As I handed in my paperwork over to the Barbie, She smiled at me gestured towards the door. I nodded and gave her my squinty “you’re just so cute smile” and walked out the door. The burly man I had awkwardly away from eyed me and spoke,

"Male samples are on the left, Female samples are on the right. The descriptions are on the doors. If the light above the door is green, the sample is available. If the light is red, the sample is being tasted."

"Thanks… mr.."

"I am Mr. Gerard."

"Thank you Mr. Gerard."

He nodded and made eye contact with the person behind me and I stepped into the hall of doors. Some of the lights were green and some were red. Man of the customers were just milling around chatting quietly and reading the descriptions on the doors. Here goes nothing.

I stepped up to the first door on my left to read the description:

Sample: Sushi- California Roll

Sexual Preference: Bisexual

That was it. No name, no more description. I suppose the whole point was going to be to get to know the sample. Well, I might as well give it a shot. I opened the room and the light above immediately turned red. I looked around the tiny room. It had Japanese art and decorations set up all around. A small table with two chairs was the centerpiece. A beautiful tea pot and cups complimented a small roll of Sushi. I sat at the table facing the wall with a large window. I poured first a cup of tea for the empty chair and then poured myself a cup and waited.

"You know I don't have any obligation to reveal myself to you." A voice spoke as if from thin air. A hidden speaker maybe? That was pretty cool.

"I know that. Its polite to wait for my companion to drink my tea."

"There’s no need."

"I see." I picked up and sipped on my cooling tea. "I suppose I don’t need to wait to try this roll."

"No. go right ahead." The voice said

"Are you scared of me?"

"You aren't what I expected."

"What do you expect to walk through that door?"

"Honestly?"

"I would hope you'd be honest with me, but that is also not an obligation."

"Most people just start talking and asking questions right away. You didn't."

"I didn't know I was "obligated" to start a conversation. I was observing."

"Why?"

"The person who invited me told me all the samples decorate their rooms to fit their personalities. The Club spares no expense in creating the perfect rooms for each sample. The “sample” can choose a favorite food or beverage to start a conversation. I wanted to get a hint of you before I started a conversation."

"And what did you learn?"

" You are not Asian that is for sure."

"How can you tell?"

"You chose a California roll."

"I guess that is kind of obvious."

"Just a little bit."

"What else did you learn?"

"Nothing in here is authentic. Its all cheap American made Japanese style art and decor. You weren’t aware of any Japanese etiquette. You are purely American, Californian, I’m going to guess somewhere around San Diego? I don't really understand why you put Bisexual on your description when you obviously wanted to cater to men."

"What?! How could y..... It... but..."

"Everything in here is masculine, except for the California roll. You didn't place anything in the room that would catch the attention of a Female. A warrior painting, black dishes, plain uncomfortable chairs, everything is simplistic. You also didn't want to put expensive things in the room. You don't like spending money. You are not trying to impress anyone. You also chose oolong tea instead of Sake. Which leads me to believe you would prefer deep conversations over a cup of tea or coffee instead of heading to a club to dance it out with a sweaty hot body. Am I getting all this right?

"Wow. You learned all that just from what I placed in the room? Who are you?"

"I am Stacia Ivanov."

"Well Stacia. Its nice to meet you. I'm Patrick Stanley."

"Mr. Stanley. Its nice to meet you. I have enjoyed this conversation, but I believe it would be better to cut this short. As I am sure you would much rather be talking to someone with less feminine features."

I stood to leave but I heard frantic motion from behind the window and saw a hidden door open from the right side of the window.

Wait!