I Am Not A Clever Man Novels & Stories

The man explained "Two months, that's all I ask for" "Do you think I'm such an idiot?" I ask, the man looks at me "No, you're not an idiot" he assures "I know perfectly well, you're an intelligent, beautiful woman..." The man clears his throat, almost ashamed of his words, which caught my attention. Did he really think those things? I try to hide my smile, if he was even slightly attracted to me I would definitely use that to my bennefit.

Forgetting just how much was said on that trip, my face drops to my hands and my knees pull to my chest in mortification. “I’m not trying to upset you, and I don’t want to be untoward, but I am a very.... blunt man. You intrigue me, and I’d like to spend time with you; convince you to see me again.” I look up at him jaw dropped in disbelief. “You are an intelligent if not entertaining woman,” he says a bit more seriously. “Make no mistake, I am a particular man, so that is no small compliment.” The gentle incline of his head makes me nod mine in understanding.

I asked. “Uh-huh. When people invent things, they have an unpleasant tendency to come out. Sooner or later, it will be out there. Unfortunately for Rick, sooner is more likely than later. You can’t uninvent something, that’s Rick’s problem. He is too stupid to realise that.” “And you?” He smirked. “I am many, many bad things, rabbit. But I am not stupid. No one could accuse me of that.” And as he walked out, I heard him mutter:

I am insane, literally. ----

“What if I say the wrong thing or I don’t understand what is being talked about? I’m not educated or –” “Whoa,” he paused in his footsteps and looked down at her, “don’t do it. Don’t you sell yourself short. You might not have an Ivy League education, but you are as smart, if not smarter than half the people in this room. You’re insightful and passionate and the only people whose IQ’s you don’t match, you outshine them in personality and character.” He motioned to Koda, “he’s the second smartest man in this room and yet he has the social abilities of a rock.” “Second smartest?”

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” “What about ‘persistent’?” He counters. I roll my eyes. “That’s one way to put it.” “Or, maybe ‘physically strong’?” “Absolutely not.” “Smart?” “Good one.” “Right right. Insanely intelligent. That’s better.” “You forgot ‘humble’,” I retort sarcastically. “Ok. How about clever?” “That’s pushing it.” “Frustrating?” “Yes!” I give him a mocking clap. “You finally got one right.”

"What am I actually thinking? It seems like all the problems just grow into one and I don't know what to do. Thousands of times I have tried to be the best human being, but thousands of times I have also had to swallow all the refreshing tastes like this and it seems that this is not one of the reasons I am a person who is really, really, really stupid."

"what? " "You know I'm not really that smart,... Actually I'm not smart at all and i strongly doubt I'll be getting the course with my pour grades. Besides, i don't think i ever really wanted that, i just wanted something that would make me look smart you know, but I'm not like you, i don't have the brains ..." "Ali... "

Jesus Christ, I have messed up this girl, haven't I? I gulp down an ounce of guilt and try to smile. "I'm just... Do you still draw and shit?" I want to facepalm myself after speaking. Am I stupid? I can't believe this shit! I've gone my entire life thinking I'm smart, but I'm actually retarded! I have zero game—I realize that—even Alice realizes that, or else she wouldn't be squinting at me!

Her ideas are really… Ciara choked some more, putting down her drink altogether. “Ah, no. I don’t think that will work. I know him. He’ll think I’m being childish if I do something like that. Or that I’ve gone mad and turned wicked. He won’t like it. He’s all about work.”