Small talk didn’t bore him, it terrified him.

Each conversation presented a stage, where a performance must take place.

Posturing, commenting, all done while walking the balance of being aloof while still engaged.

Peppering trivia, facts, and just enough gossip to maintain a status of importance.

In an ideal evening he’d leave feeling accomplished.

And on the occasion that he encountered someone of a similar disposition, he’d lay low.

Agreeing, applauding and affirming the performance; though in truth he often didn’t understand the contents.

All in all an observer could summarized his interactions in a single sentence, he didn’t ask questions.