Arthur Brimpton Ceases to Be Friendly
Arthur Brimpton generally was regarded, by all who happened to know him, as being a friendly person. Arthur had a general manner that was unfailingly pleasant. He offered a sunny disposition, always kind and always cheerful and always helpful, to everyone that he encountered. It frequently was said of him, "Arthur Brimpton is, without the slightest doubt, an exceedingly friendly person." All those who had the good fortune to engage in any sort of dealings with Arthur Brimpton commonly referred to him, in full earnestness, as "the friendliest person in the world."
What no one knew, or had even suspected, was that Arthur Brimpton was only pretending to be a friendly person. Arthur actually was not particularly friendly at all, but he was highly skilled at giving the appearance of being friendly. In his private moments, when he was completely alone and did not feel compelled to maintain his usual front, he tended to be quite unfriendly.
Arthur Brimpton continued with his practice of feigning friendliness for several decades, until finally, when he was checking out a book from the local library (a hardcover edition of How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, a book that Arthur had checked out a number of times in the past), he started to break down under the lifelong strain of his own deliberate falseness. As the librarian, Mrs. Edith Grundler, smiled and courteously handed the book to Arthur, he glowered at her and roughly handed it back, loudly saying that he had no intention of reading such unmitigated rubbish.
"I wonder what is wrong with Mr. Brimpton," Mrs. Grundler said, as Arthur turned on his heel and stamped away, exhibiting unmistakable signs of having fallen into a distinctly ill-humored mood. "He's usually such a friendly person."
Arthur Brimpton had ceased to be friendly. After years of being known as "the friendliest person in the world," he soon became known as "the least friendly person in the world." Arthur found, however, that while abandoning the pretense of constant friendliness had rendered him an outcast in the eyes of those who knew him, it also had caused him to be less false, more honest, and much happier.
What no one knew, or had even suspected, was that Arthur Brimpton was only pretending to be a friendly person. Arthur actually was not particularly friendly at all, but he was highly skilled at giving the appearance of being friendly. In his private moments, when he was completely alone and did not feel compelled to maintain his usual front, he tended to be quite unfriendly.
Arthur Brimpton continued with his practice of feigning friendliness for several decades, until finally, when he was checking out a book from the local library (a hardcover edition of How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, a book that Arthur had checked out a number of times in the past), he started to break down under the lifelong strain of his own deliberate falseness. As the librarian, Mrs. Edith Grundler, smiled and courteously handed the book to Arthur, he glowered at her and roughly handed it back, loudly saying that he had no intention of reading such unmitigated rubbish.
"I wonder what is wrong with Mr. Brimpton," Mrs. Grundler said, as Arthur turned on his heel and stamped away, exhibiting unmistakable signs of having fallen into a distinctly ill-humored mood. "He's usually such a friendly person."
Arthur Brimpton had ceased to be friendly. After years of being known as "the friendliest person in the world," he soon became known as "the least friendly person in the world." Arthur found, however, that while abandoning the pretense of constant friendliness had rendered him an outcast in the eyes of those who knew him, it also had caused him to be less false, more honest, and much happier.