Sunday, February 10, 2013

Another story start from GP


“Like a vision of hovering, mystical reality that captures the eye when you shut your eyelids tight and rub your fists against them… then open your eyes, the image fades, and nothing typical can restore that image, no description, no poetry… the only way to recreate the vision is to shut your eyes and rub again…”

Mylinda knew that these moments came and went with her husband every couple of months, and like she had done for the many wandering rants before, she continued straightening her hair in the mirror. 

“I mean, I don’t understand it either.  Think I should go to one of those dreams doctors?”  Will seemed to indicate that this wasn’t a rhetorical question. 


“But didn’t you say you have been awake when having these, what would you call it – flashbacks?”

“Yeah, for a few of them.  I don’t know if they would be flashbacks.  I mean, I guess I can’t say they aren’t.  You know how many times I have said I don’t remember my junior year.  Maybe it is drug related.  Maybe I did some crazy shit that year that has been coming back in waves.”

The hair process was finishing.  She turned to look directly at Will who was sitting on the closed toilet lid with his face somewhat hidden and supported by his spread hands.

“Maybe you did.  Why would it matter?  Can’t you just chalk these up to, like, just bad dreams?”

“I would if it would stop coming back to me.  Or at least make a little sense.”  Will paused.  The rant was dying down.  “Well, whatever.” 

With frustration, he left the bathroom to finish getting ready next to his ironing board in the spare bedroom like normal, but then turned around and came back.   Mylinda was nearly done with this conversation because it was causing her to be late.  Will began again.

“Remember how I got that invitation from my old fraternity to visit for the 35th anniversary and my 15 year reunion on the same day?”  Mylinda knew where this was heading.  “What if I am supposed to go back?  I know a lot of the guys I went through with are going back this year and I think the chapter wants to do some ceremony for me since I am one of the ‘big donators’ now.”  Will quoted with his fingers but she saw that bit of pride in being called that.  He tucked his hands back into his folded arms and leaned against the doorframe.

“Ok. But I thought you put it in the recycling?”

“I did, but I got another invitation on Facebook the other day.  What would you say to letting me get back for a weekend - just me this time.”  Will was taking a big risk here.  He knew the prospects were slim, since their kids seemed to need both parents to get through the weekends normally.

“You mean going to hang out with all your college buddies who do all that stupid shit and most have already been divorced?”

“Only three of them are divorced.  And all of them are thirty-something and chilled like us now.  So it wouldn’t be stupid crazy.  I think I could really try to get some things sorted out on the drive and maybe get some stories from them about my missing year.  Plus the fraternity just added on to the house and you know how much I love that spaghetti pie from Piorelli’s.” 

“Have you been plotting out asking me about this anyway?”  She seemed teasing but adamant with her question.

“No.  I just now decided.  I really think I should go.  I think it’s something I really need here.”

Exasperated that his rant had turned to this, she turned back to the mirror to weigh it out.  “What weekend is that?”

“Two weeks from now.”

“Think you could get a hotel room that easy?  And isn’t that Sam’s first soccer game of the season?”

Will could feel her weakening. “Sam’s first game is that following weekend, and yes, easy hotel.  I bet the guys will all be staying at the Shamrock, and that place never fills up until late each night.  I could just split a room with one of them anyway.”

“Would you leave after work or come home first?”

“Up to you, but you hate me driving the curvy roads at night.  I could get there by dark if went straight there.”  He was almost there.  Reasoning was his friend.  The three hour drive would be perfect timing for dinner and drinks with everyone.

“And you would call and let me know when you got there?”

“Of course.”

“Not just text me?”

“Baby, seriously?”  Will moved behind her, wrapped his arm around her in a sort of victory hug.  “I will have my phone on me the whole time and can call you whenever you wish.”

-------------------
“And that’s all it took?”  Doc looked back to Will tipping back his second Sam Adams in the last five minutes.

“Yeah.  I guess I don’t ask for much for myself and she empathized.”

Nick finally chimed in, “Wish my wife had been as easy.”

“She was that easy. That’s why she isn’t your wife anymore,” Doc shot back with a smirk.  “Boom!”  

2 comments:

  1. and unlike other stories I have started, i actually have this one mostly framed out...

    now that i think about it, i have some others worked out but not to the depth i have in this one...

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  2. boom. how long have you been waiting to put those last two lines into a story?

    good stuff there, though. i'm interested in reading further.

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