Short Story – The Personals

Would she or would’t she do it? Sophia looked at the add in the personals and thought ‘losers’. And yet her life wasn’t going anywhere either. She hadn’t met anyone for years and was sick of being on her own. What would be the worst that could happen she asked herself?

Since her breakup with Michael she had been depressed and unable to imagine that there would be anyone out there who would be remotely interesting to her. And yet if her life was to continue like this she would become an old maid.

Getting up, she fetched a clean sheet of paper and pen. She sat down and stared out the back window for a while, not really seeing. It was a beautiful afternoon, as the sun hit the window panes tracing long shadows on the dark, timber floor. Sophia was thoughtful. What would she say about herself? Could she be honest? Perhaps.
She began.

‘Lonely, intellectual, opinionated, sometimes aggressive, often impatient woman wants a caring, funny, attractive, sensuous partner.’

She considered it for a moment and then thought that perhaps she should leave out sensuous. That might attract all the sex-maniacs. Perhaps she should also leave out attractive. All men thought they were attractive - their mothers had told them so. Ok. What about funny? Well funny was subjective. Maybe leave that off too. Caring – now that was a good word, but would they imagine that she would be too needy? Better cross that one out. She read the add again.

‘Lonely, intellectual, opiniated, sometimes aggressive, often impatient woman wants a man.’ That should do it, she thought, as she stuffed the ad into an envelope and mailed it off to the paper.