October 25, 2013

• Diamond Mine

  It was a crowded DC bar. My friends and I were sharing a beer after a long day of collaboration on an educational program. A tall waiter wearing a black shirt and pants contrasted with a bright white, floor-length apron went by us.

  “Oh my!” I said.

  “You interested?” a man said to me with his amused eyes looking at me over the top of his beer glass.

  It took me a second, but I realized that the man thought I was talking about the handsome waiter.

  “I’m interested in a tray of oysters like that,” I said.

  He moved over to join us and the majority of my group took off. “Early flight!” they said as they left responsibly. Of course I had an early flight too, but suddenly I had a handsome man with gorgeous eyes who wanted to split a tray of oysters with me and buy me a beer.

  He works for a human rights organization. Specifically he was working on the problem of diamond harvesting in Africa. He explained that he was getting ready to leave for a trip to write regulations for diamond buyers. We got into an argument about the efficacy of this and the ultimate problem with buying diamonds. Our twinkly eyes and smirky mouths cut the others in the group out and soon it was just me with an early flight and him with an early meeting. I suggested a trip to the monuments at night, which he discarded as touristy, but frankly he ended up enjoying himself. We agreed that the Korean War Memorial is at its best at night (super creepy). He told me I was beautiful. We walked slowly as early morning came and it was truly ridiculous for the two of us to still be up. He offered me a job and we exchanged cards.

  I got back to Nebraska and had a very sweet email from him that included a Jack Kerouac poem.

  Seriously, who needs a goddamn diamond.

  • 7:31 pm
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