Pittsburgh
August 20th, 1903
On a warm summer morning, a broad-shouldered man bounded up the steps to the entrance of the pristinely kept house on 23 North Willow Lane. This particular man was a celebrity in the Pittsburgh region – a face known to all. His name was Randy Sliger, and he lived in the limelight.
Given his preoccupation with public attention and glamour, it was strange for Randy Sliger to visit someone’s residence in the middle of the afternoon. He was more accustomed to arriving at places at night – often as a guest for the most extravagant parties one could find in the western part of Pennsylvania. It was clear that he was a valued guest at these soirees. Everyone wanted to catch up with Randy.
He had all the company he could ever ask for – his position in life was envied by all.
As a result, the one issue no one would expect Sliger to deal with is the issue of loneliness. After all, he mingled with hundreds of people on a daily basis. How could a man of such lofty social status fall victim to such a crippling feeling of loneliness?
The answer, as Randy would put it, lies in the fact that he feels that his popularity is valued more than his character.
“I feel as though everyone in my life is there to gain something from me. I see through the emptiness in everyone’s gestures. They don’t want to get to know me. They want to use me as a way to propel up the social ladder.”
These words were directed at the owner of the house on 23 North Willow Lane. He was a man of 37 years by the name of Wendell Harrington. Upon his chin rested a scruffy beard that he scratched incessantly as he processed Sliger’s frustrations with great care. His work as a therapist had physically and mentally drained him as of late. At times, he felt as though he should have been the patient.
Sliger fixed his gaze on Harrington. The tension in the air radiated throughout the room and made for an uneasy atmosphere.
“Wendell. Is it alright if I call you that?”
“Of course,” Mr. Harrington replied.
Sliger appreciated the cordial tone of Mr. Harrington’s response, as it eliminated all of the tension that was previously in the room.
“Well, Wendell. I’ve never been able to express my emotions to anyone. Hell, I can hardly remember the last time I shed a tear. If I do let my feelings be known, I know damn well I’ll just be ostracized by my family and everyone in the clubhouse. I’m sick of putting up this facade.”
Sliger paused for a moment as he gathered his thoughts.
“You know what I think is bullshit, Wendell? The same bastards who tell me to man up and to pay no mind to my emotions are the ones who don’t have enough balls to admit that they’re going through hard times too. As a matter of fact, I think being brave enough to air out my frustrations is exactly what would make me a man. I’m not playing that game anymore. I want to have relationships that mean something, and my old way of going about business certainly hasn’t worked in that regard.”
Mr. Harrington was moved by the passion in Sliger’s voice. He could tell that Sliger’s speech was a long time coming.
“I have won the attention of all the women I could ever dream of. So how come I haven’t been able to make a partner out of any of them?”
Sliger buried his head into his hands and continued, “I feel like my life is a sham. Do these women like me or do they like all the things that come with me? Because my bet is on the latter. I’m sick of it all, Wendell. What do you suggest I do?”
Overwhelmed by the urgency in Sliger’s voice, Mr. Harrington took a moment to consider the best solution to his problem.
“I take it that you meet all these women at parties, correct?”
“That’s correct,” Randy muttered in response.
“Very well then. Randy, I’m going to suggest you go on a day trip. Take the trolley from Pittsburgh out to Bethel Park. They don’t concern themselves much with baseball out there. It’ll be nothing like what you deal with here in Pittsburgh. You’ll be just like any other Average Joe out there.”
Randy was intrigued by Mr. Harrington’s suggestion, and so he pressed for further details.
“There’s a fantastic annual farmer’s market in Bethel Park that opens tomorrow and runs through the end of the week. It’s where I ended up meeting my wife several years back, so perhaps you’ll have similar luck. It’s a perfect social setting for you to get the opportunity to meet some new people, and who knows, maybe you’ll find a woman who piques your interest.”
Sliger was encouraged by the productivity of his meeting with Mr. Harrington. He felt more inspired than ever to set out and make meaningful connections. Sliger earnestly thanked Mr. Harrington for his help before he retrieved his bowler hat and headed for the door.
As Sliger exited Mr. Harrington’s home, he heard Mr. Harrington call after him – “There’s a trolley set for Bethel Park that leaves at 11 AM tomorrow! Don’t be late!”
Sliger took a deep breath and smiled. At last, he was finally ready to break the cycle that had been troubling him for years. The most popular, most sought after man in Pittsburgh didn’t want to be lonely anymore.
Little did poor Randy Sliger know that the woman he would soon meet would cause dozens more problems than the ones she would solve.