Perception Story: Clever Angie Thinks Fast

A. Teacher reads story to the class called " Clever Angie Thinks Fast ."

B. Story Description: This Conflict Resolution story is based on an idea shared with me by a teacher who wished to remain anonymous. This is a love triangle story that actually happened to her when she was in the eighth grade. This story demonstrates the importance of checking your facts.

Clever Angie Thinks Fast
© 2000 re-told by Debbie Dunn.

Idea shared with her by a teacher who wished to remain anonymous.

Eighth grader Angie was sharpening her pencil right before class was getting ready to start. From this vantage point, she could see her boyfriend, David, getting a drink of water.

David saw her, smiled and waved, and then headed off to his next period class. Angie waved back and saw her teacher, Mrs. Rutledge, staring at her. Mrs. Rutledge asked, "Angie, how's that boyfriend of yours?"

Angie blushed a bit and shyly said, "Fine."

"That's good," Mrs. Rutledge said.

Then Mrs. Rutledge looked around and said, "Okay, everyone in. The tardy bell is about to ring."

Finally, it came time for 8th-grade recess. Angie headed off to the back lobby outside the cafeteria. David played baseball every day with the guys; however, he always managed to stop in for a couple of minutes to spend some private time with Angie.

Private was the key word as there were usually no teachers, cafeteria workers, or other students hanging out here at this time of day.

It was way too private, Angie realized in dismay, when she saw Nikki and a gang of five other girls stomping angrily over to her. Angie thought, "Oops! I guess this is way TOO private as here comes Nikki and her gang looking awfully mad. I hope it's not me they're mad at it, or I could be a goner for sure. If it is me, I better think fast."

For the first time, Angie wished that a teacher would come strolling by her favorite hang-out. No such luck! She thought, "Where's a teacher when I need one?"

Angie didn't yet know what she had done to make Nikki angry. She also knew there was no hope of getting help from a passing student or teacher. She concluded, "I'm going to have to use my brains to keep from getting beat up by Nikki and her gang of girls."

Nikki stomped up to Angie and aggressively yelled, "Angie! What are you doing making public announcements about you being hooked up with my boyfriend, David?"

Shocked, Angie said, "What?"

Nikki said, "You heard me!"

Angie cleverly stalled for time. She said, "I don't know. He didn't tell me about you."

Angie wisely realized that she and Nikki were not the ones who had the problem. It was David who was obviously the bad guy. So Angie said, "I guess we're going to have to ask David about this, aren't we?"

Nikki's anger sizzled for a bit and then fizzled out like a deflating balloon as the wisdom of this answer sunk in. Nikki nodded, glanced at her friends, and they all walked away.

Angie leaned against the wall and sighed with relief. Then Angie started thinking about David.

Obviously, the guy was most likely a player. She thought, "I'll check my facts, but if it's true, I want nothing more to do with a guy I can't trust. Nikki will be welcome to him in that case."

Feeling sad, Angie left the area and went to rejoin her other friends.

Right before last period, David walked up to Angie. With a big smile, he said, "Hi, Angie."

Not too enthusiastically, Angie mumbled hello. Then she took a big breath, looked David in the eye, and said, "I'm not supposed to be talking to you anymore."

David asked, "Why not, Angie?"

"Your girlfriend doesn't like it." Angie responded.

David's eyes shifted nervously as he asked, "Who's my girlfriend?"

Angie replied, "Nikki."

David said, "Oh." David realized that he had been found out. Angie had lost all feelings of trust for him.

Angie felt foolish and hurt for not realizing what a player David was. She also felt glad for finding this out soon enough before her heart got too entangled with his. Angie calmly said, "David, I deserve better than someone who purposely cheats on me. I do NOT want to go out with you anymore."

David tried to sound indifferent as he said, "Oh, okay. See ya!"

David looked rather sad as he walked away. Angie watched him go and thought again, "Nikki is welcome to him if she wants him. As for me, I deserve better!"

That he said/she said situation ended in Angie learning the truth soon enough that she could free herself from a bad situation.

Too bad that David didn't decide to be up front and honest with both girls! He could have told them that he wanted to be free to date more than one girl at a time.

In that case, the girls would have been able to make an informed decision about whether or not they wished to date him under those circumstances.

But the way David chose to handle it, he lost Angie's trust and respect and possibly the trust and respect of Nikki as well.

Perhaps David will learn that you don't get far by being a player! It is far better to be honest with the people whom you choose to date.

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