Honesty Is Always the Best Policy?

Honesty is always the best policy. At least, that's what Tyler Schuyler has decided. After breaking up with his girlfriend, Mindy Cooper, Tyler has come to the conclusion that the truth shall set him free and has embarked on a journey of telling everyone he knows the plain, unvarnished truth. 

"Tyler! What are you doing here?" Mindy asked. She was in the laundromat doing her weekly wash when her ex-boyfriend suddenly appeared.

"I hear you broke up with the old man," Tyler said. "Is it true?"

"Yes, it is."

"Why?"

Mindy looked uncomfortable. "I really don't see how that's any of your business, Tyler, but if you must know I realized that I didn't want to be Mrs. Bernard Morton."

"Why not? Bernie is rich, good looking in a sleazy kind of way--there must have been something he had for you to dump me for him."

"You know, I really don't like talking about my personal life with you, Tyler." Mindy glanced around and saw that they were alone in the laundromat.

"For a long time, your personal life and my personal life were one and the same. I think why you broke up with the guy you dumped me for is totally my business."

Mindy got to her feet and checked to see if her clothes were dry. "Well, I don't. As a matter of fact, I don't think that anything I do any of your business, Tyler, and I'd appreciate it if you'd leave."

"I'm sure you would." Tyler replied. "Did you know that those jeans you have on make you look fat? Your butt looks as big as the side of a barn."

"Tyler! What is wrong with you?"

Tyler laughed. "It's my new take on life. I'm telling the truth from now on. It's been very freeing."

"Is that why you're stalking me? So you can tell me how fat I look?"

"No, telling you how fat you look is an added bonus. And I'm not stalking you. I was walking down the street, saw you sitting in here reading that trashy magazine and thought I'd say hello."

"Hello. And good-bye."

The door of the laundromat opened, letting Claudine in. "Oh, perfect," Mindy muttered. "All I need is for your mother to come in and my day will be complete."

"There you are, Tyler! I've been looking all over Schuyler Square for you." Claudine ignored Mindy. "I'm taking you to lunch, remember?"

"I don't want to go to lunch with you."

"Don't be silly. We're eating at that new restaurant down the street. Then we're going to the revival house to see Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? It's going to be a fabulous afternoon."

"I'd rather eat dirt."

"You're so funny,  Tyler. Now come with me. It's all my treat."

The laundromat door opened again and Mindy cringed when she saw Tiffany and Rex walk in. She hadn't seen Tiffany since the Fat Off debacle. "Claudine! Tyler! Let's go--we're starving!" Rex said.

"I can't wait to see this movie," Tiffany added. "Bette Davis reminds me exactly of Aunt Mavis when she's being so nasty to Joan Crawford."

"I don't want to go," Tyler insisted. "I'm talking to Mindy. Would you all please just go away?"

Rex and Tiffany glanced in Mindy's direction but didn't acknowledge her. Mindy was getting used to it.

"No, we won't go away," Claudine said, taking Tyler firmly by the arm. "You may not want to be with us but we want to be with you."

Tyler seemed to weaken. Without another word he allowed Claudine to propel him out of the laundromat. Before the door shut behind him, he shouted back to Mindy, "Buy some new jeans in a bigger size! Then you won't look like the back of a bus!"

Mindy's laundry was dry. Pulling it out, she began to fold it when the door of the laundromat opened once again. In walked Peter Van Husen hauling a laundry bag of his own.