Page 17 - Contrast2009

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cont'd from ,7 '

in my opinion. She needs-someone more mature, a seasoned

lover, maybe with a couple of grandkids. 'With great effort,

I, stand a little 'straighter. \"

, Idiot is looking at his' watch. Amazingly, he, still 1

hasn't noticed'what is right across the street, wrapped I
j
in a blue coat, red hair"swinging. I consider putting an
j
arm on his thin shoulder and nodding across the way with a

smile. But, my .harid is hoLding up my cane, damn dilemmas, ;

and the other is shoved in my warm pocket. I wait. Maybe'

he'll no t i ce on his' own, but 'no, he looks down the street ;~

the other ,way. People }lonk and fly through the intersection.

Lovely sure, 'is getting fidgety looking at him, playing with

her hair,' t.w.i s-t Lnq her hands. She's got it bad: I know that

look :'alitoo well. ' ,

I hear before I see the activity slowing down. The
light is changing! There is only so much time left to get
his attention. Lovely ~e~erves her chance at true love, no
matter her tastes. Oh, Helen, guide me! He's already out of
:. casual, arm's reach, walking with a bit of a gait, 'and Lovely
is floating across t~e street. M~n aliv~, does she w~lk
pretty!

• I grit my teeth, -wrap a shaking hand around my cane,

swing the heavy wood back with all my strength,.'and bring it .

down on the back of Idio,t's right knee. Score-he goes down

like a s~6k of potatoes, like a ton of bricks, like a stocky

ballerina! .' ,

He seems ,to have taken a hard fall, and clutches his
leg and Let s .out"a cry .of pain. I hum and haw to get as far
away as I can', silently conqr acu La t Lnq myself as I watch
Lovely' run past me" I turn, and she clatters to the ground
'next to him, touching a beautti f'uL hand, to the' place on his
leg that I strick. Lovely pulis his arm across her shoulder
and struggles to stand and'whaddya know?'He's looking at her
with awestruck eyes, 'like,he's seen an angel for the very'
,first time flolt straight out of heaven itself.

And boys, that is how .it rs done , I catch LQvely's'"eye
and give her a little'wink. She stops for'a moment and
;stares back. Is it just me-or is her gaze'lingering? Not to

offend, ot course, dear Helen, you were much prettier.