I stared at him from across the room. His eyes were the brightest I'd ever seen, his jet black hair hung in magnificent curls above his pale forehead. His dress was that of a jazz musician from the 1940's; slick black suit with a checkered vest and neon blue tie, and white on black golf shoes. He crossed his leg in an intellectual manner and peered into his copy of "Siddharta" with keen interest and an analyzing glare, while alternating the sipping of espresso with the turning of pages. He was in his own world, inside a bubble protecting himself from the sounds and commottion of the little backstreet coffee shop.

What was such a man doing, so snazzily dressed, in such a crummy place in Hick-town, USA? A place populated with 15,00 farmers, fisherman, welfare recipiants, and college students? His big-town air facsinated me, the twinkle in his eye enchanted me, and the ease of his manner thrilled me. I had to meet this man. But how would he respond to a 20-year-old girl, dressed in a crummy, blue, flannel shirt, hung messily over a green t-shirt and faded, baggy blue jeans? My hair was a mess and in the tradition of the college I attended, wore no make-up. But still, I had to foster up the courage to approach him. My stomach churned, my heart ached, and my mind raced.

I ordered another Bavarian Blitz to keep my mind brainstorming and decided to go back to reading "Steppenwolf." Then it occurred to me, we were both reading Hermann Hesse. Wasn't that something people usually used to strike up a conversation with? I stared at the pages, trying to script the sentences I would use when I finally approached him.

"Hi, you like Hesse too?" "Hey there, good book your reading there…" "Hi, would you like to marry me?" Opening sentences fluttered throughout my brain. I soon became discouraged and wondered if I should just give up on this man, who could quite likely be my soul mate. "Excuse me, I noticed you were reading Hesse too. Not many people read him, so I thought I might come over and maybe discuss him with you." Hey, that’s a pretty good line, I think I'll use that one… and then it occurred to me, those words had come from someone else and not from my own mind. More importantly, it was him! He loomed over me like an angel protecting his mortal. His smile was more elegant than his eyes and his confident stance. I stared at him for several seconds before realizing that those musical words were meant for me… he was waiting for my response. My response??? What would I say to such a creature, such a being? I had to be witty, intelligent! Whatever I said, had to give off a first impression that would certainly make him mine.

"Uh… sure…"

Go back to main page