I am So Fucking Made for this Profession, or Maybe Something Else Comparable, Like Hermitting

So I was eating breakfast today and I overheard this woman telling this other woman that she, "was writing in a vacuum" and that she, "needed to get out more, get some critique, just go outside, you know?" and I glanced over and there was a single typed sheet on the table with "SO-AND-SO'S NOVEL" written on it in caps and in sharpie, I think blue or green.

So I went over and I was like, "This is really awkward, and uh, I overheard you, well I was eavesdropping really, and I'm really sorry... but I'm starting a writing group, and I'm going to be leaving flyers around. Maybe you'd want to come?"

They looked at me like I ground up babies and snorted them.

Then the one with the typed sheet said, "Yeah, I'm Some Name I Forgot Immediately and this is Another Name I Forgot Immediately, she's a writer too."

The other woman was like, "What's your name?"

And the presumption was, "Why the fuck are you starting a group? Who the fuck are you?" but I told them my first name.

And I was like, "Well I just signed my first contract so I thought, you know, since there are no groups around here that I can find, maybe I can start one, spread the love a little?"

And the woman with the first page said, "What was it?"

I said, "A fantasy novel?" like it wasn't as good as a self-help book or whatever but what can you do... and her eyes just light the fuck up and she says, "Oh, wow!"

And I said, "Um, I am really sorry I listened to your conversation..." and I thought, I could have just pinned a flyer up and they'd have probably attended the fucking meeting but now they won't.

And the one who'd done all the talking said, "No, really it's OK, I overheard this woman at the gym talking about adopting on her iPhone and I was like, 'Just finish your damn conversation so I can ask you about agencies!' "

And I laughed sort of awkwardly and was like, "OK, well, I hope you guys come," and then spent the rest of the time in the cafe looking at the floor pointedly so I would project the message that I was not in any way listening in on their conversation again, which would have been difficult anyway because they lowered their voices a lot.

I'm like a dog who's been raised alone and who freaks out barking around other dogs and who vets think "needs socializing".