Jan 10 2009
Only Women Will Understand This Post
I like to think of myself as a practical girl - not a girly-girl, but someone that both guys and gals can get along with. I’m not into hair, nails, or make-up, and I love to play geeky games like World of Warcraft online.
But apparently there is more girly-girl in me than I realized, because I’m about to write a post that only the gals out there will understand.
I know that it’s the patron’s own business, and I really shouldn’t care, but there is this girl and guy who come into the library. Every. Single. Day. Always in the same time period too - between 9 and 11 in the morning.
Well, the curiosity part comes in because I cannot tell if they are boyfriend and girlfriend, or just friends, or brother and sister (or some other type of relationship I haven’t thought up yet). Because they come in together, you’d normally think boyfriend/girlfriend, but the way they act towards each other makes me think that if they’re dating, they ought to break up and move on to greener pastures. 
It isn’t that they’re rude to each other; it’s just that they simply don’t ever talk to one another. They never touch each other, never even acknowledge each other’s presence. There is an extreme lack of chemistry between them, which to me discounts the friendship option too. If you’re “just friends” with someone, wouldn’t that mean that you would laugh and talk with them, and enjoy their company? These two act like the other has got the plague or something.
On the other hand, they act strange for a brother and sister pair also. Why do they always come together? If I were living with a brother of mine, I can see myself spending some time with him, but not having a standing date with him, where we go to the library together every single day to use the computers. It seems a bit extreme. Why not ever come in with a friend instead?
They’re younger (probably between 18 - 20 years of age) and I can’t see them not having any other friends in the world. But as of yet, I’ve never seen either of them with anyone else (or even talking to anyone else for that matter).
So they don’t act like boyfriend/girlfriend, “just friends,” or brother/sister. What’s left? I checked out their hands, and if they are married, they don’t wear wedding rings (which I’m hoping is correct - that extreme lack of chemistry would be an even bigger problem if they were married).
The dumbest part of all is that if I knew, I wouldn’t care anymore. It isn’t that this knowledge will make a difference in my life. If I found out tomorrow what their relationship is, I doubt I’d remember past next week that I’d ever even wondered about it (again, I have the attention span of a gerbil. I’m not exaggerating here).
It’s just the simple fact that I don’t know, and can’t figure out a smooth way of asking, that is driving me crazy. Anyone out there who can relate to this? Surely I can’t be the only one with an overblown sense of curiosity about things that are not relevant to me in the slightest! 
As I said, only women will understand this post. Men, feel free to laugh at me all you want. I still want to know.
Any ideas on a “subtle” way of asking? I was once mistaken as my brother’s girlfriend in high school (eewwww!) so I don’t want to make that mistake with these two.
Don’t worry, I am already fully aware that I need to get a life.
Hava
PS Feel free to speculate in the comment section on what you think their relationship is. I can’t make my mind up, so I’d love an outside perspective (or five).
maybe they are boyfriend and girlfriend - but its an online only relationship
I can think of many explanations, depending on age, including neighbor kids who go to the library together because of a ride situation, kids assigned to be lab partners and who come to the library (in theory, to work together) but prefer to spend that time otherwise.
But, I will tell you, I’m clearly more male than you, because I’m completely missing the gene that worries about stuff like that. And I’ve pushed out three children.
I’m not like normal people. You don’t have to tell me. I know.
Well, I can’t bring an outside perspective, because I know exactly who you are talking about.
All I can say is that I can relate, because I have wondered the same thing myself! I am practical and I have also been known as girly-girl, so I think maybe you can be both, right? It is interesting that the two people you speak of never have once spoken one word to each other…not one. Whether they are friends, neighbors, boyfriend/girlfriend, you would think they would speak at least one word or maybe two. I think that is why it is so curious. It is a bit odd, but I guess not as odd as peeing on a book. 
Hey, we have to amuse ourselves at the library somehow, right? At least these two look like saints compared to the POB and other “joyous” patrons. I never dread seeing them. I just am left with curiosity and I suppose that isn’t a bad thing. 
Maybe when I am feeling pretty daring I will ask them one day…
I laughed out loud, twice when I read this post!! You are hysterical, and yes I would be wondering the same thing!!! I don’t have any good ideas but I sure want to know the dynamic of there relationship when you figure it out. Thanks for the laugh!! I sure miss you. Em
I’m not sure…. maybe you could use the system to look at their last names when they use the computers, that way you could rule out bro/sis or husband/wife.
Flit >> LOL! Thanks for the suggestion. Now that is just a strange relationship.
Stephanie >> I don’t know which is more “unnormal” - caring about things that will not affect my quality of life in the slightest, or realizing that these things are too stupid to care about and therefore not caring at all. All in all, your approach is probably more sane.
Tiffy >> Yeah, I definitely don’t ever dread seeing them either - they are both polite, quiet, and don’t try to overrun their alloted hour of use on the computer. They do exactly what they’re supposed to do, and nothing else. It’s just the STRANGENESS of it all that piques my curiosity.
And if you ever ask them, you have to promise to tell me RIGHT AWAY what they say. LOL!
Em >> Hey girl!!! It’s so good to see you on here.
I’m glad you came by, and left a comment so I know you came. That’s just too cool. I miss you too, and hope we can see you this summer sometime. ??? In the meanwhile, make sure to check back often on my site, so you can get your daily dish of “Devoid Havilah” (sorry to everyone else - inside joke there). 
Kikit >> The thing is, they arrive together in the same vehicle, and leave together in the same vehicle. They are definitely in some sort of relationship outside of the library.
Chris >> I am happy to say (or should I be embarrassed that I actually cared enough to do it?) that I did that, after putting up this post. The last time I helped them out, I left their accounts up on the computer so I could compare them.
Turns out, they have different last names, and different addresses (not even very close to one another either). So definitely not siblings or married to each other, so that leaves just friends or boyfriend/girlfriend.
Considering how regularly they come in together, I am leaning towards ruling out the “just friends” option, just because no matter how friendly I am with someone, I don’t normally set up a standing date with them, KWIM? Especially not one that happens every single morning, 6 days a week.
So despite their extreme lack of chemistry, I really have to believe that they are dating each other. Perhaps they believe that you should not display any affection towards each other in public, and believe that even talking to each other in public is too much.
Or maybe they are just very, very shy, and so they don’t talk much with people, even the ones they are dating (and in all the times I’ve helped them, neither of them have said more than a handful of words to me. They don’t chat about the weather, or how busy it is at the library - they ask for a computer, they get their number, they are on their way. There is absolutely no extras in there anywhere).
Agree? Disagree? Tell me your thoughts.
Hava
Who can’t believe she admitted to looking at the addresses, just to satisfy her curiosity…
Well, Havilah, this was a great story! Of course, now that we know they are at least friends, perhaps not dating, but definitely not married or related to each other, I’ll add this.
I really think they may just be really, really quiet people. Cerebral. Maybe there’s no chemistry out in public, but who knows what they’re like when it’s just the two of them? Socially awkward, definitely, but maybe not when they’re in non-public places.
And, that’s my two cents worth.
So, Hava, I should just let you know: On Friday, the guy came in, but with another guy who I know is a caretaker (he’s been in quite a bit with some others), so there is the answer to your big mystery! It’s crazy, cuz that guy doesn’t seem like he needs a caretaker.