The Test

Once upon a time, long ago--right after college, in fact--I found myself living overseas in an international house, surrounded by people from all over. I fell into friendship with a girl I really admired. She was my age, but had had a much more exciting life, including growing up on a tropical island, having an affair with a powerful politician, and going to university in Paris.

She had this thing she'd do. She'd show you something--a book of photos, a manga, a shirt--and say, "Look at this."...