The Monthly Chronic-les of Life
Chapter 5: Friday Night Showdown and MANipulative Games
October 11th: Youngstown, Ohio
Friday Night Football was sacred in Youngstown, but tonight was different. Paul Shellback stood on the sidelines, watching the powerhouse team from Philadelphia dominate the field. His back throbbed, and despite the intensity of the game, he couldn’t shake thoughts of Florida—and Christy. She had been on his mind all day, which wasn’t ideal when facing one of the toughest teams in the region.
Before the game, Paul had doubled up on his Delta-9 Spectrum + THC Gummies—Mango Passion to calm his nerves and ease the stress of the big game. The sweet, tropical flavor transported him briefly to sunny Florida, where Christy’s laughter echoed in his memory. Between that and a dropper of Steel Valley Hemp Full Spectrum Tincture Oil, Paul found a moment of calm. But once the whistle blew, it was all business.
Philadelphia's team moved like a freight train. Paul’s players fought hard, but by halftime, the scoreboard reflected a harsh reality: 48-12. It was a thrashing, but Paul couldn’t be too mad. His boys had played their hearts out against future college stars.
After the game, with back pain still nagging, Paul headed home, lit up a Chemdog pre-roll delivered straight to his door from Tri-Healthy, and flopped onto the couch. Weed at the doorstep—how great is that? He exhaled, letting the familiar earthy smoke settle his nerves. But even Chemdog’s calming effects couldn’t stop his mind from drifting back to Christy. Sweetest Day was coming up, and she’d been dropping hints all week.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Christy sat with Lisa at their favorite beachside café. The sun set in shades of orange and pink over the water, but Christy’s thoughts were miles away—in Ohio, with Paul.
“Lisa, he’s impossible!” Christy whined, sipping her iced latte. “He’s talking about spending all weekend watching football. Sweetest Day is this weekend! How does he not get it?”
Lisa laughed, nearly spitting out her drink. “Christy, girl, I don’t know what you expected. This is Paul we’re talking about—the same Paul who once spent 72 hours watching NFL highlights instead of coming to our mom’s birthday dinner. The man has tunnel vision, and at the end of that tunnel? Football.”
Christy rolled her eyes dramatically. “But it’s Sweetest Day, Lisa! He’s supposed to be, I don’t know... romantic!”
“Romantic? Paul?” Lisa snorted. “This is the same guy who thinks buying you nachos at a football game counts as ‘date night.’ He probably thinks ‘sweet’ means getting you a foam finger in your favorite team’s colors.”
Christy groaned, throwing her hands in the air. “I swear, sometimes it’s like I’m dating a toddler. I have to guide him through every single romantic gesture! It’s like, should I give him a map to my heart, or maybe just a playbook? ‘Run this route, Paul, and maybe you’ll score points!’”
Lisa grinned. “Honestly? You probably should. Men need direct routes. You’ve got to play the game. Start small, make him think it’s his idea. Use a little MANipulation.”
Christy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “MANipulation? Do tell.”
Lisa leaned in conspiratorially. “Here’s what you do. First, make him feel a little guilty—but don’t go overboard. Plant the idea that he’s the one messing up. Then, make him think he’s got a way to fix it. Men love feeling like they’re solving a problem. Finally, give him a reward—a little praise, some affection. Stroke that fragile male ego just enough, and boom—you’ve got him wrapped around your finger.”
Christy chuckled, sipping her latte. “So, like... ‘Oh Paul, I’m just so sad that you’re spending all weekend watching football instead of with me. I guess I’ll just hang out here all alone…’ And then what? Wait for him to swoop in with a grand romantic gesture?”
Lisa’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Exactly. Be subtle. Let the guilt simmer. He’ll start feeling bad on his own, and when he does, you’ve got to pretend like you don’t care. That’s when they panic. Suddenly, he’s booking flights, making dinner reservations, and coming up with surprises. Trust me, you’ll be celebrating Sweetest Day in style.”
Christy laughed, nodding slowly. “Okay, okay. I see where you’re going with this. So, play it cool, act a little sad, and then sit back while he scrambles to make it right. I like it.”
Lisa grinned. “It’s foolproof. Men are simple creatures. They just need a little... direction. And by direction, I mean a gentle nudge off the couch and into the real world.”
Christy giggled. “You know, Paul isn’t as clueless as we make him out to be. I think he’s planning something for Sweetest Day. He’s been acting suspiciously calm.”
Lisa laughed. “Oh, definitely. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun with him first. Just keep planting seeds. A few well-placed sighs, maybe mention how your weekend is ‘so open’... trust me, he’ll be flying to Florida before you know it.”
Christy’s eyes lit up, a sly smile spreading across her face. “Oh, I can definitely do that. You know, he already bought me some vape thing to ‘chill out’ during his football marathon. I guess he thought it was funny.”
Lisa burst out laughing. “Oh my god, the ‘Ekto Cooler’! What is he, 12? I bet he bought it because it sounds like something out of Ghostbusters.”
Christy grinned. “Yeah, I love that dork. Even if football is his first love, I’ll let him think he’s winning this one... for now.”
Back in Ohio, Paul was already one step ahead. He’d booked a flight for Friday night, right after his game, and planned to surprise Christy in Florida for Sweetest Day. Sure, he’d miss part of the football weekend, but for Christy? Totally worth it. His plan was simple but effective: romantic dinner, flowers, and a beachside stroll in Venice. He could already picture her face when he knocked on her door with roses in hand.
But for now, he played along, pretending to be oblivious. He sent Christy a quick text while inhaling from his Chemdog pre-roll:
“Babe, I know you love Sweetest Day, but Texas vs. Georgia and Bama vs. Tennessee... I mean, it’s a football weekend of epic proportions. I’ll try not to get too distracted. 😘”
Her response came almost immediately:
“Oh, sure. You just focus on your precious football. I’ll be... here. Alone. No big deal. 🥺”
Paul grinned. Christy was good at this game—almost too good. Little did she know, he’d already planned to sweep her off her feet come Sweetest Day.
Guiding Questions:
- How will Christy’s playful “MANipulative” approach unfold, and will Paul catch on to her subtle guilt trips?
- Will Paul’s Sweetest Day surprise make up for all his football teasing, or will Christy have more tricks up her sleeve?
- How will Lisa’s influence on Christy change the dynamics between the couples as the football season continues?