Philia Schmilia

Owing to the imperfections of the human memory - and mine being more fallible than most - I find it difficult to remember most conversations I shared with Phoebe. Like last week. I was on one of my half-hour walks to the new Jusco in Malacca, and the girlfriend and I were talking about something interesting on the phone. And I know it was interesting because the only bit I can recall from it is this orphaned snippet which began with a playful accusation from her side,

"That's because you’re a paedophile!" she said with a mock-dramatic emphasis on the P-word.

"No, I’m not." I said. "I'm technically an ephebophile."

Phoebe gave me one of her trademarked surprised sharp intakes of breath over the line.

"You are a... Phoebe-phile!" she pronounced slowly and deliberately.

"Ephebophile! I said ee-phee-bo-phile!"

"A Phoebe-phile!" she repeated, completely ignoring my protestations. "So you DO love me after all!"

I swear I could feel her eyes going all wide and shiny on the other side of the phone. That's kind of my fault because I rarely ever say that three words to her, so she has to take what she gets. Poor affection-starved Phoebe, haha.

A rare recent photograph of Phoebe sans makeup and with glasses - she's not going to be happy I posted this up.
How old do you think she looks?

P.S. Ephebophilia refers to a sexual preference for mid-to-late teens (14-16 years old) and is not considered to be a deviancy or mental illness in that Damn Stupid Manual (fourth edition) or ICD-10; the two Holy Bibles of the psychiatric profession. And yes, I fully realise how creepy that exchange with the girlfriend made me sound taken out of context.

P.P.S. Hebephilia actually sounds even more like Phoebe-philia - and way creepier too.