Out the window, autumn the season of change, orange and crisp; he looks backward to the bed. She is there crumpled and gorgeous between the sheets; she smiles and there is change. Outside the leaves blow and the paperboy, breath like dragon smoke, flies by on a skateboard and chucks a tightly rolled paper into the dormant brown grass then disappears.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she says. He can hear her stretch, soft and slow.
He turns, her hair is dirty blond; her face round and familiar. He realizes, with no discomfort, she looks like a picture he saw of his grandmother when she was a young woman. She had taken the time to wash her makeup off last night — drunk with wine and anticipation — she had scrubbed her mask away for him.
“Okay,” he says and thinks about fresh coffee, and he wonders what has changed in him. Inside his chest he has always harbored bits and pieces of former lovers. Now they are gone, digested, fully absorbed.
She gets up, and he watches in the reflection of the window, she is an opaque ghost, he turns to catch only a glimpse as she disappears into the bathroom. The shower runs, the toilet flushes. Change, he thinks — it hurts — he wonders what she’s done; perhaps it is what she hasn’t done.
***
In the kitchen he grinds coffee, warms still shelled eggs in water, he knows the secret to a great omelet. He has a tiny herb garden on his window sill and he harvests basil and rosemary. She comes fully dressed and takes the coffee without reply.
“Cream?” he asks.
She shakes her head no.
“Omelets,” he says hopefully. “I make good ones.”
She smiles.
“I have some time,” she says, “if we hurry. I have to meet a friend later.”
He doesn’t know who could possibly be more important than omelets. Panic, fleeting, in his throat — part of the change.
“Okay,” he says and cooks them.
At the front door he puts his hands on her waist.
“Can we meet later?” he says against his will; it is not supposed to be so frightening.
“Maybe, call me,” she says, looking unnerved.
***
Out the window, it snows, tiny tightly rolled pellets of ice gather in layers. He dials her number on his cell phone for the third time. This time he hangs up instead of leaving a message. He searches himself for what has changed. I was alone yesterday, and am alone today. For a fleeting moment she was here, that was all, he reasons.
The phone rings, he looks at it, overwhelmed, confused — the caller id flashes her name.
“Hi,” she says. “I can’t meet you today.”
“Okay,” he says. “When then?”
“Some other time, I’ll call you,” she says. “I’ve got to run. Goodbye.”
The phone is dead in his hand, cold, the display darkened.
***
Out the window, autumn the season of change, orange and crisp; he watches the reflection of the window, she is an opaque ghost, he turns hoping to catch a glimpse of her, crumpled and gorgeous, but she is not there.
Bosley Gravel was born in the Midwest, and came of age in Texas and southern New Mexico. He has worked numerous dead end jobs, and now makes a living working on computer networks and various related activities. He has been making up stories from an early age, and from time to time they end up on paper.
A new and interesting story is posted every day.
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21 Responses to “VICISSITUDE • by Bosley Gravel”
Comments
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March 13th, 2009 at 12:45 am
I like this – sad and poignant.
There’s a word missing, I think, in the 5th para. “A” glimpse?
Well done.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:10 am
The title is superb—and it got better from there. I liked everything about it. 5/5
March 13th, 2009 at 3:54 am
So sad, so well written.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:31 am
A pleasure.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:52 am
[...] vicissitude – mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to [...]
March 13th, 2009 at 5:37 am
[...] vicissitude – mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to [...]
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
March 13th, 2009 at 6:35 am
I suppose this is a story of the way beautiful women just use vulnerable men and then drop them when all the men think about is eating, especially when the men are less than beautiful themselves.
March 13th, 2009 at 6:36 am
A nice, clean story, Bosley.
March 13th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Bosley Gravel is one of my favorite authors. He never disappoints – and this story is no exception. Great job Mr. Gravel!
March 13th, 2009 at 6:58 am
A gentle introspection. It suited me mood, thank you.
March 13th, 2009 at 8:22 am
This one left me a little sad, just what it was supposed to do. Great story.
March 13th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Brilliant!!! The main character is very aware of all the details of life going on around him, but can’t place a finger on what’s going on inside. Mr. Gravel catches the experience so well he makes the reader feel it. I especially like the line about former lovers falling away. That particalar line placed me in this guy’s head. So very good.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:14 am
“She” of course is a beautiful autumn leave, possibly between sheets of early snow. The season is changeable.
Marriage is not in the air. I particularly like the phrase “Outside the leaves blow.” What does the poet refer to with question “– he wonders what she’s done….” Does the poet mean D or S?
March 13th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Whoa .. . thanks for reading and your comments everyone.
March 13th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Fixed that typo in paragraph five, thanks Robin.
March 14th, 2009 at 5:07 am
I enjoyed this. Lyrical and sad. I imagine the old lovers will be resurrected and the gorgeous one will join their ghostly rank.
March 14th, 2009 at 5:47 am
Greta-
The love all seemed one-way. I hope the disappointed male resurrects with someone who knows how to make blinzes.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:20 am
I loved this, it was beuatiful and sad and really rang true. Your of writing is very nice as well. Definitly a five from me!
March 14th, 2009 at 10:39 am
[...] Read more: VICISSITUDE • by Bosley Gravel [...]
March 14th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Ditto most of the above. A beautiful piece of poignancy. Most of us have been rejected, at one time or another, by that “perfect one” so most of us can identify with the loss and with the bittersweet pain that accompanies such a permanent heart-slice. Excellent bit of writing, Bosley! Fives all the way!
March 16th, 2009 at 1:45 am
Loved it.