The antecdote that is an antedote.

So, here's a little antecdote that inspired me today.

A man, very well-built, and about thirty walks up to the counter where he works, and greets a young lady who has entered his place of business.

He asks her if he can help her with anything, and when she answers, he proceeds to have his employee help her. The employee walks the girl around, showing her all of the interesting possibilities, and she answers that she is interested.

Now, upon returning to the man, she notices his antsiness and eagerness to help. She realizes that its because its his job. But, as she proceeds to get honest, the man warms up, like they had a tendancy to do with her. She eventually leads into her life story, not looking for pity, and only looking to inform the populace as to her reasoning.

Upon giving a very general statement as to the tragedy in her life, he looks down at his paperwork lying in front of him. She notices his attempts to divert her eyes. He tries to blink and act cool, calm and collected. He continues to stare down, and when he thinks that it's safe to look up into her eyes, and that his eyes have evacuated, she can see right through his attempts. He then lowers his voice and demeanor to talk to her on a real level and reveals his appreciation for life and his thoughts on the sacredness. She knows that his bold faced and unshakable demeanor have broken to reveal a deeper and more meaningful person.

She, in an attempt to lull him in his time of revelation, reaches over and pats the desk next to him, as to say, its going to be ok.

He looks up, grateful, and continues on with business.

As the business concludes, he looks up and claims, "I love your personality. It was really nice to meet you." She then returns the response by saying, " Yeah, you too." The casual psuedo-mutual response was met with such great devoid of insincerity that she, for the first time in a long time, felt as if someone had actually appreciated her for her personality, and not because she had such great powers of persuasion when it came to the opposite sex.

She, for the first time in as long as she could remember, felt truly seen.

She stood up, and at the moment of a gesture of conclusion of business: the handshake, time stopped. They locked eyes. Uncomfortable with the presense of sensitivity, he cleared his throat, and proceeded, "it was nice doing business with you."

She smiled and said, "Yeah, you too."