CHAPTER 17

Blunder:
A usually serious mistake typically caused by ignorance or confusion.
v. blun·dered, blun·der·ing, blun·ders
To move clumsily or blindly.
To make a usually serious mistake.
To make a stupid, usually serious error in; botch.
To utter (something) stupidly or thoughtlessly.
[From Middle English blunderen, to go blindly, perhaps from Old Swedish blundra, have one’s eyes closed, from Old Norse blunda.]

Tape recording

Click
Doctor Coleman: …your first thought about Shane.
Carmen: Do you mean, when I first saw her?
Doctor Coleman: Yes.
Carmen: (Long pause) …I thought there was something special about her. Something unique.
Doctor Coleman: Elaborate more, Carmen.
Carmen: (sighs) …She was doing hair. She was staring at her client’s reflection in the mirror when I first entered the room. She had these specs on… I don’t know… (chuckles). She was charming, and beautiful, of course. You don’t know her doc, but believe me, she is amazing. The kind of person that makes your head spin after two words.
Doctor Coleman: How did you feel?
Carmen: (Long pause) …Mesmerized.

Click
Carmen: …on the DJ boot, yeah.
Doctor Coleman: I see. You once told me you are not the one-night-stand kind of person.
Carmen: (sighs) …yes.
Doctor Coleman: But you let Shane seduce you the very first time you guys met.
Carmen: (sounding embarrassed) …I…well, yes.
Doctor Coleman: Why?
Carmen: (long pause) …I don’t know. I wanted to know her. I wanted her to know me. And then… there was this chemistry, this physical connection. Immediate and powerful. I guess… I guess it was impossible, for me, to say no. I just couldn’t resist her.
Doctor Coleman: You told me Shane is known to be a player…
Carmen: …Yeah…
Doctor Coleman: …which means that she is someone who dates more than one person at a time, usually just for sex or other perks. Do you think she will do anything to have sex with someone?
Carmen: No. It doesn’t work this way. Shane usually gives people what they expect her to give them.
Doctor Coleman: Sex.
Carmen: (sighs) Yeah.
Doctor Coleman: The word “player” carries a very negative connotation.
Carmen: I know.
Doctor Coleman: Do you think Shane was, or is, proud to be defined this way?
Carmen: Honestly, I think she doesn’t care about what other people think of her.
Doctor Coleman: That’s not exactly true. She seems very concerned about what you or your family, or her friends, think of her.
Carmen: That’s true.
Doctor Coleman: Why?
Carmen: …Because she loves us, I guess.