Stephen Mejias

Music was playing,
so I sat there, quietly.

She walked into the room and noticed me. With deep interest and a bit of urgency, she asked: "What are you thinking about?"

I've learned that "nothing," as an answer, isn't good enough. So I searched for the truth. What was I thinking about? What was the truth?

I was thinking about the bass, how thick and round it sounded. I was thinking about the guitar riff, wondering why they'd placed it there, instead of there. I was thinking of the effect used on the vocals, imagining that they'd applied it in order to conceal some limitation. I was thinking about our band, questioning whether we would do things differently. I realized I'd better answer her fast.

"Nothing," I said. "I was just listening to the music."

"Oh," she nodded and walked on.

***

Home Entertainment 2006 is approaching. My e-mail inbox is filling up with invitations to listen to this and that — headphones from Ultimate Ears and Shure, cables from Belkin, speakers from Neat, electronics from Exposure...

I hesitate to make appointments. I still feel new at this, and find myself thinking that, upon meeting with a manufacturer representative, I wouldn't know what to do or say or listen for. For a split second, I hear myself reply: "Don't waste your invitation on me."

And then I remember who I am and what I do, and I realize that I should accept as many invitations as possible.