Dear The Boss,
I'm sure you don't know me from Eve because I am a lowly computer engineer down here punching numbers. In fact, I feel practically purulent compared to you. There is something I must say, though, so I shall step out of line to deliver my message, if only to be cut down.
I only met you about a month ago. Actually, we did not meet at all. You were at the podium, and I was one of many new scientists here to work on the Mercury Project. You spoke so authoritatively on the possible use of our nuclear weapons technology in future space travel that I was enraptured. Your voice was clear and commanding, like church bells high above me, lofty, sweet, and musical. Then our eyes met, your blue-grey eyes to my shaded ones. How you could see them through my sun-shades, I cannot guess. I felt that we had a momentary connexion. You smiled a little, but you were interrupted by that boorish young man behind me who asked a question out of turn.
We have seen one another or, at least, I have seen you around the facilities. One week ago, I was behind you at the lunch counter, and you asked me how the baked potatoes were. I told you that I didn't eat them as I only ever ate the chips. You laughed when I called them that, and I was too nervous to explain that I knew you called them "fries". Really, I've been in this country long enough to know that you call them "fries", but your presence was enough to make me forget.
Only just yesterday, you held a door for me when I was carrying books of code down to the computer engineering lab. I wanted to ask what you were doing down there or at least to thank you for holding the door, but I merely stammered like the imbecile you must think me.
This letter has lost its focus, which was to ask you a simple question. Why did you catch my eye at the symposium a month ago? Was it the strangeness of my dark glasses? Was it because I was the only woman in the audience?
Well, whatever the answer is, I am certain it is a waste of your time to answer. If you do, however, please send your answer by memorandum to the Computer Engineering Department.
Yours,
SL