Excerpt from Looking for Talent
By Baramee Chindavong '05

“Do you like Jeremy?”
“Yeah, I like him. He’s a really nice guy.”
“No, we mean…do you LIKE him?”

“Kate?”
“Umm, I guess I do…a little.”

I can’t believe I just told them I liked Jeremy. They’re like total strangers to me. Worse, they’re friends with Jeremy. Oh, I really, REALLY hope they don’t tell him I just said that. I don’t want him to know.

“We were wondering…”
“Oh, he doesn’t know though…does he?”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“You won’t tell him, will you?”
“No, we won’t.”
“Kate, you should just give him a chance.”
“I don’t know. It’d just be bad and really awkward if it didn’t work out.”
“How do you know it wont’ work out if you don’t give it a shot?”
“I suppose I could, but…I just don’t know.”
“Come on, Kate.”
“It’s just that I have my policy in place for a reason. I can’t just make an exception for Jeremy. What’s so funny?”
“I still can’t get over the fact that you call him Jeremy; it’s so cute.”
“You could make this one exception, just for J. Really, how often does a guy like him come around?”
“Besides, he REALLY likes you.”
“I…I just don’t know guys.”

The three of them sat in silence as they watched the rest of the game. Kate couldn’t help but watch Jeremy as he became animated while coaching him team. Her head was beginning to spin around the idea that Kaye proposed. Jeremy would often glance over at the stands only to catch Kate watching him. He wondered what she could be thinking.

He likes me. He really, REALLY likes me. That’s the best news I’ve had all week. The big question is, should I give him a chance? Should he be the exception? Who know, five years down the road we could be in a house with kids of our own if it really does work out. How great would that be? I don’t know if I can make him the exception though….it wouldn’t be fair to all the other guys that have asked. Although, he really hasn’t asked yet and the majority of those guys were shallow. Jeremy’s a genuine guy. He’s a perfect gentleman and everything. He’s so sweet too. So maybe I should give him a chance…I don’t know. Even if I do maybe decide to give him a chance, I still wouldn’t make the first move. I…just can’t; I won’t.
Hey look, Andrew scored a goal. Kids are so cute. Our kids would definitely play soccer. Their dad would be their coach…he’s pretty good. We’d have ourselves a nice little soccer family. Like it is EVER going to happen though. I’ve forgotten how much I love soccer. I love watching kids play. They are just so adorable.

Baramee Chindavong '05 is a business administration major at Wartburg College.