DENIED!!!!

February 29th, comes but once every four years.  Leap year.  Also known as Sadie Hawkins Day, which was unbeknownst to me, prior to today, but they were touting it all freakin' day on the radio.  That and the fact that The Monkees lead singer, Davy Jones died at the age of 66, from a heart attack.  Sad to see someone so special as this die from something so tragic as a heart attack.

The whole time that the radio announcers were promoting the Sadie Hawkins angle, I was wondering "Who the f*ck is Sadie Hawkins?"|

I'm familiar with Sadie Hawkins as far as the Sadie Hawkins Dances, where it is up to the female to choose who she was to partake in the festivities with, rather than the traditional practice which pits the guy against an unforgiving wall of rejection.  I have never asked anyone to a dance.  In fact, I recall only going to one or two dances in school, I think.  I can't remember, to tell the truth...

According to Wikipedia, Sadie Hawkins Dances are primarily in November, so why February 29th is associated with Miss Hawkins, is a mystery to us both.  Sadie Hawkins is also associated with the 1930's comic strip, Little Abner, but beyond that...  I was just too lazy to read on.  What I did learn of it's association with February 29th, is that it's an opportunity for women everywhere to propose marriage to their significant other, thus removing any pressure on him.  I think this is what I need, cuz my record in the marriage proposal column is pretty f*ckin' sad.

All morning on the radio, the female DJ (*Are they still considered DJ's considering everything is digital now?) , whatever the hell her name is, kept promoting the fact that women should be taking the opportunity to ask out that special someone that they've thought about, dreamed about, or even simply "considered".  Then she posed the question, "Have you ever asked anyone out and been horribly rejected?  If so, "call such 'n' such a number and tell us about it.  The worst rejection can win blah blah blah."  Instantly I was reminded of a horrible rejection I got, once upon a time, but didn't know if I was allowed to call in or not.  For one, it's Sadie Hawkins Day, so I'd assume it's just the women who'd be encouraged to call.  And secondly, unlike my workmate, I had work to do, and couldn't take time out to call in for a prize.

The incident that I was reminded of, took place some years ago, when I worked at a gas station.  I was a gas attendant, but at the time, we referred to ourselves as "Fuel Transference Engineers".  It sounded more impressive to laymen.

There was this pretty young woman, girl, whatever, that came in every few days to top up her fuel tank.  We always had pleasant exchanges and short conversations.  Everything seemed nice.  So one day she came driving in to the station and at the urging of a co-worker, I decided to ask her out for a date.  I came up to the car, we exchanged pleasantries and during one of the lulls in the conversation, I took the opportunity to ask her out.  "Hey," I said, "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me some time?"  I kept it loose and informal.  I didn't want it to seem forced, but the reaction was unpleasant.

She stared straight ahead and with one word said, "NOPE!", with an extra emphasis on the P (pah).  Then that was it.  A long, awkward pause.  I said "No problem.  I was just curious."  And she continued to stare straight ahead.  She passed me a $20 bill for her gas and drove away.  I'd been rejected before, that wasn't anything new, but I'd never been shut down with such a resounding reply.  "NOPE-aaah" the word still echoed in my head.  That f*cking stung, as I recall.  Then to make matters worse, she returned a couple hours later, her call filled with friends.  She parked off to one corner of the lot and I could see her pointing at me followed by the sound of laughter erupting from the open windows.

We never spoke much after that, other than exchanges as far as how much fuel she wanted in her car and all.  I don't know what ever happened to her, nor do I really give two shits.  She could've fallen off the face of the Earth, for all I care.  She was mean and I don't need assholes like that in my otherwise perfect life.