12/3/12

I Wonder What He's Thinking
By Michael Plesset


I wonder what he’s thinking. I wish I could read his mind, or if he could read mine, but I only have tiny clues, which may just be my imagination. Was that quick smile for me, or just a good mood, or maybe a joke he just read in an e-mail.

So much depends upon luck, like being the only two in an elevator, could happen this week, or never. But I make up too much fantasy, about people that I don’t really know. I build elaborate imaginary stories, and have to adjust back to reality when I actually talk to the person.

You can’t help judging people by how they look, even though that’s way down the list of things that matter in a relationship. But maybe there is information there, there must be some reason we’re attracted to some people and not others. I wonder what he thinks about me.

Well, luck is always a big part of things, and today five of us in the office were planning to go to lunch, then three of them got called into a meeting, leaving just me and him. He looked at me and asked “Still want to go?”

“Sure” I said.

So all of a sudden we were alone for the first time. I put away all the fantasies I had dreamed up about him and had a real conversation. It was very relaxed, until he suddenly said “I really hope this isn’t inappropriate or too personal, but can I ask, are you a lesbian?”

“What?!” I said, completely caught by surprise. “What makes you think so?”

“Well, I noticed one day you went to lunch with a woman that came to the office, and you had your arm around her. And I remember you went to a women’s college, I’m not judging at all if you are, I just wondered.”

“Well, that woman is my sister, we hadn’t seen each other for two years. And the school used to be all women, but it’s been co-ed for 20 years.”

I guess I seemed offended, and he said “Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Honestly I’ve always thought you’re very attractive but I’ve been afraid to approach you because I was worried about that. You can’t tell what’s in other people’s minds, and try to guess from little clues.”

I just smiled, touched his hand, and said “That’s ok, I understand.”


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Michael Plesset has published poetry, flash fiction, short stories, non-fiction, and wrote material for a stand-up comedian. He did graduate work in mathematics and philosophy, and also attended seminary at one time. He worked in high technology and has taught English to Chinese students.