The difference between guys and girls

When I was about 15 years old, my religious ed class made me go to a lecture done by this guy named Brad Henning, who wrote a book entitled "Don't Take Love Lying Down." Judging by the name, I conjured up the entirety of his lecture in my head-- "Abstinence is key. . . don't have sex until you're married . . . you'll regret it if you don't wait. . .blah, blah, blah." And when I got there, it basically was like that, except not.

Mr. Henning was a short, balding man with a snow-white mustache. When we got there, he came bounding out of the wings to begin his talk, to stand in a tense stance, ready to go running in any direction. Rubbing his hands together, he gave his opening line, "Now, who can tell me the difference between a man and a woman?" We all laughed, because the answer was kind of obvious, but the man shook his head, "No, no. Take this for example."-- he drew four boxes on a white board-- "Let's say a guy goes to the bathroom, alright and chooses the second stall. If another guy walks in, girls, tell me which stall he'll choose." Most of us called out random numbers, because it didn't seem like that big of a deal. "Now guys, which will he choose?"
A resounding "Number 4" echoed through the auditorium. "And guys, if numbers 2 and 4 are taken, and another guy walks in, which stall would he choose?" Various responds of "He'll wait" came back to him. In those first five minutes of his lecture, Mr. Henning went through the mysteries of bathroom culture- why girls have to go in packs and why guys never really talk in the bathroom (most conversation dies at the door).

From then on, the lecture went through the different ways guys and girls think, talk and act. How guys are always the jerk and girls are always the victims. How girls are always complicated and guys are always egotistical. How guys are goal oriented and girls like to smell the roses. Taking every stereotype and either explaining it or crushing it, Mr Henning impressed the idea of understanding where each sex is coming from so guys and girls can better understand what a real relationship looks like, without all of the drama.

Unfortunately, in a high school setting, drama is unavoidable and subconsciously desirable. Whenever the tiniest glimmer of a relationship shimmers in the air, whenever a boy and girl begin to look each other's way, the dooming force of drama attacks. "These encounters (meetings between a man and a woman), because they represent the oneness of love and of hatred, of the need for union between man and woman and of the compulsions towards mutual destruction inwoven in that need, are drama in essence." Everything that is drama-- love, hate, betrayal, loyalty, confusion, lies, innocence, passion-- every tidbit is delectable and tasty to our souls. We thrive on the chance to complain or passionately dwell on drama. It gives us something to do.

It seems weird to think people don't want to get involved with conflict, because life would be so boring without it. And really, in a world where men and women are wired so differently, I don't see how we could have it any other way. So, when a guy says, "I think I know a shortcut," when the car is in the middle of nowhere and the only alternative roads available are scary, untraveled paths akin to that of the trail to the Beast's castle, I know he won't ask for directions because he's proud, and self-reliant. Now I could leave it at that. But as long as we're out for a long, long drive, I might as well make it entertaining.