If he saw me at all, it was only through an up-turned wine- glass.
In truth, I was just a listening head. And even then, his eyes would drift, scanning for a wider audience.
He probably told himself my silence was an excuse to resume circulating, when in reality it was a reason to stay. Because listening isn’t the same as waiting for your turn to talk, and that’s why he kept gravitating back to me. Because I listened.
By midnight I knew everything about him, while he scarcely remembered my name.
Until it appeared on the by-line.
Click here for a refreshing break with the Fictioneers
Our long hot spell finally broke yesterday with a very welcome thunderstorm. It’s still warm, still dry despite a short sharp shower, but more comfortable, mercifully. Thanks to Rochelle for her leadership of Friday Fictioneers. Join us if the spirit moves you!”
castelsarrasin 
At least he got a little ego-preening out of it, before the ego-pruning. Nicely done as always, Sandra
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I liked that, Neil. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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There is a lesson to be learned here, always appreciated those who listen and try and reciprocate
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I think you may be right, Michael. Thanks for reading.
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Dear Sandra,
And oh, what she must’ve learned by listening. I daresay he’ll remember her name after reading. 😉 There’s a lot to be said for a good listener…particularly one who happens to be a reporter. Good one. Glad to see you this week.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Amazing what you can find out simply by not interrupting. It makes some people nervous, but there are others … 🙂 Thanks for reading, Rochelle.
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Ah, be sure you take note of who’s listening….
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Yes, not a detail you need to overlook.
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Quite!
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Listening pays.
It sure was an interesting story/report!
Maybe he wouldn’t have even remembered that he had shared it with someone 🙂
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I think he realises now. Thanks for reading, Anita.
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We’re having a long hot spell too, here in PA, but our thunderstorm two nights ago did NOT reduce our temperatures or last long enough to do any real good. Some people like it hot. Not me.
Anyway, I love what you did with this prompt. I haven’t started writing yet, having trouble getting a good idea. Yours was inspiring 🙂
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I’m sure inspiration will come, Linda. Yes, I’m not a fan of hot weather but I can cope better than some. It helps if you don’t have any commitments and can just sit it out. Thanks for reading.
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How true is this? “Because listening isn’t the same as waiting for your turn to talk,”
And hey, a writer has to get her inspiration somewhere, doesn’t she? Brilliant take on the prompt…Hmmm… I might play after all…
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Need to be careful who you say what to, but I assume that is a lesson he will never learn, no matter how many times he is burnt…
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I agree. Some people are just happy to talk and live with the consequences.
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I’m sure someone said the best writers were good listeners. You must be one yourself, Sandra.
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What a lovely complement, Iain. Thanks for reading.
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💯 ‘listening isn’t the same as waiting for your turn to talk.’. I think listening is a powerful skill to have. Nicely written!
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Thank you, and thanks for reading.
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You are welcome 😊
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it pays to be a good listener when you’re a writer. you’ll never run out of stories to tell. 🙂
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And a good observer as well, I’ve found.
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So many folks think a conversation is about turn-taking and forget listening is important. You told this so well.
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Thank you! And some people don’t even bother about turn-taking either. But all the more fodder for people like my protagonist in the story. Thanks for reading.
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Rude people do make great fodder dor writers!
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It’s always dangerous to be too much in love with your own voice. Brilliant story.
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Someone once said we have mouths that close and ears that don’t, that must tell us something!
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Very nicely done.
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Oh, yes. Them pen was mighty and wine provided the lube. A very clever and humorous story, Sandra.
May you (we) find long term relief from the unrelenting heat soon. But, I fear more to come.
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Great line: “By midnight I knew everything about him, while he scarcely remembered my name.” I think a lot of celebrities feel they are performing even when they aren’t. They forget that real life isn’t a unidirectional reading of a script.
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This is almost played out at many occasions, where some people prefer to talk and although they hear you, they just don’t listen. May as well not bother.
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Just let ’em talk, amazing what you can find out…
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