Of course, smalltalk is always the hardest – not everyone cares
that the pink in Buenos Aires houses used to be cow blood. Or
that human tongues consist of sixteen muscles. Or that head lice
can neither jump nor fly. Or even that you are colorblind

in the same dichromatic way that squirrels are. Sometimes,
it comes back to the elephant parked on the leather couch
your girlfriend broke up with you about. You cannot chase
an elephant away, but pretending can help until it leaves

(it might never leave). Remember, the elephant has big ears.
It is probably eavesdropping, and angry elephants
make dangerous guests (they also cause arguments –
remember the six blind men who couldn’t decide?)

Besides, in all the times you’ve been to the forest, have you ever heard
elephants talking about you? As they spray lake water, trunks like hoses
the blind man saw, do you hear your name at all? They do not
make you feel like the odd one out; can’t you return the favor?

Listen, your words will never be big enough – even after they grow up,
they will be squeaks at the giant’s feet. Find something else to talk about.

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