Monday, September 12, 2016

waiting it out

waiting it out




Gordy looked at his watch, hoping it wouldn't take long to get his neighbor's door unlocked. As it was, he didn't really entertain much, yet some days he thought 'entertain' might be his middle name.

After all, he had been to clown school and several classes in method acting. Still, it was Fifth graders he entertained most of the week. He wasn't sure if he could talk to adults more than 20 minute intervals.

He guessed,...he'd have too.

He offered her tea.

"What did you say your name was, again?" Funny, he couldn't think what she said.

He went to the fridge and gathered some grapes and cheese.

She hugged herself closely as if she was under-dressed for this sort of moment. He went to get his old cardigan at the back of his bedroom door and handed it to her.

He'd seen a lot of his college friends wear less, but this was different. Why did he always think about all those friends that never kept in touch anymore?

"Tiffany." He said her name after she said it.

"Gordy." She nodded.

"What?" He looked startled to hear someone actually use his name. It was usually Mr. Mayberry. Maybe Gordon, from the principal where he worked.

"Were, you doing anything?" She was serious.

"Just grading some papers." His smile was open. In spite of all the technology at the fingertips, papers still needed to be graded.

"Papers?" She looked at him puzzled.

"I teach." He stood in his livingroom, thinking he shouldn't sit down. He brought the platter to the coffee table, then the tea.

Of course, there were sketches of set designs scattered about. Before he could mention fifth graders she was looking at the sketches.

"We, I mean, the little theater used the last design." He told her he'd helped build it for a play.

"Oh." She nodded, but she barely glanced at him, as if she didn't want to be here any longer than she had to be.

Finally, she sipped the tea. He was about to turn on the TV, but she didn't want him, too. She said she had a son in Fifth grade.

2 comments:

  1. This is interesting, I hope they connect, I think they both need each other ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope they grow more comfortable around one another.

    xx

    ReplyDelete