Pick Up Lines

 

H has always used charm when talking to young women. It is a skill he picked up from his Grandpa from their many errand days. I first noticed it when H was nine. It began with a simple request to a young nurse during a medical appointment. As H and I walked back with the nurse on our way to the appointment room, I watched H lean in to the nurse carrying his chart and in his sweetest voice whisper . “can you write no bloodwork today?” He wasn’t successful in convincing her to add that directive and that didn’t make him happy but his charm persists. 

 

Throughout elementary and middle school, specialists in speech would work with him on ways to start a conversation or continue a dialog. It often had the same result. H would ask his teacher how they were doing, then walk away as the response was given. This progressed to H asking everyone who made eye contact “how are you?” After spending some time discussing when it is safe and when it is unsafe to engage a stranger in conversation, he began to refine his pick up lines.

 

Now, upon seeing a female, H strikes up a conversation with the standard "Nice weather we're having" or the classic "My name is H, what's yours?" And, lately he has acquired a few new pick up lines.  Standing next to H one morning, I hear him blurt out “Patty, I don’t believe we’ve met”. I look up to see the cashier has “Patty” on her nametag. She smiles as she proceeds to ring up his math workbooks at the local bookstore. It was the holiday season and the line was long so I kindly reminded H to allow her to ring up his purchases. We talk on the way back to his house and try to set a few basic rules.

 

“H, when it’s busy at the store, it is probably best to skip flirting with the cashier.”

H: “but the girls love me.”

“No doubt H but sometime you need to let the girls do their job.”

 

In his mind he is not engaging women in conversation for his own interest or benefit but for theirs. Earlier at his semi-annual meeting H was asked if he wanted to add anything. He immediately turned to McKenzie, a pretty young woman who recently began as his case manager and wasn't very familiar with H or his needs. With a sweet voice and a sly smile he says “So McKenzie, would you like to talk at my meeting?”

 

Later that week we are standing at the check-out at a local convenience store. As H sets his items up on the counter he says “I haven’t seen you in awhile.” The cashier gives him a confused look. I know H has been in this Holiday before so I ask H if he knows her.

H: “Oh, . . uh . . no.”

“Then stop flirting with her so she can ring up your snacks.”

Which, of course, resulted in his reward - a smile from the female cashier that H greatly enjoyed.