transcripts: period 2
subject group: 12
initial interviews
interviews conducted separately this transcript merged for project presentation (revised)
F: I wish I could say we met in Venice and fell in love in a gondola on a romantic moonlit night. But he thinks Venice is in Canada and gondolas are edible. He wooed me in a richly traditional fashion . . . he hit on me at work. What a slimy thing to do.
Int: But you agreed to see him?
F: I was not active in that decision making process. He stalked me.
M: She is a beautiful accessible girl. Understanding and lovable. Once you get past those first layers though, it's hard to get around the bitch. She reads some weird author with obscure ideas on individualism and freedom. Her brains take over her body, which is her biggest advantage and drawback, all at once. I unearthed her about a year ago at work. She looked shitty and was chewing on a pen. I was enthralled, amused and immediately in love. It was unfashionable to look shitty at that point.
F: He was the most insensitive jackass I had to deal with all day. It was like being locked in a closet with a second year lounge lizard. He handed me this five dollar bill with his name and number on it and told me he knew all about me, what I like, where I live. He said he'd pick me up at seven.
Int: You waited for him?
F: No.
Int: You called, then?
F: No. I went out and had dinner at McDonalds, right around 7:00. But all his schmoozing wasn't a total loss. I think he's seeing the fry girl now.
M: I followed her. My hormones expected it of me. Remember what I said about that inner core of bitchiness? She spent the five bucks. I had to get an unlisted number. And now she probably thinks I'm getting it on with a seven-eleven night clerk because of it.
Int: How did you end up together?
M: I invaded her space. I was fascinated, absolutely had to find out everything. She probably could have had me jailed. But she was raised Catholic and has some strange insecurities. She sometimes talks about starting a 12 step program for recovering Catholics.
F: We became a couple out of everyone else's habits. It was like having a walking, talking, benign tumor. He actually could tell everything about me just by watching. I don't think he ever bothered about that asking part. One day he shows up at a bowling alley with a group of my friends, and the next my cousins are sending invitations for their weddings, addressed for the two of us, to his house.
Int: Were you in love with him?
F: He taught me how to purr.
M: It took me a long time to realize that you can't tell from looking at someone that their inner core is a stone wall. It took me a long time to figure out that the only way to love her involves slamming your head up against that wall.
F: He said that I'm only able to worship in the church of one, and that looking shitty and chewing on pens will only get me so far. He isn't as psychic as he claims. He'll be happy with whoever he pulls the routine on next.
M: She never learned to trust me. I think free will had to be involved in the start of our relationship . . .
F: I wonder if he realized how important he is to me. The shit.
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