Insect Politics

Chapter 2

"Another one bites the dust." Caleb said as he plopped lazily into his chair at the security desk.

"Rough weekend?" Imani asked.

"Another one of my pathetic dates you like to laugh at." Caleb replied laughing.

"Oh I never get tired of these stories! Let me get my chips!" Imani said with glee as she reached into her bag.

"Ha ha very funny. This date actually started really well, but then things went to hell pretty quick." Caleb said.

"Well how did things go to hell?" Imani asked.

"Like I said before: the date was going really well. It seemed like we had real chemistry. She had a good sense of humor. She laughed at my jokes-" Caleb answered.

"So how'd you screw it up? Did you break a chair over a baby's head?" Imani interrupted.

"No. She said she had to go to the bathroom and I said fine. Then a few seconds later I was overwhelmed with a monstrous urge to pee, so I ran to the bathroom. On my way back from the men's room I saw her talking on the phone with her friend near the ladie's room, and I couldn't help but overhear her conversation-" Caleb continued.

"Uh oh. Let me guess? Female pattern baldness?" Imani interrupted again.

"Do you want to hear what happened or not?" Caleb said.

"Ok ok my bad. Please continue." Imani said.

"At first it was good. She was telling her friend that I was cute and funny, but...I was too short. She said she could never date a guy as short as me, and she would probably ghost me after our date." Caleb said.

"Short? You? What are you? Like five eight?" Imani said.

"Five nine." Caleb said.

"So what'd you do then?" Imani asked.

"What could I do? I finished my meal and left." Caleb said.

"Didn't you confront her?" Imani asked.

"And say what? While I was spying on your private conversation like a stalker I couldn't help but notice you don't want to date a short guy? How dare you?" Caleb replied.

"You're not short though." Imani said.

"To a girl: anything below six feet is short. Haven't you ever heard that?" Caleb asked.

"Not really. I don't care how tall a man is as long as he can dance." Imani said and winked.

Caleb laughed and looked down at the floor noticaebly bothered.

"I was...very attracted to her...I liked her. Sometimes I just wish I knew why girls were so hung up on height." Caleb said.

"I honestly don't know. How tall was she?" Imani asked.

"She wasn't any taller than you. Around five two or five three." Caleb said.

"She was that short and she thought you weren't tall enough? You're practically a giant to her." Imani asked.

"I guess I'm not giant enough." Caleb said.

"I honestly don't know what to tell you. Maybe it's a genetic thing. Maybe it has to do with...evolution. A tiny woman doesn't want to date a tiny man for fear of her children being...hobbits." Imani said.

"Interesting theory." Caleb said and laughed.

Just then a woman approached the desk. Caleb and Imani were immediately stunned by her presence for two reasons. One: she was incredibly beautiful, and two: she was incredibly tall. Six foot two at least. Caleb couldn't help but stare. Normally Imani would smack him for doing so, but she couldn't help staring herself. She was stunning to behold. From her porcelain like skin to her golden blond hair she was a specimen of physical perfection.