Something to Never Repeat

Story Submitted by Christine:

In early college, I was set up on a blind date with Stephen.  He and I met up at the student union and the plan was to do dinner at a nearby restaurant.

The first strange thing that I noticed about him was that he asked me to repeat everything:

I said, "It's nice to meet you."

"What?"

"Nice to meet you."

"Thanks.  You too."

"Do you have a restaurant in mind?"

"What's that?"

"Do you have a restaurant in mind?"

"Oh!  Yes.  I do."

"Where?"

"What?"

And so on.  On our walk to the place, I finally had to ask him, "Is your hearing okay?"

"Is my what?"

"Is there something wrong with your hearing?"

He said, "No.  Why?"

I replied, "Because you ask me to repeat everything I say."

"Because what?"

I groaned, "Because you ask me to repeat everything I say."

He said, "Oh.  Yeah, I don't know why I do that.  I just do."

I replied, "It's really annoying."

He said, "It's what?"

I said, "I don't mind it.  It's okay."

He looked confused, then shrugged and we went on to dinner, during which he continued with asking me to repeat everything until I finally said, "Could you try not asking me to repeat something?"

"What?"

I went on, "Because I can't imagine that you ask your professors to repeat everything that they say in class."

He said, "I don't.  I respect them too much."

I asked, "So you don't respect me?"

"What?"

I said, "You heard what I said."

He said, "I did, but you're going to have to repeat it."  I shook my head.  He went on, "If you don't then you won't be keeping up with your perfect repeating record for the night, and that will piss me off."

I said, "Sorry.  I said it once, and I want an answer."

His face contorted, he held up his fork, grit his teeth, and said, "Brrraaagggghh!" or some variant thereof.  He yelled, "Check please!"  A waiter came by to give us the check, Stephen threw down just enough money to cover the bill, and busted out of there without me faster than you could say, "Come again?"  I must have really upset him, but to this day, I have no idea what his problem was.