Take a Picture, It’ll Last Longer

I kind of wish I Had taken a picture because the hottest kid I've seen in years, who I spotted buying chocolate chip cookies in Philadelphia a few weeks ago, is already fading from my memory.

I have very specific taste so encountering ideal male specimens is very rare. In fact, I can remember vividly the last time I spied one in the wild, two years ago (scroll way to the bottom). I think part of the reason I've been in a relationship so long (not married, mind you—I can't make any promises) is because I never stumble upon temptation. Well, and more importantly, these aren't the kind of guys who are attracted to me (I'm not even sure they're attracted to women). I've never dated one in my life. I have no idea what they do for fun. And the older I get, the more fantasy-like these young, mildly feminine man-boys become. I don't think this breed exists past the age of 25.

But I did have a camera on me and I had ample opportunity to capture this kid on film. I was trying to avoid sugary temptations at the Reading Terminal Market and James was asking the counter girl at The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company how many enormous chocolate-covered chocolate chip cookies would make a half a pound. She guessed 2-3, which ended up being over a pound (the damn things are like $10/lb). I was hovering off to the side when this gangly boy in beige cords, a t-shirt that dorkily said "Philly" in script, with big oversized puppy feet in brown cooler than Clark's type oxfords walked up coffee in hand. His head also seemed big for his body and his wide-eyes and floppy sandy hair seemed straight out of a '60s illustration (sort of big-eyed painting crossed with sewing pattern drawings)

He politely asked if I was in line. I nervously said no and tried parsing his voice, it wasn't enough language to tell if he was straight or not. He was probably college aged, though I wouldn't be shocked if he were a high schooler or mid-20s. I was torn between whipping my camera out and catching him while under the guise of shooting James paying for his cookies and just letting it go.

I let it go. Not that I thought I was being creepy, no sir, sometimes I just try to resist endless visual documenting of experiences. Luckily for these unassuming boys of the world, I try to save that for food only.