Once when we were walking to school, Maryvonne said, in English, "So tell me about Adam." I had mentioned him briefly when she had said something about breaking up with her boyfriend. I could tell that her switch to English had been intentional. I was also impressed that she had remembered his name. Maryvonne has real social skills.
"...There's not much to tell really. We went out for seven months. And I think... I know I was in love with him. But it was hard sometimes, because... he was very quiet. Comunication was difficult. I think that's why it ended." (I had switched between English and French throughout this, and we continued to for the rest of the conversation. I'm just going to put it all in English for simplicity's sake.) There was a pause. "It wasn't very... good... at the end. But he was afraid to break up with me. He was afraid..." "He was afraid of hurting you."
"Yes, that. But the thing is, he didn't handle it very well. He had a new girlfriend before we broke up.... Nobody expected it. Everyone said he was too nice. Too smart. Too quiet. They said... he was a good kid. And now... we don't talk anymore."
"Why?"
"I think he knows he handled it badly. I think he feels bad."
"And how long ago is he uh... cut with you?" (This in English, obviously. The mistake made me smile a little.)
"Three weeks."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
Another pause. "You know," I said, "How sometimes in middle school, or when you're very young... You say you're going out with someone, but not really?"
"Yes."
"Well, before, I had boyfriends like that. But Adam... He was the first one... really."
"...Are you okay now that it's over?"
My answer was slightly wishy washy, and I changed languages more often than normal. There was another pause.
"Me, I had a boyfriend in Nice. And I loved him. I mean REALLY loved him. But I decided that I must finish with him becuase of the summer ending. We do not live in Nice in the winter, and it is too hard. His name is Hugo... Hugo." She pronounced it once in French and once in English.
"I think for me it might have ended becuase of winter too. Adam is also in marching band. There are a lot of relationships within the band..."
"Oh really?" she seemed to think this was funny.
"Yes and... they all seem to die with band season. People just don't see each other after that."
I forget exactly when this conversation took place, but afterwards I felt closer to Maryvonne.
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