Such behavior is essentially a lack of courtesy, and it can really keep you from enjoying each other. Often one or more of these breaches of etiquette can lose you a second date with your escort.

Courtesy Is More Than Manners

It may seem out of place to bring up courtesy here. You may feel that, of course, you are naturally courteous to all your acquaintances. But it might be a good idea to take stock of yourself to see just how courteous you really are. Mary, when was the last time you thanked your date as he held the door for you? John, when was the last time you helped your date out of the car instead of leaving her to fend for herself? Do you always remember to thank your date’s parents for “that wonderful dinner”? How often do you tell your date how much you enjoyed the evening? All of these things are just common courtesy. It seems, however, that the more we date a particular person, the more we take him or her for granted.

A fellow may say to himself, “Of course I enjoyed the date; she knows that.” Yet think how good it would make her feel if he told her once in a while. How much more her parents would think of him if the boy stuck his head in the door and told them how much he enjoyed the evening. Such courtesies go a long way toward making a boy a good date and a pleasant companion.

Sincerity Is Honesty

Some boys seem to be naturally courteous. They’re quite suave about giving a girl the impression that they are genuinely interested in her. Some girls fall easily for a fellow’s line. They like to hear that they’re beautiful, wonderful, and first in his heart. If a fellow is genuinely friendly and likes agirl, he doesn’t need a “line” to make her believe it. He can show her in his manner that he likes her. Many girls are leery of boys who “pour it on.” They steer clear of boys who tell all the girls the same thing.

Kidding, punning, flattering, and teasing all are fun on a date when both the fellow and the girl recognize what game it is they are playing, and when they mutually enjoy it. When it is exploitive or one-sided, usually one person is being amused at the expense of the other.

Sincerity is an attractive quality. If you feel your date hitting close to home when she says, “I’ll bet you tell that to all the girls,” now is the time to reconsider. In feeding a line you’re not only “buttering up” the girl, you’re not being honest with yourself. Girls also want to be careful to say what they mean, and mean what they say. If you are dishonest about one thing, your date may get the feeling that you can’t be trusted at all. But if you are sincere in what you tell your date, your whole relationship will be on a higher plane.

Being Yourself

Girls are sometimes accused of putting on an act when they’re out on a date. Boys are not favorably impressed when a girl tries to act sophisticated or put on airs. Neither are girls pleased by boys who strut and brag and pretend to be more than they are.

We often feel the need to put on airs because we’re unsure of ourselves. If we act naturally, we may find that people like us as we are, and our feelings of inferiority will diminish.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, whoever you are, try to relax and be yourself. Your richest satisfaction comes when you realize that your date and others accept you as you really are.