Truth in fiction

[capriox]

Every now and then, you read something or hear someone say something and a light-bulb of self-recognition goes on. "Ah-HA! That's me! Someone else understands what I'm like! Wow! I'm glad someone figured out how to put that into words!" It's a fun and comforting feeling. It happened to me recently while reading a serial fiction story, "Capricious" by Julie Cox. It struck me so strongly that I want to quote the relevant scene here, so I don't forget it/lose the reference.

"Sally don’t want to be seduced, Luke. She wants to be romanced. There’s a difference. And because it’s Sally, what she finds romantic is gonna be different than most girls.”

“Well, why don’t you just tell me what she wants, since you’re suddenly the expert.”

Orson stroked his mustache while he thought. He picked up the TV remote and muted the football game they were watching before turning toward Luke, fingers steepled. “Some girls fantasize about a beautiful man, faraway adventures, grand romantic gestures, obsessive pursuit, expensive gifts. But the most romantic thing you could do for Sally would be to show up with a sensible ring, a big bunch of wildflowers, your toolbox, your health insurance card, a copy of your credit report, and your most recent pay stub.”

Luke stared at Orson with a growing fire in his throat. “You saying Sally’s a gold digger?”

“Far from it. I’m just saying she has control of her heart where most girls don’t. She’s not going to fall for you just because she wants you, Luke. And she does, I think we can all agree on that. But remember she got left high and dry by a man who strung her along for years. Sally wants someone she knows will be able to take care of her, will be there for her. She wants babies and security and someone who’s got her back. You know as well as I do that when a woman has children, she’s exposing herself to a shit ton more danger than the man is. Motherhood is the most expensive occupation in the world, and it’s not just the expense of the children that makes it so. By showing Sally you can and will look after her, you’re saying the most romantic thing of all: that you’re man enough to shoulder the terrible burden and wondrous joy of a family, with her.”

As a bonus, the author of this story is a geeky woman who writes fiction in between caring for her farming family and their critters... including their goats. Geek-writer-farmer gals FTW =)