Two men, both wrong. Separated by fifty years in terms of age, and several hours in terms of my day. They speak with authority, but I know they are wrong. “No, this shuttle doesn’t go directly to the airport. It just picks us up and takes us to the central station.” The Texan. The chiseled jaw. “I’m waiting for them to turn the cabin lights back on. They always do.” The older gentleman. White hair, speckled skin.
Their women just say, “Oh.”
I wonder, do they too know their men are wrong? Or am I alone in smiling and nodding and ignoring the ignorance?
…
He asks if he can use the other outlet. I nod, and he sits. He needs to charge his iPhone to load a map. He’s scared and excited and wants to chat. I ask if his parents are nervous about his moving to the city. He says, “I’m not gonna lie, I’m a gay Jamaican man. My parents haven’t been in my life since I was 16.”
I say, “Oh,” with sympathy.
He tells me about his house in Florida, the one he bought by working at Ruby Tuesday’s and renting out rooms. He tells me about dance, about his friends who move their bodies magnificently, about his show in June and the rehearsal he missed tonight. He has perfect skin and dazzling teeth. He wears sunglasses, and skinny jeans tucked into beige boots. When he gets up to leave, he slings one giant duffel bag over each shoulder.
He says, “Amazing things happen to great people.”
I say, “You know, I think you’re right.”
What I really think is that I hope he’s right. But that’s close enough, isn’t it?
…
Lorenzo, wherever you are, I hope the city doesn’t eat you up. I hope you stay as pure and beautiful as you were for those fifteen minutes in the airport. I hope you see my name on bookshelves, and I hope I see you lighting up the stage. Soon.
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i hope he’s right too.
:)
The art of responding with “oh” is one well worth cultivating.
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:) I hope you’re having a great week!
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I wonder what’s the intonation when you say ‘oh’ with sympathy. :)
Ooh, lovely. What a nice pair of vignettes. I’ll have to remember this idea.
BTW, I hope we see your name on bookshelves, too.
- Liz
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Thanks, y’all, I love vignettes! :)
Heyy!! Thanks for the comment on my blog!! I really love yours too!! Totally following!!
Thanks, girl!
If I were Simon Cowell and you were a contestant on American Idol (for writers), I would give that performance an 11. Would also like to add, it’s your best effort of the whole season. xx
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LOL Sarah, you are too funny!
I love this, great vignettes! Oh, so great.
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Arigato, Angie-sama!
Since people seem to like these so much, I may try to do them more often.
Lorenzo, wherever you are, I hope the city doesn’t eat you up.
Love this sentence!
.-= • Recent post by Jon: Writing Down the Bones =-.
I could picture this whole scene. I hope he is right too.
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[...] that out of the way, the point of my post today is to direct your attention to my writer friend, Kristan’s, blog post. I’m in awe of what she made of the white blank page. It’s got to be the best bit [...]
I agree with Sarah. Except I’d give you a 12 :)
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Emily Jane-
Haha, does that make you Paula or Ellen? ;P