I could tell she was getting lonely, but what was I supposed to do? I did for a bit contemplate moving back in with her. It would help me save money. But then, I also had to prove something. I had to prove I was an adult.
I did finally come up with an idea for a book though. See, I often just sit in public places and watch people. Sometimes I make stories up about them, who they are and why they're there. What if I wrote these stories down? A Hundred Fake Stories About A Hundred Real People. I might be able to make a little sketch of the person, though I'm not very good at drawing.
After work one day, I went to Walmart to buy a notebook, just a simple composition book. I started carrying it around all the time, and eventually I filled it a few small snippets about people.
Stephanie
Stephanie was the kind of girl who would order a pint of Guiness and sit at the bar reading
a trashy paperback novel. She preferred to be left alone. Not that she didn't have friends,
she did, and though few they were, they were the most important people in her life. But
there's something about the hubbub of the busy bar that was soothing, calming. Maybe it
was because her job as a receptionist was kinda slow this time of year.
Stephanie abhorred a shortening of her name, and would always scowl at people who
called her Steph, and she's down right nasty to those who would give her one of those
temporary feminine nick-names like baby, honey, or sugar. Here, in this bar, though, she
was on a first name basis with the entire staff.
Back when she was in her early twenties she was dragged from night club to night club
with "friends" she's had since high school. It would be another five years before she found
what real friends were like. One night she walked off on her own and found this charming
spot on St. Peters, and she's been coming here ever since.
Warren
Warren didn't come to this Uptown coffee shop much. He was meeting Gideon for the first
time. They met online. Warren didn't have much luck with meeting people online. He was
often stood up, and no matter how often it happens you never get used to it. He sipped his
chai latte slowly, making it last as long as he could, not wanting to have completed a drink
by the time Gideon arrived. He was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago. But this is
New Orleans where we have the New Orleans minutes which is the exact opposite of the
New York minute.
Warren checks his phone every few minutes. He smiles and looks around. Maybe Gideon
is sitting here somewhere, and neither of them recognized the other. He looks around and
doesn't see any man sitting alone other than himself.
Another ten minutes pass, and Warren finishes his tea. He sighs and looks towards the
door. It's been half an hour. Thinking that it happened yet again, Warren rises from his
seat, shoulders slumped, and heads for the door. As he's about to reach it, it opens.
Warren's face brightens up... but it's not Gideon. A happy couple walks in, mocking his
sadness. He glances back at the now empty table he was sitting at and contemplates for a
moment if he should stay longer. He then checks the time on his phone, sighs one last
time before leaving.
David
The rain came down suddenly. David rushed into the store quickly. You never know about
storms here. Sometimes it only lasts five minutes; sometimes it lasts all day. He stood by
the store just staring through the glass at the storm. He had no intention today of actually
shopping. Much to his chagrin, not only was the storm getting worse, but the store was a
grocery store--which he didn't need to go to any time soon. However, after a few minutes,
seeing no slack in the rain, he moseyed around. He picked up a bottle of apple juice and
seeing the price, quickly returned it to the shelf. Oh boy. And he looked around sudden;y
very judgmental of the people actually purchasing things here.
David walked all the aisles. Some of the older customers would glance at him like he didn't
belong there. The store was full of elderly women who poofed their hair out to no end, and
there was David, forty-three and male. The rain slacked down into a drizzle. Not to be a
nuasance for no reason, he picked up a candy bar (god damn, it's three dollars!) and
quickly pair for it before heading on back home.
Though like many projects I start, I was barely a third of the way through before I quit. No reason to quit actually. I just... well, I let life get in the way again. If someone were writing a story about me, that's how it'd go.
Edgar
He always lets life get in the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment