In a Minute, Out of Time

Story Sent in by Carrie:

Bill spent most of our date texting. He kept the conversation going, for the most part, but seemed way more interested in whatever was happening on his phone.

Finally I texted him from my side of the table: "Feel like putting the phone away?"

He laughed, then texted back: "In a minute!"

Ten minutes later, he still hadn't pocketed the phone. I was tired of him and I said outright, "Hey, why don't you put the phone away so we can carry on a regular conversation?"

"In a minute," he said again.

This time, I decided to give him a minute precisely. When it passed I told him, "It's been a minute. Come on. Let's talk."

"In a minute!" he said again, gruffly.

"I'm going," I said.

"Hang on just a minute," he said.

"I'm done hanging on," I told him.

He said, "This is really important, okay? I can't just put it down!"

I asked, "If it's that important then why wouldn't you reschedule the date? You've been on that thing more than you've been talking to me."

He said, "It's none of your business, why it's important. None of your business!"

I hadn't once asked him what he was doing or who he was talking to on his phone. I took exception to his rudeness, was all. I said, "I don't care what you're talking about or to whom. You're clearly not focused on the date, is all."

He didn't say anything to me, but instead went back to his phone and typed. I left.

A few moments later, a text from him came through that read, "I'll be done in a minute. Come back."

I wrote back, "I'll be back in a minute."

He never saw me again.