If you are sitting with men drinking Scotch and smoking cigars at place that is wedged between the jungle and the sea, with the tropical rain pounding mercilessly on the veranda, the conversation will inevitably turn to Hemingway.

Such was the case last Tuesday at Los Suenos; a deep sea fishing trip was being planned for the next day and someone made a reference to Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea."

Which reminded me, I said as I put down my Scotch glass, of a very short and spare Hemingway story called "Hills Like White Elephants."

None of the five people around me had heard of it. I said that "Hills Like White Elephants" had been assigned reading in one of my college English classes, and the next day, the professor asked the class of about 25 for a show of hands indicating who understood what the story was about. Two hands flew up. Neither were mine.

I was relieved however, that the dunces like me were in the vast majority. I had read the story four times the previous night and had no idea what it was about...my 19-year old mind just wasn't up to the challenge.

Remember, this was before the age of the internet, meaning that we could not go online and read about the plot after a 60-second search.

A smart woman in the front row explained to the rest of us what the story was about and I think most of us were amazed we missed it. How naive I was, and how obvious it all seems now.

Considering that you can read the entire story on-line (you don't even need to do a printable version, just scroll down after you hit the link) in less than ten minutes, I am running a poll; please respond in the comments section for this entry, if you are so inclined. The potential responses are:

1. I already know the story and what it's about.

2. I just read it and figured it out.

3. I just read it and have no idea.

4. This is an inane topic for a blog post.

5. I am fed up with your silly writing--cancel my subscription to your blog immediately!