationship is merely have problems and not over, the new suitor that moves too quickly can find himself in a confrontation with the boyfriend. So it is a very close timing issue. If you are too late, you lose the chance. If you are too early, the situation may backfire.
Coverage is performed by breaking boyfriend. He lets his friend know that it over, but doesn't make it clear to the public. In fact, he will sometime take actions that would make it appear that the couple may be reconciling to give the friend uninterrupted approach to the target. While the opposition is waiting for proof positive, the friend is building rapport. At the same time, the girl may be shocked at the lack suitors and decide that she needs to take what she can now. The hardest thing about this move is the effect on the breaking boyfriend. He has to pretend that the relationship still has a chance, when he wants nothing more than to get past it and move on. However, it can give the friend a very significant head start.
Roger stared in deep silence.
Tim did not really think that he needed the coverage. Jenny's reaction to him at the picnic made him feel fairly certain in his position. As long as she did not blame him for her relationship going on the rocks, it should be fairly smooth sailing. On the other hand, if he had to do the Jerk, it might confuse things a bit. How could he be hitting on this red head with every line in the book, and still convince Jenny that he was serious about her? It would not have been easy. However, Tim would almost bet that Roger would do anything other than give the coverage. There was no way that he would be able to handle it. Tim knew that he could help Roger anyway. Sam owed him a favor. If he could cash it in and help Roger, then it was a easy decision.
Tim broke the silence, "Listen, we don't have to worry about this now. You need to get some sleep. Now that you know that I will take care of her, maybe you can relax a little. It will be all right. If something happens, we can always try to pass her back."
Roger nodded his head yes and said, "You are right. I need to go to sleep. I can't even think straight. Everything seems to keep spinning in circles. I am going home."
"Take care of yourself Roger," Tim said as Roger turned to head back to his house.
As Roger walked away, Tim took a deep breath. The situation was perfect. It was time to execute the Get-the-girl move. God, he hoped that she was worth it. It had been a long time since he had gone to this much trouble for a girlfriend. He would soon find out, but first things first. It was time to give Sam a call.