I took the car in for an oil change today, armed with a book and prepared for a stint on their waiting area couch. But apparently book-reading customers are a rarity, because I got some interesting inquiries today:
Man 1: “What are you reading?”
Erin: “The Rhetoric of Fiction.” For once I wasn’t reading a novel, so I left it at that, rather than get into a discussion about how narratology fits into modern discussions of literary theory.
Man 1: “You know, fiction is more real than nonfiction. That stuff Plato says about experience being not trustworthy. So fiction is the real thing.”
Satisfied with his conclusions, he walked away. I was just glad he didn’t ask for my opinion on the matter.
* * *
Man 2: “What are you reading? The Bible?”
Erin: “Nope.”
So many thoughts went through my head at that one. Why did he expect me to be reading the Bible? Just as an FYI, it wasn’t a Bible-resembling book I was reading. What would he have said if I’d said “Yes”?
* * *
Woman 1: “Do you want the light on?”
Erin: “No thanks.”
Woman: “Alrighty.”
Alan Schmierer