Risk Vs. Reward
Dear Rex the Flex,
There is a secretary at work. I like her and I think she likes me.
Except … dating is not allowed between employees at my company. Verboten.
She’s not even on my team, she works in accounting. Nothing seems wrong about us dating.
Should I take the chance? A risk for love! She’s perfect for me.
Signed,
Risking Occupation Making Egregious Offer
Dear ROMEO,
Love is indeed a most splendid occurrence!
The power of l’amour can sway giants and kings and yes, even circus folk.
Romance (or at least some proxy or imitation) often blossoms under the Big Top.
Arthur “Tippietoes” Grant was a tightrope walker. I worked with him in my early days. Gifted entertainer, had real aplomb.
He threw it all away for love. Quit the business, settled in Vegas and started a ventriloquist act. “Tippietoes and Cornrows.”
Cornrows was the name of his puppet: a sassy Jamaican woman with, yes, corn rows.
Did I mention that Tippietoes is a white guy? His act drew criticism and protests over the stereotypical accent. Eventually he had trouble booking gigs.
I told him that voice was a terrible idea!
He tried going back to circus life. But he’d been away too long. The skills, the precision, the body control. Just wasn’t the same.
Last I heard, he was working in the insurance industry (or some other such horror.) Hope he finds his way back to the arts.
In conclusion: There is risk. There can be reward. And there can be FAFO worse than you’ve ever imagined.
Make sure that when this is over, you weren’t the dummy all along.
Counterpoint commentary by …
Crushed Velvet (assistant to Nigel Knives)
Everyday I get texts and DMs from men who’ve seen our show and “fell in love with me.”
Not that I think I’m a ten or anything. I’m not.
But I’m thin, wear a skimpy costume, and let a man throw knives at me.
Tends to bring out the weirdos. Sad but true.
A few of the messages are nice, I suppose. I guess I should find it flattering? But I would never date a fan.
The nice ones are rare. Most are rude, some are gross, some are over-the-top pornographic, and one guy offered to buy my used bathwater.
Truly I live to entertain the masses.
You describe your situation as taking a risk for love. But really, you are taking a risk for a date. You have no idea if it’s love.
Maybe you just want to take a risk?
I think about it, too. Doing daring things. I could risk it. I get offers from both the weridos and the nice ones. Money could be made. Money could really be made. Maybe almost as much as my salary.
But I’ve never said yes, not once. Not even to beauty photos with clothes on! And I need the money. I keep thinking ‘Let’s go, what’s the harm?’
Something always stops me from going over that line.
You, on the other hand, seem ready to vault clear past the line.
I hope you stick the landing, I guess.
I’m going to stay in my conscience’s comfort zone for as long as I can.
Throw knives at my head? That’s fine.
My soul I guard with a much higher level of vigilance.
