For the foreseeable future I am going to focus on writing more serious and poignant vignettes, stories that are understated and rife with subtext. Pieces that examine our lives and seek clues to the mysteries of the human condition.
The following is my first, I spent the last month working on it. I hope it means as much to you as it does to me.
...
Cindy and I went to dinner Friday night and were were seated next to a couple on their first date. After being together for almost nine years and sharing thousands of meals, it was fascinating to hear a conversation between a couple eating their first meal together in the hopes it will result in more.
He works for a bank and loves hockey. She works in advertising and recently moved into a new apartment. She doesn't know anything about hockey, but asks him questions about it anyway. You can learn a lot about a person by their approach their hobbies. Did he play in college? No, he went to a school without a formal hockey program because he wanted to focus on his education. Does he go to games often? No, he's from St. Louis and only goes when the Blues are in town. Does he play in a league now? Yes, roller hockey on Wednesday nights on North Avenue beach. He invites her to come watch his game this week. She smiles and accepts.
Cindy looks at me and asks, "Remember when we didn't know these kinds of things about each other?"
Not only does Cindy know what sports I like, she can usually name a player on my current fantasy baseball team. And not only do I know about Cindy's job, but I can speak at length about her office politics.
Cindy looks at me and asks, "Remember when we didn't know these kinds of things about each other?"
Not only does Cindy know what sports I like, she can usually name a player on my current fantasy baseball team. And not only do I know about Cindy's job, but I can speak at length about her office politics.
Their waiter arrives and asks if they'd like to start with drinks. The man picks up the wine list and begins scanning. The woman tells the waiter she's glad he's picking because she doesn't know anything about wine. After surveying the list for 30 seconds, he orders a Cab.
The waiter compliments his choice and leaves.
I check the wine list to see the price of his bottle. It was $120, one of the most expensive Cabs on the list.
The waiter compliments his choice and leaves.
I check the wine list to see the price of his bottle. It was $120, one of the most expensive Cabs on the list.
The girl asks him if he he has any siblings. He has a younger sister. She has a younger brother. They relish knowing that they both have a lone younger sibling of the opposite sex.
The waiter comes back and asks if they're ready to order. They've been so busy with their conversation that they haven't had an opportunity to examine the menu. The woman picks up her menu and quickly begins scanning. The man---without ever picking up his menu---says, "I'll have the biggest bone-in ribeye you've got, served as rare as you're legally allowed to serve it."
The waiter nods and begins to turn to the woman, but before she can speak, the man says, "And she'll have the garden salad, dressing on the side."
She looks up from the menu surprised.
He continues, "In fact, bring the side of dressing to me so I can regulate the amount."
He nudges the waiter and says, "We gotta keep that fucking weight off her ass, if you know what I mean."
The waiter looks surprised, but nods his head. And then the man says, "And only one wine glass. I imagine I'll be too annihilated to drive home after the second bottle of wine."
The End
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