Rebuttal Post: Long Day's Journey Into Madness

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(Jane, given the name "Tina" in Long Day's Journey Into Madness, has submitted her own version of events on that date. Jane says, "A friend of mine alerted me to this story, and I was astonished. I appreciate the opportunity to set things straight. I hope Steven reads it.")


Rebuttal Story Sent in by Jane:

Steven and I were hiking in the Poconos. That much is true. As for Steven forgetting the can opener, that much is also true. As for me saying, "I'm starving!" that's true as well. However, what Steven didn't figure out, surprisingly, was the fact that I meant it with 100% sarcasm. I even suggested that we break the cans open with rocks until he mentioned his knife.

He pulled out his knife and it had rust on it. Nothing tremendous, but not something I wanted to risk getting into the food. I said, "I think I'll just bang a can open with a rock."

"Suit yourself," he said, then we each opened a can our own way, and we both ate. I didn't storm off or fly off the handle, which would have been an insane act, especially given where we were.

After lunch, we continued our hike without incident until he began slapping at his face, as if bugs were attacking him.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he replied, "All of a sudden I'm really itchy. Wait here."

He took off deep into the woods, away from where I could see him. I assumed that he was going to check himself for ticks, bugs, or whatever else, or maybe apply bug spray to certain areas. I did as he said and I waited.

He didn't return after 10 minutes, and I yelled and called for him. I walked a little way into the woods in the direction I last saw him go. I shouted some more, then pulled out a trail map I had and a pen and wrote him a note, saying that I would be back at the car, waiting for him. He clearly wasn't anywhere nearby, and we had to go back to the car anyway to grab the tent. I leaned the map up against a tree and put a rock on it to weigh it down, in a place he'd be sure to spot it if he came back that way.

I returned to the car. It was gone. I tried phoning him, but there was no signal there at all. He had left, apparently, and so I didn't see much choice in the matter. I walked down the dirt road, back towards civilization.

I had been walking for a short while when his car came down the road toward me from the direction of the closest town. He rolled down his window and yelled, "What are you doing out here?"

I said, "You didn't come back! I waited for you right at that spot and you disappeared! I left you a note that I was going to wait by the car, but when I got to the lot it was gone!"

"I had to run to town. I told you to wait there!"

Stupefied that he had expected me to wait upwards of an hour, but wanting to keep the peace, I replied, "Well, at least we found each other," and I moved to jog around his car and enter it, but instead he drove off, on his own, back toward the park.

Frustrated and frightened by his behavior, I continued down the road, away from the park. Over an hour later, his car pulled up to me again. "What the fuck is your problem?" he asked.

I said, "Me? You took off, leaving me out here! You've treated me like shit all day. I'll get back on my own."

He said, as he wrote, "It's a 20-mile walk to anywhere. Let me drive you."

I was stubborn, and possibly not smart, but anywhere felt safer than with him. I said, "I'll get a ride from someone."

He drove off, leaving me behind. As for his claim that I wrote him a nasty "You come pick me up now," text, that was fiction. I did hitch a ride with strangers, which was, admittedly, foolish. However, I made it back home after calling a few friends for help.

I bear him no ill will, but I sincerely hope that he gets himself evaluated.


(See Steven's original post here.)