Page 16 - Contrast2009

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.'.','I.n';,...e- rsec~I'on

jessica be~'o.

Whew, ,now there's a looker, Just look at the way she stands,
back straight, hair falling down her shoulders. Red lips,
high cheekbones. Cars whizzing past her, drivers slowing
down.to throw looks over their aching shoulders. Her eyes
are bright as she clicks her heels and Maits for the light
"to'change. Slightly oblivious' and very pretty, she reminds
me of'my Helen when she was that age.

It "sure is hard to see from here, so I squint my old
eyes, to focus better on he r.i.as set s . Nice. Hmm, she looks
iike she's ,thinking up something, unaware of the passing
t.eenaqe rs and grandmas with their noisy tots. The street
light dips "with the wind, she crosses her arms. '

,She "looks just about 23, if I'd gar~er a guess, some
kind of car~er girl. Now days, they're all career girls.
Once upon a time a woman working as a secretary was seen
as progressive. ,Women seemed much happier back then,
baking, and'19unging. It's just how it ought to be. My
Helen was quite the secretary, in fact, that's how we met.
She sauntered into my office; button-up green blouse, hair
twisted under a hat and plapped a report down on my de9k.
Ouch. When you lay your eyes on her that first time boys,
you just know. I went all out after that, roses everyday,
'notes on her desk; It was only three months later to the day
before,she agreed to marry me.

"Ouch!" I say out loud. Sometimes I just 'want to see
if anyone looks. Nobody around me does. I'm standing next
to areal idiot right now. He's about 25 or so, dark brown
hair waving into his eyes, we all know the type. He looks
as 'if he hasn't shaved all wee'k. Don't· you boys know how
~~ keep ,a face? Drag 'a razor across your tight skin onc~,
'i,nthe morning. For an old guy like me the job takes' near,

aan hour, my shaking hands trying to make the blade dance.

'I pat my fCicenow, little stubbly, but handsome, 'I'do'
believe. He wears a suit and carries a briefcase. I used to
,drag a briefcase around; it was practically an extended' arm;
concrete proof that I was a good ,provider for my Helen and
tlie.'three boys.' So, maybe this one's not a complete putz,
but he still hasn't noticed Lovely right across the stre~t.
I'm telling ya', eyes peeled at all times, boys.

My eyes wande r again 'across the chaotic road. Just as
I'd thought! She's noticed him! What they don't tell us is
that it's really the girl who does all the choosing. They
just let us think it's our idea. Lovely could do way better,