Nonplussed.
Taken aback.
Disconcerted.
Startled.
Befuddled.
Flummoxed.
Choose one (or more!) from column A to describe Samuel's reaction, his state of mind. Such a thing had never happened to him before, never, nowhere, nohow. Sure, he was now 66 (going on about 43 he told himself). And sure, the bus was full β but to have someone offer him their seat? And not just any old 'someone', but this absolutely beautiful, absolutely TINY Japanese woman? She could have been anywhere between thirteen and early thirties β he couldn't tell. The lovely low-rise bosom suggested lower twenties. Tiny, tiny, tiny! And exquisitely pretty, in anything but a little-girl way despite her size. Her tank top seemed painted on, and displayed the minuscule hillocks of her breasts, capped by what might well be the world's tiniest mature human nipples. Plus a set of poured-into-them stretch jeans. And her sandals β probably size double-zero or some such β surely they belonged on a Barbie Doll?
She'd looked up at him from her seat, caught his eye, started to rise. Genuinely embarrassed, he shook his head, waved her down, saying "Thanks, it's not necessary. I like to stand β it's good exercise!" She settled back. Sam looked at her: she apparently didn't notice his gaze, her eyes were aimed demurely into her lap, at her folded hands. God, he thought β her hands are miniatures!
At the next stop the seat beside her went vacant: she looked up at him again, gestured for him to join her β a gesture half command, half tentative invitation. He settled beside her as the bus lurched into motion, forcing their thighs to touch full-length in the narrow "two-very-skinny-people" seat. "Thanks!" he said, looking over at her. She raised her face, met his gaze, and nodded. "Why did you offer me your seat?" he asked. She was, on the surface, a perfect stranger β but something about her was tickling the backside of his memory-banks: he just relaxed, mentally, to let it surface.
She gave a tiny shrug: "Because you are much older than me, and in my culture β or rather, in my ancestral and family culture- age deserves respect. Age is supposed to be accompanied by wisdom. It is only sometimes that age does in fact coincide with wisdom β but always we make that assumption. Also - knowledge and learning are revered." She paused, then went on. "Plus, you are a teacher and a scientist, and both are quite highly valued: they enhance the respect due to any person."
Sam was totally at sea β she was right on both professional counts, but how the hell did she know such things about him? She smiled at him β it was positively dazzling. He was struck for the Nth time β with N very large β by how utterly horny, how turned on, he could get, and how fast. He wondered how old she was, her weight, her height β could she possibly stretch to five feet? He doubted it. An explanation was forthcoming.
"I can see that you are surprised I know you, Doctor Johnson. You undoubtedly do not remember me, but I was in your 600-student lecture section two years ago, when I was still an undergraduate. Now, however, I am well into my doctoral research. In another field than yourself, however."
The penny dropped, and Sam's memory retrieved an image, a name. "AH!" he said: "You sat about five rows back, on my left, at the aisle. I believe your name is Yoshiko?"
She laughed, delighted, and replied "Very good, Doctor! The name is actually Yoshino β like the decorative cherry tree. I am surprised that you remember me at all. I was a very shy student in your class β I hadn't enough background to ask intelligent questions. At least, not often." She paused, laughed again: "I am a good deal less shy nowadays!"
Sam was entranced, and did, in fact, recall that she'd asked several good questions. He told her so, and she blushed at the compliment. A long pause ensued as they balanced against the bus's sudden hard turn, which produced more thigh contact.
"Tell me, Doctor, where are you going on this bus? I've never seen you on a number 71 before." Downtown, he told her, to spend an afternoon at the city art museum. And she? Enroute to the big, good used-book store, half a block from the art museum. Would he, she queried tentatively, be interested in having a coffee with her before they went on to their independent destinations? If he were interested, and had the time, she would be quite honored and pleased - she was enjoying talking to him outside of class. He accepted, making it clear that it was a splendid idea, and insisting that she call him Sammy instead of Doctor β they were no longer student/teacher, and there certainly wasn't any reason for prolonging formalities.
She knew just where she wanted to go for coffee, a couple of blocks away. She took his arm perfectly naturally, easily matched his much-shortened stride. They chatted as they walked, and he studied their reflection in the windows β he wasn't a big man, perhaps five nine, but he certainly appeared gargantuan alongside her! An odd feeling, but nice β it made him feel rather protective.
Coffee β twin double full-caffeine lattes β appeared on the tiny tΓͺte-Γ -tΓͺte table she'd chosen, over in a corner, private save for being beside a street-front window. The conversation flourished. They got along famously β she was brighter and better read than he might have expected, even from their classroom interactions, and topics ranged widely, from academics to her plans and research, to family things on both sides. And unknown to one another, each had always found intelligent conversation a profound aphrodisiac.
To end a momentary pause, he said, tentatively, "Yoshino, I simply have to ask..."
She stopped him with a finger to his lips, and a giggle: he thought she was absolutely the sexiest thing he'd encountered in many years, and wished he could tell her so.
"It usually takes less time β you are a very discreet person, Sammy. May I answer what I believe is your question, before you ask it? Then you can tell me if I was correct!" He nodded, waited. "Four feet ten and one half inches, and forty kilos naked dripping wet, which makes me exactly ninety pounds in that idiotic English system."