EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS

For a month, we attacked what I like to call the "Three P'S": Position, Power, and Pussy. We worked on improving X's current position and standing in the world. His power or influence he has over others and the power others have over him. And "of" course pussy and its power over him or his influence over pussy. Making adjustments, "X" cleared his mind, balanced his heart, and strengthened his body. Now he was ready to get back into the race.

About four and a half months later, I received a text from X that said, "Man Down!" I replied, "Are you safe?" "Yes." "Let me get somewhere private, and I will call you." "Sure." The "Man Down!" message is; used when someone is at their breaking point. I politely excused myself, pushing away from the table as I looked at the host silently, mouthing, "Man Down!" he pointed towards his home office. With all deserved envy, I entered his luxurious French-Modern "bureau à domicile" and braced myself for what awaited me on the other end of the phone.

"Hello X, how are things?" "Not good!" I paused for a ten count. If he didn't start at five, I would. By three, he was all in. "Two days ago, I had my girl's phone; it's not good." (They had matching phones, and he accidentally grabbed the wrong one.)

I asked, "How bad?" X responded, "Very bad." As he told me the details of his discovery, I asked him not to get graphic, just the facts so as; not to create a therapy session. (That's someone else's job.) I asked three questions: What has changed in three days? He rattled off the textbook answers trust, love, respect, anger, and loss, among others. Are you physically forced to be around each other? "No." He answered. Do you want to hurt her, yourself, or others? "Kinda, No, and No."

"Then you're in a good position. If you can get some distance between you and the situation." "I'm already ahead of you." "I'm headed to a friend's place for a day or two." "Perfect, text me the entire time you're there." "Limit verbal communication with everyone involved, especially your girl." "I already blocked her." When you're ready, we will have a face-to-face conversation.

"Sure, thanks for the open ear." "No problem," I replied. We said our goodbyes as I walked around my friend's office, noticing the keepsakes and books on the shelves; my eyes caught something shiny. "Noo... way?" "That's not a stack of gold coins." "Muthafucka." (I need to work harder!)

After four days of texting X, more reading than responding to let him vent. We decided to meet mid-week after lunchtime to have a beer. Part of me wished he would have gotten fired or jumped by three guys at a bar. Those types of problems are easy to handle. "Fuck that job, and fuck those guys!" You can always make more money. And we can go to the bar crewed up and have a drink-off or a fight. (I hadn't gotten in a good fight in nine months. I was due for one.) I have to admit this was a tough spot. Anything dealing with the ego and heart always is. (Even in my own life.) Based on the data given, X was most shocked about the time. The amount of time invested, wasted, and time he couldn't get back, he couldn't grasp how he didn't see it coming; she was; right there all the time. That's when it hit me. "Time." What was he doing the entire time?

I arrived a few minutes early; and took a table outside, away from others enjoying this grand day. X strolled onto the patio straight, seemingly unbothered. (If the world only knew the truth.) We shook hands and sat down. I broke the tension. "Let's get the hard part out of the way." "What are you drinking?" X smirked and replied, "Just a beer." "Your wish is granted." With a wave of my hands as if I were a genie or magician, X's smirk turned to a faint smile. We ordered our drinks and started in.

I advised him to focus on himself and leave her actions out of the conversation. I wanted him to start from day one and recount how they met, where, and when it happened. We went through their relationship, dividing it into six-month intervals up to the present, covering roughly three and a half years. Then, I verbally punched him in the gut and said. "It's all your fault!" He replied, "What? Are you serious?" I repeated, "Yes, it's all your fault!" No matter how you feel about what she did, never forget you brought her into your world. And in your world, you lead. From the beginning to now, there has been a steady decline. You didn't have a plan! A plan she could be proud of, one that would make her feel like a part of something. Regardless of what some women may tell you. They want the castle on top of the mountain. When you brought her into your world, knowing or unknowing, you applied for a job with multiple positions. You are now her bodyguard, chauffeur, lover, best friend, worst enemy "usually during her cycle" teacher, father, brother, business manager, ATM. Think of it from a corporate structure. The jobs you couldn't do, she hired someone to do it. Sorry, but it's just the way it is!"

"If we viewed our relationships as positions in a corporate structure, we would strive to become CEO. I'm not saying she's not a piece of shit, punk-ass; fuck-bitch; I'm just setting aside the emotional component. Just like in business, you have to perform; or you'll get let go. You stopped performing, improving, or changing. Women get bored easily; they want attention more than oxygen; they crave shiny new things."

Don't ever forget this. "Routine kills dreams," X asked. "So, what's the answer?" "Purposefully, be better than you were yesterday, even if it's a little bit. Purposefully improve not only in one aspect of your life but all of them." "Keep striving for improvement; you will become your own "Superman." Not the world's "Superman," but your own personal "Superman." Whenever you meet someone, you will always be at your best. Because you were better than who you were yesterday." X let out a long sigh of understanding AAAHHH, as we shook our fingers at each other.

Now, things started to get more enjoyable. We shared stories of our failures and victories, do's and don'ts, and probabilities, "the what if's?" Strategies like when, where, why, and why not to kiss a woman. When, where, why, and why not to eat pussy. We poked at little nuances that "seem" to mesmerize women. We also recapped Position and Power.

"No, it can not be that simple!" But it is, I replied. X leaned back in his chair, absorbing the weight of the elementary yet life-changing insights he'd just received. I signaled the waiter for the check. Peering into X's eyes, he rewound his life, reflecting on his past and contemplating how he could apply his newfound knowledge to shape his future. As I settled the bill, he stated, "So that's it?" I nodded my head and said Yep, that's it? Don't worry! You got it, my friend. Feel free to contact me anytime. I stood up and took a final sip of my beer. He rose, and we shook hands; "bro" hugged and went our separate ways.

My memories were interrupted by the vibration of my cell phone. I glanced at the screen, greeted by a message from Reney, accompanied by an enticing selfie. "WYD?" she asked. "Headed your way," I replied. A heart emoji from Reney appeared. I was all smiles. She would suffice for now. Yes, she will! "Until I get my stack of gold coins."