of
twisted effort to manipulate the development of their views. It's
all propaganda. Though if I were to tackle some of the problems I
see in this world, I'd start with something more pressing than
gender roles.
Support my claim? Bossy little lady aren't
you? The new? I am tolerant. I own an iPad. I am concerned about
the environment. Satisfied? (Though wind turbines all need knocking
down and hybrid cars need crushing).
I've had a colourful life. I am not the
person I used to be although fear is something that lingers. When
people have feared you, reputation is not something that is easily
amended. I am not mean-spirited. I try to do good for other people
in fact, without this endless quest for recognition that people
deny they want when they do charitable endeavours, yet they are
always there, lingering around the limelight.
There is an incurable darkness behind my
eyes, but I am its commander, not the other way around.
I am responsible for people and that
involves control. Because of my professional life, it means a lot
of control. Though that will all come to an end in two years. My
real aim is simplicity.
I'm not toning down my confidence, more how
I project it, because this medium we are using to communicate, even
though we are both skilled at using the pen, often leads to things
being misconstrued, especially when you are not well acquainted
with the recipient of your words.
Respect, loyalty, and honesty are the three
most important ethics in my life.
I don't think you'd dislike me for my
egomaniacal ways, perhaps other things.
I'm glad we stumbled upon each other,
Eden.
----------
From: Eden E
Date: Thu, Aug 2, at 3:45 PM
To: Adam -
Was I putting words in your mouth? All I
have are the words you give me, so I have to read into them. Or
should I just consume your words without question?
Incurable darkness. You do know how to get
me wondering. I'd ask you to explain but perhaps for next time.
It's past midnight in Sicily so I will let
you rest. That smoky after-dinner picture you painted for me is
blending into scenes from The Godfather.
Stumbled upon each other ... I don't know
quite what to make of all this. So I'll pretend I'm reading a book
and just keep turning the pages. Curiouser and curiouser.
Good night.
----------
From: Adam -
Date: Thu, Aug 2, at 3:48 PM
To: Eden E
I was pulling your leg. I enjoy your
opposition. It's intelligent.
OK, ask me to explain next time.
Il Padrino, a classic film, the only one I
know that was 100% true to the book.
It's certainly an unexpected page
turner.
Good night (standard definition).
p.s. If you keep sending me to bed, I'll
start calling you mother.
Did they just stumble upon one another, as
Adam claimed?
After work, Eden went home and pored over
their e-mails, word for word. She still couldn't believe he was
only 28. His tastes were too old-fashioned.
Was he as sexist as he seemed to be - calling
feminists "silly creatures" or was he just trying to bait her? Why
didn't it repel her as it should have?
Perhaps she was too flattered by the fact he
had been reading her blog entries. Her review of the book on
evolutionary psychology was from a month ago.
She can't deny that she was more than curious
about him. The day had passed so quickly, too quickly, while she
had been engrossed in their exchange. The more he revealed about
himself, the more fascinated she became.
She Googled images of Agrigento. There were
pictures of a sunny area, with lots of green fields, near the
sea.
She checked the time he said he was eating
dinner - with the time difference, around 9:00 p.m. It was the
appropriate time for dining in Southern Italy, as she recalled. The
sprinkling of Italian words and dishes, the reference to being on
an island seemed to indicate that he could be in