“The thing is…well…it has quite a strong innuendo in it.  I don’t want to go ahead with the idea if I’m not going to be able to present it.”  I was delaying the inevitable.  She’d still want to hear the idea…I could tell from the curious look on her face.  She told me to continue with my idea and said that she’d ask Dr. Richardson if it would be appropriate.  “It’s kind of based off of the cliché that sex sells.”  She nodded.  “Well, start with a hot girl calling whom we would presume to be her boyfriend.  She asks her boyfriend ‘Wanna go for a ride?’ in a seductive voice.  She would then show up on her bike in a helmet and knock on her boyfriend’s door.  He would arrive at the door stark naked, which could only show from the waist up of course.  She would look at him disgusted and drive away.”  She was blushing by the end of my spill.

“Well it certainly is creative.  I will ask Dr. Richardson what he thinks but he told me his only guidelines were that it had to actually be television appropriate which translates to no nudity or cursing.   Yours has neither so hopefully he will okay it.”

“I just don’t really know if I’d have the guts to present something like that to a class full of small town kids.”

“You may be underestimating your peers.  In fact, I am from L.A.”

“Really?  Me too.  Where did you go to school?”

“King High.  Class of ’06.”

“That’s really weird.”

“Why?  Do you know someone from there?”

“I went there…well…in a very broad sense.  I was enrolled there anyway.  That’s the year I graduated too.  Don’t be offended that I don’t recognize you.  I was never really there.”

“I’m not.  No one paid much attention to me.  I was always busy studying and wasn’t allowed to go out or do much.  That’s why I came up here.  I could stay away from my parents and get a little bit of freedom.  Obviously I’m still engaged in my studies to an abnormal extent.”

We heard a knock on the door signaling that the next person was there for their meeting.  Spencer quickly stood following me to the door.  “I’m sorry our meeting is getting cut short.  I will e-mail to let you know what Dr. Richardson says about your pitch.  I’m glad we’re getting to know each other and sort of reconnect, even though we never really knew each other.”

“Thank you, Spencer.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Sorry I’ve kept you.”  She gave me a quick smile and I hurried out the door and headed back home.  I went back to sleep, my next class not until 1 p.m.  When I awoke I picked up my laptop and checked my e-mail.  There was a new e-mail from Spencer which I quickly opened.

                Ashley,

I spoke to Dr. Richardson and he approved your pitch as long as there was no nudity or offensive language.  I think your project idea was very creative and funny and hopefully no one will take offense to it.  If you’d like to get together sometime, I’d be interested in getting to know you better; if not I’ll see you in our meeting on Monday morning, bright and early.  I’ll bring the coffee next time.

Spencer

I smiled, glad that she had shown an interest in getting to know me and that my appearance had not altogether pushed her away.  I had a strange desire for her to like me despite our being so different.  I hit ‘Reply’ and e-mailed back.

            Spencer,

I would love to get together sometime.  Let me know what, where, and when and I’ll see you then.

           Ashley