"Clancy Made Her Way South Across Washington Square" (Dean Cornwell, 1920)
|
Vera Maude's Christmas In the Village
“So I went window shopping but none of them were the right size.” “Maudie, you see right through me.” “What?” “Maybe I’ve had too much wine.” “Did you just kiss me?” “I guess I did it wrong.” “Your skirt’s riding up.” “Why do they call it an ottoman?” “I don’t know. Can I unbuckle your shoe?” “Those are laces.” “Yes, I really do have to work tomorrow.” “We can go for a walk again when you get home?” "The sun's so low. It just rolls across the rooftops." “It's pretty, but, just look at that doll. I think I’m going to have nightmares.” “Hey — we should get a tree.” “Really?” “Yeah.” “Okay…there’s usually this fellow in the lane around the next corner.” “That one.” “You’re about the same height.” “More flattery. Ask him to take an inch off the bottom — then it won’t dry out so fast.” “You sound like some kind of expert.” “We always had a tree.” “Your nose and cheeks are all rosy.” “I’m all lit up.” “Maudie, we'll take it up backwards — stem first.” “Stem?” “Then it won’t catch anywhere and we’ll lose less needles. Have you got it?" “My fingers are getting sticky.” “Hey — where are your gloves?” “I guess we can just lean it in the corner. You got a bucket?” “Under the kitchen sink…I'm sorry, I don't have any ornaments either.” “How about these playing cards?” “Playing cards?…okay. And what are we going to light it with?” “Light it with? A match and some kerosene?” “Illooooominate it, as in candles or something.” “That something would indeed be candles. We can arrange some on the floor in front of it.” “And try really hard not to burn the place down.” “Bill, look, it’s snowing.” “The first snowfall. It’s always so beautiful in the city.” “My gosh.” “It’s not supposed to be but, yeah, it is.” “How it swirls and falls between the buildings. I feel the wind through the window. I'm cold." "And dizzy. Come here." “What?” “We should go to mass in the morning.” “Usually, in circumstances like this, a guy asks a girl what she’d like for breakfast.” “Would you prefer midnight mass?” “I would not.” “You keep saying should.” “St. Joseph’s, over on Sixth, just this side of the Square.” “I didn’t take you for a religious man.” “I don’t know that I am. Maybe it’s just gravity.” “Or maybe you’re forming a habit.” “Did you know even half of those people?” “But wasn’t it cheerful?” “My feet are walking faster than me.” “Let’s stick close to the curb.” “I would but the curb winds like the devil.” “It does not.” “It does. Maybe lean on the cars.” “Which cars?” “The moving ones.” “Nice pillars.” “I want to kiss you right now.” “You keep saying that.” “Never before on steps.” “Bill, somewhere in there is a pew with your name on it.” “Where’s your hat?” “In the usual place.” “I don’t see it.” “Look harder.” “He has a lovely speaking voice.” “He does.” “What’s he saying?” “I haven’t a clue.” “I thought you said you've seen this performance.” “At least a couple dozen times.” “Have they considered sub-titles?” “How would you…I can't find it...what verse is this?” “I think that communion wafer was off.” “Are you all right? Do we need to stop somewhere?” “Well then maybe you should go back to Detroit.” “I told you, I’m not from Detroit. I’m from the other one.” “The other one what?” “Let’s get some food. We should have some food.” “You’re feeling up to it?” “Something with an egg in in it.” “And some tomato juice?” “Who drinks from tomato juice?” “I once knew a fellow— ” “Is this another dirty limerick? “I want to look at the river.” “Yeah? Why?” “I don’t know. Maybe I’m feeling a little homesick.” “Okay…let’s cut up to Christopher.” “Cut up…that’s funny.” “Already rolling with skins of ice.” “It looks so cold.” “I always wonder how those seagulls manage.” “I don’t know.” “Back home I walked to the river all the time. It was like checking in, and I don’t even know what for.” “Let’s walk back, taking the side streets. I want to walk by the light of the little apartment windows, not the streetlights.” “Okay.” “We can stop for food somewhere along the way?” “Sure.” “Did you hear that?” “What?” “My God, woman. You eat pizza with your hands?” “Merry Christmas, Maudie.” “Merry Christmas, Bill.” “A camera.” “Yeah, a Brownie Model A. I remember you saying how you wanted to get into that.” “…Gosh. I do. Thanks. I hope you like your socks.” “I’m going to put them on right now.” “I don’t know what model they are.” “Look at them holding hands.” “Did you ever think…do you ever think about being with someone that long…and still walking though a park in the snow and holding hands?” “You’re tearing up.” “It’s the cold wind. Happens all the time.” “Well if that’s not it, then what’s it made of?” “Moments, chances.” Copyright December 2014, Michael Januska |