Character clash

      To build a fire man and Miss Luella Bates Washington Jones

         After he got back from the treacherous trip up in the Yukon, the man had made up his mind to take some time off of camping in subzero weathers, not out of fear but simply to become acquainted with the lack of a ring finger on his right hand, and hairless patch of discolored skin on the left side if his face.
He took great pride in both, as they distinguished him as a man of great experience and harshness. He had returned back to New England, temporarily residing in Alma, New York; it had a population of 842. He stood in line at the local buffet, growling for the man ahead of him to proceed faster, he didn't have all day. Throwing three large spoonfuls of pulled pork onto his plate, he headed, eyes forward, towards the only open table in the corner of the crammed room. As he ate, his head down, he felt the table jolt. Looking up, he saw a large woman, her plate piled high with what seemed every food in the buffet. "Hello boy," the lady said to him. "I'm not a boy," he grumbled, slowing down his eating. "Oh, but you are, you're a boy if I ever seen one," she replied, her voice prompt and definite. He tried to get a word in but she continued, "you're not from around here, are you? Don't worry, neither am I, we could get to know each other. How long you in town?" "Not long," he replied, "and I sure don't wanna spend it with you."
         "Well, that's a shame," she said, getting up with a grunt. "I suppose I won't be seeing you around." He didn't look up. "I suppose," he said. As she left, he watched her leave, and wished that she would come back