Conversation 17 - Excerpt

Colleen: So, what do you like?

Jared: Huh? What do I what?

C: Which ones you want- sponges or jellyfish?

J: Oh. Yeah. Huh! Y’know, they’re actually both very intriguing. Amazing beasts. Frankly, though, the coelenterates look pretty daunting- there’s such a, you know, range of forms and behaviour. The sponges seem much more manageable. But what about you?- I’m easy, really.

C: Ha! That’s funny- to me, the Porifera seem kind of boring. They’re so, so…sessile. They just sit there and filter. They remind me of my grandfather. (Laughs)

J: (Laughs) I like that. Stick it in the presentation!

C: Maybe. Anyway, I’ll be happy to take the jellyfish- they interest me much more.

J: OK. Say, this is working out well so far.