When You Learn You Don’t Have It

Week 36

When You Learn You Don’t Have It

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            1    Think back to a time or two—not too far back—when you

                  came up short and were embarrassed.

            2.   Sometimes you don’t know that you’ve blown it, like this

                  young man, who wondered why the girl snubbed him

                  after his comment.

            3.   On the spot, or hit later, as when a friend shared that he  

                  showed ignorance about one of the greatest novels ever

                  written, it hurts.

            4.   When you know it right away, and the matter is serious,

                  the only answer is to admit your error then and there and

                  apologize.

            5.   If it’s a faux pas, find a way to be self-deprecating in a

                  light way and pledge acute awareness in all such future

                  occasions.

            6.   In all such events, the most important apology goes

                  to yourself. You’re human. Everybody feels out of his

                  depth sometimes.

            7.   Last, time heals. The event sinks to the bottom. You

                  learn, recover. Perhaps you read Dostoevsky and draw

                  your own conclusions

Dashed

The suit climbs aboard

the bus—packed—

among end-of-day

commuters,

elbow-to-elbow.

One spot left,

he lurches, grabs

the pull-down handle

firmly, settles,

takes a deep breath,

then sighs audibly,

triumphantly,

and sees more—

a pretty girl—

seated right before him,

engrossed in her book.

Maybe a date, he thinks,

at least a cup of coffee.

I’ll ride with her

to her stop, get off.

He launches, smiling:

Hey, that’s a thick book!

She looks up, nods,

tentative.

He asks, what’s its title?

She says Brothers Karamazov.

He counters,

Oh, is it any good?

© 2012 Allan Cox, Allan Cox & Associates Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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