For some time, he is not even a person, just a novelty. There is often a shuffling of position when word of his arrival is announced. Word gets around faster than he himself might, at least in a small town where social circles are limited.
‘New Guy’ is interchangeable with ‘New Girl’. Either way, it is ‘fresh meat’ for a rabid crowd. It becomes a predatory event: singles and the not-so-single start circling, planning their attack.
The hunting grounds are traditionally situated in bars and at parties where the perfect tools are at ready hand. Alcohol is the preferred choice, and helps both the hunter and the hunted to become better acquainted. It’s so easy to buy someone a drink; that one drink that enables conversation with a perfect stranger. It often leads that stranger to become a new friend or lover in just a few short hours.
But a word of advice for ‘New Guy’. First, welcome. Nice to meet you, and good luck. You’re going to need it.
You are going to be insanely popular. For about a month. Maybe a couple of months if you strategically plan your game. You will be able to date almost anyone in this small hellhole of a town, but there is an expiry date. When is it? Pretty much until the next ‘New Guy’ shows up. And then, you’re on your own. You’re actually going to have to work it if you still want to be popular. You’re going to have to search through those scrap pieces of paper with phone numbers that were thrown at you by the dozens a couple of weeks ago. You will have to initiate conversation, and eventually you will be the one to start buying other people drinks.
Don’t worry though. Hopefully, during the insanity of your arrival you’ve actually remembered a name or two. Shared some laughs. Had some fun.
Take them up on it. Give those people a call. And don’t lose hope. Eventually, someone new will wander into town. And they’ll get to go through what you just did. And you can look fondly back on the time when you were in that same position, and perhaps pass on a few words of advice, too.