I take back everything I said 24 hours ago about the girl whose name began with L, who I met briefly at the ASR2004 camping trip. I also apologize for my quick jumping to conclusions.

L___ was not a whore in any way, shape, or form. It was only the overwhelming size of my ego which allowed me to believe such a story of my own concocting.

Here's one that fits the facts much more easily. The simplest explanation, in keeping with Ockam's Razor (sic?).

Before I ever handed her the note, L was already in love. In fact, she had brought her partner to the event, and done so under the radar of every male who was there. She carefully and politely evaded intimate contact with all the men. She sensed that I was strongly attracted to her, but tried to be polite in pushing me away.

Her short, stocky, and possibly transgendered friend with whom she had traveled was the person she cared about the most. They went back to their tent at about the same time -- but did so while nobody else including me -- was looking. I stayed up all night thinking about how I would pass the note to her.

In the morning, she appeared satisfied and sleepy. (In rhetrospect, as if she had already had sex; thus my premature jumping to conclusions.)

She didn't want to hurt me, because she had seen the pain in my eyes. But I made it impossible for her not to.

Here is my new theory, which works much better: L*** is either already a lesbian, or is sitting on the fence. Regardless of what you label it, she is already commited to one partner.

I believe she did read my note, and did exactly what I had asked in it. She wasn't interested, so she left me alone. (Which is what I had said I wanted.)

I apologize deeply for every slander I have written about her and others of her type. I hope she fares well on the road.