Short, curly and mysterious.

I can’t believe how many times I’ve encountered pubes in strange and unexpected places.  I’ve lost count.  On the subway.  My desk at work. Boardrooms. Coffee shops.  The list is endless. But the one short and curly rendez vous that will always stand out in my mind took place at an advertising portfolio show I was involved in a few years back. One of those things where creatives look at aspiring students’ portfolios to offer guidance or spirit-crushing insight into their complete lack of talent. After looking at an endless line-up of books, I landed on one that stood out from the rest. It was arresting. Mind blowing. And life altering. Not because of its conceptual brilliance or artistic flair. No. What captured my imagination and attention was the single pube that had somehow fallen in between one of the ads and the plastic covering. Not only was it there, but by chance, the ad it was pressed against just happened to be white and laid out in a way that brought attention to it. As we both looked at the ad, and took in the pube, silence fell over us. I fell into a trance. How was I to give feedback under these circumstances? She saw it. I saw it. WE SAW IT! Do I bring it up or leave it alone? It’s staring right at us. The tension is unbearable. I’ll just turn that page. She knows this interview is over. No matter how brilliant her work may have been, it’s been tainted.  Haunted by a short and curly. I could make a joke about it but I think that’d make it worse. I’ll pretend I didn’t see it. The 15 seconds of uncomfortable silence definitely says that I have. She knows. I know. The pube knows. This story’s over.  Next portfolio show I’ll be sure to advise students to do a thorough pube- check before finalizing their portfolio.  You don't want to make a first impression with a short and curly.