Abduction, Not Abduction

I didn’t want to go, in fact, I flat out said, no. But my friend showed up anyway, told me to drop everything and to come on. I was in the middle of a term paper, an important term paper so I refused again. He told me I was going with him or there would be consequences. Blackmail?

I had sabotaged a test schedule of a so called friend of ours, who was actually a prick from time to time, so I took advantage of an opportunity to knock him down a notch. He showed up for the final on the wrong day. Mission accomplished. Except it turned out to be worse than that. The guy failed the course. His ego was huge and he was so humiliated, he quit college. I didn’t expect that. We’d had our differences but I never thought he’d fail the course, then quit school. Turned out to be a jerk move on my part. So, that’s what I suspected was the consequences my other so called friend was talking about. The blackmail. Later I would learn I was wrong.

So I went with him, against my will, abducted so to speak. None of what my friend was up to, or needed me for, was nefarious. In fact some would say I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. From the outside looking in it would have appeared to be not that big of a deal. After all, he just wanted me to take his sister out on a date so he could spend some time with his new girl, who he was getting very serious about. Here’s the thing, his sister is two years younger than us and just starting college. I’ve known her since she was in sixth grade. She’s a horrible person. Self centered, rude, argumentative. We’ve never gotten along. Ever. She dislikes me as much or worse than I dislike her. Our personalities are like gasoline and fire. We can’t be around each other very long and we’re burning each other and everyone around us to the ground. I’d rather date Bigfoot.

It’s not that she’s unattractive. She is attractive. If she would never speak, she’s the kind of woman you’d like to be seen with. My buddy knows I can’t hardly stand her and I think he knows she can’t stand me. Me knowing he knows that pisses me off even more. But it’s not worth the guy I burned on the test schedule finding out what I’d done. So I agree to take my friend’s wretched sister on the date. I was surprised when he told me she had also agreed on the date. I figured he must have had something on her as well.

He took me, abducted me. Not by force but by agitated protest. We were two miles away when I realized I could not take his sister anywhere without a car and mine was back at my house. “Question. How do I take her anywhere without a car?”, I asked.

He smiled. “You’re not taking her anywhere. You’re babysitting. We’ve got a new dog. A rescue dog. It’s part Blue Heeler. It’s skittish and it shouldn’t be left alone until it’s used to it’s new home. I’ll drop you off and then I’m off to get Karen. We’re talking about the future.”

“You aren’t making a damn bit of sense. Your mean as hell sister can take care of herself and a dog. Last thing she needs is me,” I told him.

He smiled again. “Yes she can. Problem is she broke her foot the day before yesterday and it’s a big inconvenience to watch the dog because right now it still hurts her to get up and down. It’s bothering her enough she’s willing to have you come over and help! So how desperate is she for help right now?” And he smiled, almost snickered. I had indeed been abducted.

This was going to be a lost argument. I agreed to stay with his arrogant sister and help watch the dog. Besides, I didn’t want to be outed for changing the test schedule and ruining college for my other so called friend, who I got along with, but was still a part time jackass. Although, he’s not as big of a jackass now as he used to be.

My friend who abducted me dropped me off at their house. A beautiful house ten miles from town. His sister met me at the door. Except for the blue cast on her foot and crutches she was hobbling on, she looked as pretty as ever. But I was reminded how deceptive looks can be, that as soon as she opened her mouth the looks wouldn’t matter anymore. Then she looked at me and smiled. She had not smiled at me in eight years, that I could ever remember. “Come in”, she said softly. My heart slightly skipped a beat and I went inside.

Three years later we were engaged. There was never any blackmail. My friend told me his sister specifically asked if I would come over and help her. She acted rude around me because she thought I was rude. She actually liked me and apparently had for awhile. Sometimes things aren’t what they seem. I was abducted alright. It turned out to be a life changing event. After we’re married, we’re keeping the dog.