The Question

Leong (one of my roommates) squirms up to me at breakfast, in the cafeteria. “May I ask..,” she said, looking around like a secret agent getting ready to make a dead-drop, “what contraceptives do you use?” I thought this an odd question from someone who just broke up with her long-time boyfriend but, hey, I’m an open book. “Isolation and despair,” I replied, which got me an eye roll. “You’re never serious!” She admonishes me.