August 13, 2009
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"Do you remember what it looked like?"
"What?"
"Being afraid."
I stopped tying my shoe and shot him a look of confusion. The ruddy lights from the sign of the restaurant behind his head caused me to squint. I looked to the floor once or twice before refocusing my view on him. I then opted to avoid the question. "Why're you here, again?"
I had actually never met him before. Why he was bothering to talk to me I couldn't begin to fathom. Why he still sticks out in my memory might be another question I could ask.
There was nothing (and I say this earnestly) about him which stood out at first glance; Hell, even if I had been given twelve hours to study him in detail, he defined ordinary. I'd describe him to you, but I might lose concentration during the process.
He nodded over his shoulder toward the restaurant. "Waiting for my boyfriend to get off of work."
In all the previous excitement, I hadn't bothered to give the establishment any attention. It was a Chick-fil-A - a restaurant you probably haven't even heard of and one that sounded like a generic version of KFC. Looking directly at the sign now, I noticed that some of the lights had burnt out. Still enough to be bright, but - honestly, way to stand out. I returned to finish the bow I had been tieing before for my shoe.
"What's your relationship with your parents?"
"Seriously, dude - what the fuck?" I exclaimed, a little surprised by my own outburst. I fumbled to pick up the laces again, too irritated to bother giving him proper eye contact.
"Sorry," he said slowly, clearly not understanding that silence, at this moment, would be less grating than his voice. "I didn't know it was a sensitive subject."
I'd like to say I gave him a questioning look then; in all honesty, I can't remember how I looked at him. "It's not." I just remember he was amused. Of all things, amused. "We just don't talk much anymore," I told him, as if I needed to explain myself.Maybe if I keep ramming my head against a brick wall, I'll come up with some kind of direction (likely directly through the brick wall...).
Comments (1)
Nice, nice. Naturally, I agree with the changes I suggested. The stuff you didn't change still kinda rubs me the wrong way but at least you're consistent with that so it flows together.
The questions he's asking remind me of the personification character from that story you did of the guy in the hospital bed, but he's been giving some background which makes me believe he's a real character. That's all I've really got for critique right now... I gotta go to work soon.
Oh BTW, I did start 'The Books,' i just think I'll need to write some more before we switch to your perspective. Don't worry, I'm leaving you to do the library/bookmobile scene haha.
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