Friday, July 07, 2006

A chat over Cheetos.

Last week I sat next to a cute girl on the train on my way home from work. She had brown hair and white sneakers and was eating from a small bag of Flaming Hot Cheetos. I really wanted to talk to her, but I’ve never been a brave boy. I have a hard enough time starting up a conversation with someone I know, let alone a complete stranger. A complete cute stranger.

I wondered if there was possibly a way I could introduce myself in a way that would pique her interest enough for her to actually want to have a conversation with me. I came up with an idea in my head:

I would smile at her and say hi and politely ask her if I could have one of her Cheetos. She would look back with an odd and slightly amused look at the unusualness of the request. I’d tell her that I was extremely busy at work that day and hadn’t managed to eat a bit of lunch and just a single flaming cheese crunch would surely tide me over until I got home. Then I’d give her the puppy-eyed look and a little “Please?” She’d smile at me and offer me the bag, and I’d reach in and grab a single little piece. I’d nibble it down and thank her for her generosity. I’d tell her my name and she’d tell me hers and we’d talk all the way to my stop.

I went over it in my head again and again. I really thought it might just work. I built up my confidence and finally convinced myself I could do it. Finally, I looked over to her to give it my all just as she finished off her last Cheeto, folded up the bag, and put in in her backpack.

I was completely depressed all the way home, sitting there wishing I could have talked to her. And hungry for a Cheeto.