The Party

Continued from Horse Teeth

She felt dizzy immediately on entering the apartment, and steadied herself on wall to her left. When she opened her eyes, she saw herself in a full length mirror in front of her. She studied herself as the last vestige of vertigo drained away, and what she saw was encouraging.

The tears that a moment ago were welling up, stopped short of shedding, and gave her eyed a bright glisten that emphasized their color. Her anger at Horse Teeth brought some color to her cheeks, effusing her pale skin with a vigor that she didn’t feel. She straightened her shoulders and allowed herself to smile a little while she admired what the little red dress she was wearing did to her figure.

If she can’t get some information out of someone looking like this, she didn’t know how else to try. Of course, the blond man may not even be here. Of course, he may not even be the person she remembered from the University. Of course… she turned away from the mirror and that thought before the vacant, helpless stare she’d seen in the mirror the last few days returned.

The apartment itself was much larger than she would have expected from the building she entered. The center room alone easily held the twenty or so people in various states of leisure. Maybe the tray ceiling and floor made the room seem more spacious. Maybe it was that the walls were all white.

Everyone and everything in the room was black and white. The floors were black and white marbled tile, the walls were white, and all the furniture was black leather or a dark stained mahogany. The art work fit the theme, from black and whites on the walls, to obsidian and porcelain statuary. The men and women around the room were in black and white; plain, two toned, striped, plaid, even paisley, but always black and white. All the men carried black roses, all the women carried white. In fact, only two things in the room weren’t black or white, the wine everyone was drinking, and her dress

And, of course, everyone was looking at her.

“Not what you expected?” Horse Teeth asked. “I so love seeing the look on people’s faces when they see this room for the first time. That’s all right, dear. I’ll certainly hold it against you. I can’t take credit, though. All of this is Neill’s.”

Horse Teeth looked down her nose at her, “You’ve met Neill, haven’t you? Tall. Strong. Blond. I’m sure you have, he’s been to the university. No? He remembers you, in fact, he was sure you’d come tonight. He’s been killing to see you again.”

Whether Horse Teeth meant it or not, the coincidences hit her hard. If she was going to get anywhere tonight, she would have to react better.

“How rude of me,” Horse Teeth said, turning to the room. “Everyone, this is Aisling.” A few scattered glasses raised slightly, as everyone turned back to their conversations. “Mingle, dear, and let me get you a glass of wine.” With that, the woman she couldn’t stand, left her in a room full of people, she realized, she did not know.

Horse Teeth

She considered herself a fair person. To be fair, sometimes she was quick to judge others. But she always and immediately made an effort to define some circumstance or defense that would excuse the other’s actions or viewpoint. This way, she was sure to have looked at both sides of the issue at hand, and have talked herself out of some catty dislike. She could be sure to tackle an argument, rather than an idiot. All in all, it was one of those automatic processes that kept her from saying or doing something that she would regret later. Most of the time.

Horse Teeth was the one woman who defied the system, and could not receive her benefit of the doubt. It was not always like this, but the combination of her abject rudeness, brown nosing, and refusal to go away or leave her alone became unbearable. But still, standing in front of the door to Horse Teeth’s apartment, she mustered up an I-hope-it-pains-you-that-I’ve-condescended-to come-to-your-party smile.

When the door opened, she had to congratulate herself that ‘Horse Teeth’ was definitely an apt sobriquet. Horse Teeth stood there with a smile as stiff and fake as her invitation to this party. Her smile exaggerating her large, flat, and wide teeth until took up half of her face. Horse Teeth had a stubby, ordinary nose and two round, black, beady eyes that were unflatteringly magnified by her circular glasses. She would have had a dumpy build if she wasn’t so tall, so she was a solid rectangle instead of a perfect square. Her attempt at a cocktail dress ended at the white rose in her straight, dull black hair.

“You’re here,” was all Horse Teeth said.

“Analynne. “ She kept her voice flat so it wouldn’t betray her anger and suspicion.

“For my part, I wasn’t expecting you. “ Horse Teeth said eyeing her up and down. “And who would have expected that, after everything, you’d clean up so well.” Horse Teeth leaned toward her so she could smell the red wine already on her breath. “You don’t even have bags under your eyes.”

She bit her tongue to keep from biting Horse Teeth’s nose.

“Since you are here, you might as well come in, “ Horse Teeth pulled a white rose from a vase in the corner of the small foyer and thrust it at her. “You need this. It’s a surprise for later.” The wooden smile turned wicked as Horse Teeth opened a door off to the right and stepped aside, allowing her guest to pass through.

She paused a moment, fought the tears and bile welling up simultaneously, and stepped into the last place she would willingly go. She made a mental note to later feel smug that the door to Horse Teeth’s apartment looked more like a coat closet than a respectable front door.

