It is a question I have come to hate.
A peer, a colleague, a casual
acquaintance, a family member,
a friend will pause, look sincerely,
at your shoes, and asks,
"How are you?"
Always there is this expression
on their face that wordlessly
begs me to lie.
"I'm fine."
Once in a while there is someone
who wants to act like they
are not like everyone else,
they really want to know.
So they say,
"How are you really?"
I look up and see that despite
the probing question you're still
hoping for the lie.
Being a self-proclaimed wit
(and I am sure I'm at least half right)
I've had, for years, a standard
answer to that question.
People would say,
"How are you?"
and I would reply,
"Better."
Almost always the next thing they
ask is,
"Oh, have you been sick?"
and I would say,
"No. I just try to get better each day."
I can't use that answer anymore.
"How are you?"
There is only one
socially acceptable answer:
"I'm fine."
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