gentle readers know that the (merely mildly exaggerated) narratives of the hummingbird & co are a regular feature of this blog intended to maintain narrative stability, but lately the facebook tales of minz and julian making a wedding pact seem to have acquired us a small cult. not only do people frequently ask about him, but the other day i went to tea with a certain young historian (who shall remain unnamed for the upkeep of her own professional repute) the conversation below:
unnamed young scholar: o! can i please meet your friend julian? you two are very endearing!me: mm hmm
u.y.s.: you know, if you were not real persons but characters in a book, I would totally ship you and write fan fiction!
me, texting julian: she says she wants to meet you and write fan fiction about us. are you worried?
julian: well, it might result in copious and expensive wedding gifts, so carry on.
m: you do realise she is a non-science scholar. we will at most get 20 free remaindered copies of her first book!
u.y.s: oh no no, i can also give you an exquisitely monogrammed IOU.
julian: well i can’t meet her tonight anyway i’ve got a date!
me: very well, i’ll just advise her to use her imagination then?
u.y.s.: only Special Beings inspire other people to narrativise them!
me: oh, and are you boswell writing about johnson?
u.y.s: thank you.
Best of the Transparent Hummingbird