The Day I Kissed An Older Man

"Miss Rita," Sherman acknowledged with a slight nod. "I hadn't expected the host to be so uncomfortable with all the socializing."

Rita dropped all pretenses after running into him. She smoothed the hem of her skirt with one hand while the other clutched a handful of little titbits she had swiped from the kitchen. She had avoided eating any of the main meals so as not to leave a bad impression on the guests, but her hunger was becoming too much to bear.

"You can't gatekeeper feelings. Am I not allowed to feel that way?" she retorted. "You're acting like you're so high and mighty."

"Those who act high and mighty tend to think others are too," Sherman confessed with a wry smile.

"Tell me, do you still think I've taken your seat? I presumed you'd grasp the situation once you knew who I was."

the ticket. Why do

she vented her frustration by biting furiously into a cream puff. It was as

from if you were just a different reporter," Sherman remarked, "But aren't you the same as us?

could not but acknowledge that she belonged among their ranks. After all, she would

damper on Rita's spirits. Despite her efforts, her background seemed to be the deciding factor in many instances. Worse still, her father was desperately attempting to find a partner for her. He was eagerly introducing all those rich young men to her, listing off their qualities as if they were from a catalog of men she could choose as a suitor. He would be even more delighted if their family could rise to bigger heights with

fully aware of its nature. Hearing her voice out her innocent musings seemed

I am that sort of person,"