Fight or Flight

This story is from Lilian, a 24-year-old legal assistant from Boston, as told to Raz:   

I met Ted for our date at a coffee bar. The conversation started out fine (just the basic get-to-know-you questions) until we came to the topic of his college experience—and his college girlfriend. As soon as he mentioned her, I tried to change the subject, but he just went on and on about the problems and disagreements that they had. “And to top it all off,” he said, “she kept trying to convince me of evolution.”

That took me aback. “What?” I asked. I honestly thought I’d misheard him. “She really thought that evolution happened!” he continued. “Like she didn’t believe that God made us. Can you believe that? How could I have dated such a stupid woman?”

I was speechless. Should I argue with this dumb ass or just pretend to accept his beliefs and then never see him again? I opted to silently chug my drink.

“Excuse me,” said a woman at the table next to us. “We couldn’t help but overhear.” Saved by the nosy neighbor! Well, not quite. She and her date began a long-winded lecture about the lack of scientific proof for creationism and the absolute certainty of evolution.

I just sat there, stunned, but Ted looked like he was going to smack her at any moment. “That’s blasphemous!” he yelled. “We don’t believe that, and we don’t think that way.”

We????! I couldn’t take it any more. “I actually have to go,” I said, throwing some money on the table. “So good to see you,” I said to Ted. “And nice to meet you,” to the strangers. Then, I literally ran out of the restaurant.

The best part? He actually thought that had gone well and continued to contact me to set up a second date. I guess that’s what I get for not clarifying that I do, in fact, believe in science. Although, given the number of idiot men out there, I may be beginning to doubt the effectiveness of evolution after all.