Every super hero needs a childhood trauma and special power. Growing up in the streets of Sri Lanka, I smelt quite a bit of trauma. Now in my later years, I have developed a nose of extraordinary abilities. I first noticed the gift in eighth grade algebra, when I one day looked up and said, "I smell Tootsie Rolls, why do I smell Tootsie Rolls?" And Tane Kobin, who sat in the next row, sighed, and removed a Tootsie Roll from his pocket. "Fine, you can have this." He'd won it as a prize, wanted to keep it a secret lest anyone ask for it, and thought I wanted his Tootsie Roll. But I didn't. I was just beginning to realize my power. Now past forward past years of intensive scent training in the Shaolin Temples, to yesterday. I'm in my cubicle and Jen is in hers, a thick barrier between us. My nose starts tingling and I ask, "Do you smell cucumber?" "How did you know I put cucumbers in my turkey sandwich? They don't even smell." Oh, they do to me. If only I can use this to fight crime...
Unrelated note: Not to be a snob about this (who am I kidding? I love being a snob. I wish I could be one), but shouldn't every librarian know how to pronounce Capote? It's pretty basic stuff.
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