Its the Other Way Around

The fact that the man had spotted skin was surely the product of a recessive gene not seen among the Posneri for generations.  But unlike humans, the Posneri find differences in color more interesting than disturbing.

As a boy, the man had been active and strong, but not to an extraordinary degree.   His most remarkable feature was his sudden moods of thoughtfulness.  These had worried his mother, so she consulted the counsel Elders.

"Well," said the Elder, his joints gnarled by age, "Some men are thoughtful by nature.  They have to be if they are going to survive in space with no women around to do their thinking."  "Maybe he'll become a scientist."

This seemed to appease his mother, who gave the matter no further serious thought--even when she caught the boy spending hours watching fish in a stream or the horned toads in sage brush.

But as the years went by the man did not show any particular inclination toward science, and could not bear to be separated from the company of women.  He spent his ever expanding free time in the company of the Blenari, and his best friend was Ashani.  Ashani often liked to tease him as such:

"With most men, listening to them is easier than screwing them, but with you I think its the other way around."

"Is that meant to be an insult?", the man asked.

"No silly, it just means you are different.  And I'm not talking about you spots.  But since you are obviously sensitive to the subject, how would you like to spend your remaining quint with me?"

"Just talking, Ashani."  "It makes me feel like I have a connection with you.  And I'm not sensitive to that or any other subject.   Thoughts come and go   We only seek connections which last."

"Funny," she retorted.  "I thought only men come and go.  So you seek only connections which last, huh?  Should we put that on your tombstone?"

"No," said the man, and then becoming thoughtful again, "Why don't you just write something like:  He had his moments.  That about sums it up."

Another ride to the winery at new Berlin.  The basketball season is unending, and I'm not even playing.  I put 1000 miles on my car last week, Chicago, Marion, Salem.