Free Walk of Shame by O. L. Gregory Page B

little to go on. I can tell you that the ones who didn't choose to show
up in suits made a bigger impression on me than those who did. It really
factors in greatly to who's going home tonight. Is that fair of me? I don't
know. But I sure hope I'm not sending the wrong guy home because he has a
limited cultural history, like I do."
    "And, lastly, were there any
red flags that went up tonight?"
    "Yes. There were a few. A
couple red flags about jobs and their compatibility with the lifestyle I want.
A couple I have to question if they're here to find love or to promote
themselves. But only one major red flag was raised about what I perceive his
expectations of a wife might be. I just was not caring for the vibe I was
getting off him."
    "A culture-clash,
perhaps?"
    "Not necessarily. I just
feel he happens to be looking for meek and obedient. And I am rarely either one
of those."
    "All right. If you're ready,
we can go and put these men out of their misery for tonight."
    "I'm ready."
    The cameras cut and we stood. I
followed him back into the ballroom.
    Set Design had quickly
deconstructed the platform while I was doing the interview with Troy. Now there
were risers at one end, upon which all the guys were now standing. I was to be
standing at the other end of the room. Each week, the distance between us would
grow smaller and smaller, subliminally signifying that our relationships were
growing closer and closer.
    I entered through a door behind
the crew that was all lined up on what would be my left. I walked in on Troy's
arm as he led me to my end. When I looked up at the guys, my eyes were drawn to
a chart set up on an easel, also to the left. Someone had made me a cheat sheet
with all their names written in the order they were standing in. I guessed that
was in case I couldn't see all the nametags behind the heads of the guys
standing in front of them.
    Troy paused long enough for all
the red camera lights to come on. "All right, gentlemen. Emmaline is going
to choose which thirteen men she is interested in getting to know better. Usually
we only allow twelve, but with the addition of an extra contender this time,
we'll give her a chance to get to know everyone remaining before having her
eliminate the extra spot.
    Gentlemen, if your name is
called, you have a choice. Accept her offer to stay and get to know her more,
and line up along the side wall, opposite the cameras, or decline the offer and
make your goodbyes. If you're name is not called, she is not inviting you to
stay and you then make the Walk of Shame , past the chosen men and on out
to the awaiting cars."
    Troy turned back to me, "Are
you all set?"
    I nodded. "Yes."
    "All right." He pulled
away and stepped back.
    It was up to me to address the gathering
now. I stood there and gazed out at the group of men assembled before me. "I'm
encouraged. I wasn't sure what kind of mayhem I was getting myself into by
agreeing to do this. And I've wondered if this wouldn't be the biggest mistake
of my life. But, I think, tonight has opened the doors to many possibilities.
And I stand here hopeful.
    "There's a little girl
inside of my head who likes to live in a fantasy world where things are simple
and easy. A part of me had hoped that, on some level, I would, well... that I
would just somehow know who my husband would be, the moment I met him.
But that didn't happen. And I have to admit, tonight I've been so overwhelmed
by so many of you that I could be staring my future in the face and I wouldn't
recognize it. My head is spinning with possibilities. And it's going to take me
awhile to process everything I've learned about all of you tonight.
    "I want each of you to know
that in thinking about how hard it's been for me to have any kind of real
relationship, with the kind of nomadic life we lead, I've realized you've all
had a harder time. I know, that in my experience, there are fewer single women
living like this than there are single men. So, I understand where you're