Was it Worth It?

"That's why I just picked up my book and walked off." PAGE 129

Kathy just got up and walked away after a verbal altercation with Ruth. She saw Ruth's remarks as a betrayal, but did she react too quickly. I think she did and later so did she. Without considering Ruth's motivation, she just stormed off. I don't think walking away was the best decision to make, no matter what the reasoning. Walking away would cause a major rift in their relationship, even if Kathy thought Ruth had broken their understood agreement. Technically it wasn't even a real agreement because it was never spoken in words. Anyway, Ruth may have been wrong to bring up something from the nightly discussions the two shared in secrecy, but Kathy kind of had it coming to her. Why would she have even brought up the Ruth was copying actions from television if she didn't want Ruth to get a little mad or upset. She could not have legitimately seen possible gain in it because it was aimed as a criticism. I don't know how she expected Ruth to react, she was basically calling Ruth a fake right to her face so Ruth had a right to defend herself. The best way to do it was probably not bashing Kathy right on the spot, but it was a defense mechanism for her. It accomplished something though; it got Kathy to stop talking about her being a fraud. Now the whole situation was handled immaturely, but Kathy should not have taken Ruth's comments so seriously when it was obvious she was just retaliating for Kathy's insult to her. The real issue is that there was no gain for either side so the fact that their relationship will most likely suffer from this particular encounter means that it was not worth it for either side to degrade the other because they need each other. After this, they may not be able to share each other's trust that was vital to their nightly talks. These talks kept their friendship alive so hopefully they can patch the holes they have created.