Pasta and Playboys

Dinner was at Holly’s house this week. She lives in the older part of town where families occupy the majority of the homes and yards are more established with large trees and lush grass. Holly’s house is one of the smaller ones on her block, with a bright red door and full flowerbeds that display her love of color.

She had made one of our favorite recipes of hers, chicken pasta salad with homemade breadsticks. Holly was not much of a cook, coming from a family who heavily relied on take-out, but she mastered the few things that she did make, and we all made sure to generously compliment her meals to enhance what little confidence she had in her cooking.

“So I got rid of Drake last week,” said Jackie, biting into a bread stick. “Turns out that he seemed to find his way into Shandra Jackson’s bed on nights that I wouldn’t let him stay over.”

“Well she does have an open door policy for her bedroom, from what I hear,” replied Kim. “Drake was too full of his self anyway, Jackie. I mean honestly, do you want to be with someone who spends more time on their hair than you do?”
“Of course not, but you have to admit that he was nice to look at, with or without clothes.”

“Give me a break,” added Holly, sticking a fork full of rotini in her mouth. “That boy had playboy written all over him. They all look the same. Dark skin, probably from a tanning bed, ruffled hair, tall and slim physique, scruffy but nice clothes, they can be picked out of any crowd.”

“Of course they can, but it sure doesn’t keep me from being attracted to them,” Jackie defended. “Besides, I knew it wouldn’t last. It was a fun fling. I just wish it wouldn’t have ended with him in Shandra’s bed.”

“Did you ask him about it?” I asked, knowing that she had but wanting to hear what his explanation was more than anything.

“Of course I did and do you know what his response was?”

I shook my head and hid my smile, anticipating a stupid explanation that seemed perfectly legit to the male mind.

“He said ‘Baby you know I love having you on my arm and showing you off, Shandra is just a good screw when you are too busy to sleep with me yourself.’ Can you believe that! And the saddest part is that he truly believed he was doing it as a way to somehow help me out. Like getting a maid to clean my house while I am at work all day. What an ass.”

I couldn’t hold my smile back any longer and let out a complete laugh that seemed to catch on throughout the group.

“That’s just how they think,” Holly said. “Sex is a necessity to them and they are bound and determined to get it one way or another. He thought you were busy and didn’t want to nag and bother you about staying when you had to get up early the next morning, so he went and got his goodies somewhere else to save you the time and trouble. Geez, what a thoughtful guy.”

“Well, I am not just going to be someone’s arm candy, that’s for sure,” said Jackie. “If I look good enough for him to flaunt around then I should be good enough for him to keep his pants on and stay faithful.”

“So what did you tell him?” asked Kate, scooping up the last bite of pasta out of her bowl.

Jackie scooted up in her chair, smirking in way that showed she was proud of her words. “I told him that I completely understand and never expected someone like him to have enough depth to consider a relationship to be anything but physical. I said that Shandra was a good match for him, being that she considers guys to exist for no other reason than fulfilling her pleasures and has no intentions of emotional connection, much like his self. I see him being single for a very long time, and while I am not in a hurry to get married, I am looking for Mr. Right and I just don’t see him as being the type to jump in another woman’s bed anytime mine is not available.”

“Good response,” Kim said. “Too bad he is too stupid to really get it.”

“I think he understood the sarcasms and meaning of it better than I thought he would. The best part is that he didn’t have a reply for it and just said ‘Well, ok then’ and turned around and walked off. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself as I watched his fine ass walk away with his tail between his legs. Sometimes it feels so good to humble arrogant bastards.”

Holly’s Chicken Pasta Salad:
2 grilled chicken breast (sliced)
8 oz rotini pasta
1 medium zucchini
1 medium squash
1 c sliced mushrooms
½ c chopped red bell pepper
½ c purple onion
½ c sun-dried tomatoes
½ c black olives
1 c Italian dressing
A dash of garlic powder and black pepper
Red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese for topping

Mix all ingredients and refrigerator until chilled.