Well, here is the update I promised; Mullard got totally rejected by Pat Elenrud on their first meeting. Everything was going smooth at the horseback riding place, until Mullard jumped the gun and tried to get her to go steady with him too fast. He crashed like a brick, falling right out of the sky. A big ol’ Mullard-sized meteor, on fire and slamming into the ground. Kawham!

Yep. I told him a hundred times, “Play it cool man. Just meet her and make friends.” But nope, he did the exact opposite. He ain’t got another soul to blame but his own dang self. Even though me and Jewel tried hard to set him up with this girl (I still don’t know why, since he has been my sworn enemy forever), he just couldn’t stand it. He had to barge right in like a bull in a china shop, and just plain moved too fast.

Can’t do nothing to help him now. He has been moping around school like the world just ended. Pat Elenrud actually walks on the other side of the hall when he is around, and avoids him like the plague. That’s life I guess; you got to live it on life’s terms, and play by certain unwritten rules, or you end up alone for a long time.

In my last period study hall, and after about a week Mullard finally got up the nerve to come up and sit with me at the back table in the study hall. You know the one where you get to talk private if the high school monitor is the one there? Yeah, well he came and sat down with me, and the first thing he asked me was, “Pete, what did I do wrong?”

In my mind I was like “Everything man!”, but I didn’t say what I was first thinking. I replied to Mullard, “Mullard. Do you remember the part where I told you not to say anything like that, and just be cool and friendly, and let it happen on its own?” He replied, “Yeah man I remember, but I just couldn’t help myself.”

“See, that is exactly what was wrong! You could not control your excitement, or your hopes and wishes for one second and wait!” I told him that a little harsh, but its the truth. I went on, “Sometimes you gotta wait for what you want. Just let it happen natural like, or you will always strike out dude. I couldn’t believe you did that, I just couldn’t believe it.”

“I don’t know why I did it, Pete, honest. She was right there and about to leave and I got to thinking this might be my only chance and I just went for it.” Mullard frowned as he admitted to why he did it, but wasn’t sure exactly what that “why” meant. I nodded my head, and noticed he wasn’t bobbing his head anymore. I had to ask him, “So you ain’t gonna be mad at me and my friends and start bullying me again, are you?”

Mullard shook his head no and replied, “Nah man, I ain’t like that no more. You tried hard and I blew it.” I was a bit more than relieved that he said that. I answered him, “Well it ain’t over til its over, and even though she is obviously avoiding you, there is a good side to all this.” Mullard brightened up a little, and said “Really Pete? What is it because I sure as heck don’t see ANY good side to me jumping the gun at a first meeting with a girl I really like.”

“Man check it out, she may be avoiding you now but hey, at least she knows how you feel now. You never know, she might change her mind one day.” I was laying it on thicker and heavier as I talked, even though I knew that chance was slim to none. The look on her face when Mullard asked her to be girlfriend and boyfriend with him, right after meeting him no less was terrible! She could have boiled ice water with that scowl she made.

Mullard got up from the study hall table and left. I ain’t sure where he went, and at this point I am not sure I am even worried all that much. Oh, I had to forgive him for being such a bully, but some things just have to teach you a lesson, and this is one I can’t help him too much with. I guess he will learn to talk to girls right, or he will keep getting rejected until he learns, or the right one finds him.

When I met Jewel at last break I asked her, “Jewel. Remind me to never try to help anybody else again, at least where love is concerned.