The calm before the storm

A couple friends walked into the dining room last night in the midst of a conversation centered on the question of, “Am I approachable?” Laying down my Sunday paper and making eye contact with these two friends I immediately had the question lying on my lap. Trying to sound breezy and not at all nervous I let the question sink in. Since these two friends were females I soon became scared for my life. The intent of my sitting at their table reading a Sunday paper was to kill time till my free dinner was cooked and served. Would I be kicked out if I answered that honestly? Was there a good way to let one friend down and say “No!” while I stroked the other friends ego by saying, “Yes?” As these two girls sat on a weight scale in my mind I kept trying to find a way to make them sit evenly on the scale of approachableness. With all this going on in my head, images of a cold night ordering fast food in the drive thru lane were popping up if I were to answer this honestly.

I battled a few scenarios in my head (if only I had a dime each time I end up doing this act) till I eventually caved in and shared my honest answer. I’ve been told I’m a bit too honest with people so why stop hiding it tonight at this table? Plus I could easily hold up the Sunday paper classifieds if any objects were thrown my way. I stumbled my way thru a perfectly planned course of words letting them know that one friend was very approachable, while the other was less approachable due to her unassuming blank-thought stares and reputation for being a transplant and not a true Okie.

At this moment another guy stepped into the house only to be thrown the same question, by me this time. In blunt action he quickly elevated the two girls ego’s before instantaneously shooting me down with a direct, “not at all.” It was half expected from him to be honest, so no hurt feelings. Following this guy, two more females walked into the kitchen and were caught up to date on the story before they had even loosened their scarves and coats. They were asked the same question. This time I got a “well…um…ya…but you didn’t ever talk to me the first few times I met you.” Still, my cold heart wasn't broken (whew!).

It was a pathetic act...me trying to come up with a rebound but my mind was blank. I wasn't offended at all but still I couldn't place my finger on any one thing or situation that could have caused such ill feelings. I mean come on, I'm a lifetime member, card-carrying geek.