“
When's your birthday?" I asked.
"The twentieth of April."
"A Taurus."
"A what?" she asked.
"Astrology. Do you follow it?"
"Not only do I not follow it, I've never even heard of it."
I paused, wondering if the girl was kidding, but I didn't detect a note of sarcasm in her voice.
"I'm from Milwaukee- we don't believe things like that there, either. It's all hocus-pocus if you ask me."
"Milwaukee's in Wisconsin. Wisconsin's capital is Madison. Its state bird is the robin and it's known as the Dairy State because it produces more cheese and milk than any other state," she said, as if reading from a teleprompter. "This thing called astrology- what is it exactly?"
"That's a good question," I said. "It has something to do with the stars. I've never really understood it, either."
"You mean astronomy, then?"
"No, they're two different things- astrology and astronomy."
"So what are you in astrology terms?"
"A Scorpio."
"A scorpion. In other words, you're an eight-legged, venomous creature to be wary of?"
Her tone was deadpan.
"No poison here, just a nice guy from Milwaukee."
She let out a jovial laugh.
She was a curious creature, and I was intrigued. Her manner of speech was officious and old-fashioned. She was interested and reserved, insecure and confident, coy and bold. She was unlike anyone I had ever met.
”
”