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It was date night. Date night was a newly accepted idea from Alan and Christine’s marriage counselor.
“This place is nice, huh?” Christine said, as she looked around the restaurant.
“Yeah, I drive by this place everyday on my way to work, “Alan responded, looking down fidgeting with the condiments.
“Do you even want to be here?” Christine said, leaning back slumping her shoulders.
“What?” Alan replied raising his shoulders.
“Alan, I’m trying over here, and while I’m trying you’re over there sorting the Sweet and Low from the Equal, “Christine said, crossing her arms.
“I’m sorry, but can we please not be upset here, “Alan said, looking at the tables nearby.
“So you want me to just put my frustration on hold and participate in your little public charade that is our marriage, because you’re too worried about what comb over guy behind us thinks,” Christine said, scooting up closer to the table.
“Seriously, I apologize; I don’t what else I can say. Let’s please just start over. We can do that. So how was your day today?”
“You can’t do that.”
“Do what?” Alan says, holding his palms up.
“You can’t just change the subject like that and make it better.”
Alan just sat there and rolled his eyes and picked up the salt shaker checking the tightness of the cap.
“Dr. Lévesque said we need to talk through each of the 3 levels of constructive communication.”
“Oh yeah, what were those again? “ Alan said trying not to let out a smirk.
“This is funny to you?”
“Here comes the waitress, please, time out.”
A dark haired twenty something smiled as she approached the table with cocktail napkins and menus.
“Hi, my name’s Amy and I’ll be your server. What can I get you two to drink? “The perky waitress said, holding her hands together in front of her waist.
“Hi, I’ll have a Sam Adams, the big one. “Alan said using his hands to measure the size of the beer.
“Vodka tonic, two limes please,” Christine said briefly making eye contact with the waitress before fake looking at her menu.
“What are you going to order?” Alan asked Christine, opening a menu.
“It’s just wonderful how well you listen to me,” Christine said, looking at her fingernails.
“Oh my God, do we really have to do the levels thing here? We can do the levels at home.”
“Well I wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of Amy.”
“Oh please shoot me, “Alan said under his breath.
“What’d you say? “ Christine snapped.
“I said I might get sushi.”
“We’re at Outback,” Christine after a slight pause.
“Level one, the key to communication is paying attention, “Christine read from a pamphlet she dug from her purse.
“Oh God,” Alan said bringing his hand up to cover his eyes.
“I’m sorry, are you already familiar with the levels, the levels that you agreed to learn about,” Christine replied flipping through the pamphlet.
Amy returned to the table the vodka tonic with two limes and an awkwardly shaped twenty four ounce glass of beer.
“Have you had time to look over the menu?” Amy said smiling, sensing the tension.
“I think we’ll need some time please, but can we get a blooming onion please.” Alan said looking at Christine.
“No I’m not and yes I will, I will try and take the levels thing more seriously but this in public, at an Outback. Let’s try and have a nice time. We have a blooming onion, I have a very tall and fun beer glass and we have a booth,” Alan said smiling.
“Okay, but we’re going over the levels when we get home,” Christine said tucking her levels info back into her purse.
“That sucks,” Alan muttered in what he believed was an inaudible tone.
“What did you say?” Christine said as her eyebrows lowered.
“I said, uh, twenty bucks, this steak here,” Alan said pointing at his menu.
“Twenty Bucks.”
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