Good on Paper.

Book in hand I carefully plan my route. Stand by the doorway, always to the left ( people always go right, so I go left) I smile as everyone exits. Who doesn't like a smile? One smile back.
Last one off, first one on. 7 steps and I'm in my seat. Double seats, and I'm on the outer. Score!
I take the cover off my book...to save it from creasing.
OK, it's Eclipse and all hype aside I'm still a little ashamed that I am reading a "teen" novel. It was a fight to work up the courage to ask for help in finding the book after pacing through Indigo being all " I'm not asking for directions" man about it.
So I take the cover off and fold it neatly in my bag. I shuffle, get comfortable and open. The smell of a new book. Innocent and awaiting criticism and/or praise. It's only until one gets into the 2nd or 3rd chapter that the smell lasts. Then it's gone.
I'm about 7 pages in when 2 young, well dressed, very pretty girls enter and sit down...one in front of me and the other across from her. They are having or trying to have a conversation through the layers of standing riders, they giggle and talk about the days events. School and work gossip, new CD purchase and the weekend trip to Guelph. ( Not that I was listening) Then the converstation got serious. Concerned, to say the least.
I have to explain in detail these young ladies to understand the seriousness. Late teens, if even. Maybe mid -late teens, 16, 17, 19...ok maybe 18. Pretty and soft spoken, good friends if not the best of friends. A girl can always tell a group of best friends. Little gestures as hanging on to one another as the cart bobbles about and fixing an earring stuck in the other's hair. Then still holding on and laughing, affection is dear.
The younger of the 2 ( I think) the one beside me says to her (best) friend that she is not and doesn't think she ever was or ever will be in love with her boyfriend. No big deal right, we've all been there. Comfortable but knowing something is not right.
Fair....her friend answers that it's no big deal and follows with "I get it....but who cares,
he's good on paper"

Good on paper??? Eyes bugged, book on lap, what?
Did I hear right? What in heavens does that even mean. 16 or 18 - somewhere her teen mind is pre-occupied with " good on paper" forget the love, passion and first everything's that only happen now...only now in the teens and 20's.
I was stunned. Shocked and saddened. Where's the childhood. Yes, childhood, that's what it is, should be, before it gets real. The fun, mistakes, first loves. I had all that, why don't they. They're young and fantastic yet in a rush to be adults. Why? Who is telling them this, where are they reading, seeing, feeling this.
Here I was reading about Bella, a young woman in love with a vampire who is head over heals, sick and butterflies all in one, in love with: I'll say it again, a vampire... and this beautiful young woman beside me is settling for good on paper but nah, don't really like him.

As she was trying to explain to her friend her reasoning I have to say, he was good on paper. But so what? The friend was agreeing and was in the same situation, stating that she loved all the attention at first but now, there's no more excitement to the dinners out, the trips, buying anything and everything anytime. Then here were 2. Apparently there are these men out there that are good on paper...how do you find these men? I'm not looking, I have both. Paper and true love.
I am just wondering where a 16, 17 or whatever year old would find such a catch. To warn the rest.

There's a group, a bunch of 'em I guess. They're out there. They're fine and good for them, applause for all their successes but they need to look past the youth and move on out. Go on get!

As a society, women have come so far. We can do anything and for the most part better. After all in a 2009 stat women are not only the main but the larger income earners. That's reason for a party.
Feminism aside, it's a proud moment. Cheer!!!

I was still on page 7 when I thought I should turn the page to at least pretend I was reading. So I did. Their dialogue continued on to say that even though he is a kind man, he is much older than her and wants different things in life...and even though she knows that the right thing to do is stay with him * since again ...all together now " he is good on paper" she needs to tell him it's over.

Phew! There is hope.

* What concerns and worries me immensely is where, from who, why and OH WHY is someone telling these young ladies that in order to have a good life you must find a man that comes with a list.