For now, however, she needed to remember that she needed to be here. Two days ago, from too far away, she watched a blond man firmly assist her husband into a sedan. This morning, one thought pulled her back into the world. She remembered the only other time she saw the blond man was in the halls of the University, laughing quietly with Horse Teeth.

Assignment 3: 2 poems

Haiku:

Strange how one misses

The clear morning’s crisp blanket

And sipping spiced tea.

Limerick:

There once was a boy from Buffalo

Who thought he might give writing a go

But his wife pinned him down

and tweezed his eye brows

At least now that boy's ready for show

Issues

My computer has suffered issues and needs to be reloaded, so I have been unable to get on line for the past two days, my apologies to both of you for the lack of posts.

Assignment #2

My lovely wife graciously (read mistakenly) gave me the holidays free of due dates, so here is my next assignment. This one lent itself well to continuing the all dialogue story telling, as if you were at the next booth over trying really hard not to eavesdrop.

Write a short story (<300 words) in which a man finds out over the phone that his son/daughter has just brought home a trumpet and is signed up for lessons.  The child is under the age of 10.  Due 1/3.

“Hey, buddy, you taking care of Mom while I’m gone?”

“That’s good to hear.  Hey, I got you something while I’ve been here.  All the kids have been using them on the beaches.  But you have to promise me something, you can’t throw it around the house, OK?

“I’ll tell you after you promise…. After you promise… All right -- Have you ever heard of a Friz-Bang?”

(Holds the phone away from his ear, laughing)

“You only have to wait two more days… Yes, two WHOLE days.  I’ll be home before you know it.  Mom wants to talk again?  Love you too, son.”

“Yes, I did….  I know his birth day is next month.  That gives us 30 days to find something else… Well he already knows what it is...”

“It’s a kind of Frisbee… The Bang part is the cool part… Of course it makes noise, he’s ten…  At least it’s directed noise making…Look, it doesn’t even work unless you throw it right, otherwise it just sort of -- whistles…  No, it’s nothing like the Bomb football – wait, your right, it kinda is…  But this ear piercing screech changes depending on how you throw it…”

“How about this, I will take him to the beach and you can relax at home with the quiet and the book… I thought you didn’t even like the beach... The beach is MADE of sand, hon… Fine, what else do you want? …  OK, I promise to help him with his new school work.  So what is it...? OK…”

“So, Mom said you had something exciting to tell me about… Slow down…  That’s awesome, Bud – wait, the Band… Don’t you need a paper signed or something… no? …  So excited you just…  ya just signed right up… That’s – that’s great…  Dare I ask...?  Oh, the Trumpet… Two days ago... The Trumpet...  That’s just wonderful...

“Yep, I’ll help you every day, just like Mom said… you and me, bud… hey, I got an idea!... why don’t you learn a song to play for me when I get home… What song...?  Your favorite song! Are you ready kids? ... I can’t hear you! …  Ohh -- Who lives in a pineapple under the sea… Absorbent and yellow and porous is he… Don’t’ worry it’ll be great, ask Mom to help… She’ll love to! … Let me talk to your mother again… Be good, no more boogers in your sister’s hair.”

 “Hon, He doesn’t know that tone is sarcasm yet… Tell me you didn’t do the same thing… of course you didn’t, c’mon the trumpet... at least it’s not the sax.  Oh, and ‘Promise to help him with his new school work’… No you didn’t, you sounded much sweeter, I should have known… Squarepants… Yep two  whole days versus the next ten years, you still make out even if it is the weekend…  If nautical nonsense be something you wish… No, the response is Spongebob Squarepants…”

“I love you too -- Marry me… Every day, love…  See you soon… Kisses…Bye.”

Assignment #1

Yes, that's right.  In addition to setting up this public space, my wife is helping me further by giving me assignments.  Everyone should have a wife as wonderful as mine.

Seriously.

Assignment 1: Write a dialogue in which God explains to "Dave" that he has decided to end the world and has chosen Dave to warn people.  Unfortunately for God, Dave is unconvinced of who he is talking to.  100 words or less.  Due 12/20.

--What are you doing, Dave?

-Man, when you say it like that it gives me the creeps.  Make me feel… like I’m doing something wrong, Like I’m about to be eaten by a Super Computer.  Ya know?

--(grins) Sorry.   I mean, what’s up?

-Too much, I’ve to my Aunt to take care of, my neighbor’s dog to take to the vet, my best friends brother just got evicted for drinking the rent money, so I’m cleaning a room for him. And there are already 9 of us in the house.  Swamped.

-- How’s the family?

-Well, if my son doesn’t have the dishes washed by the time I get home… I should call him right now.   (dials)

--Dave, doesn’t it get to be too much?  You ever count the cost?

-What do you mean?  (in the phone) Where are you?

--I’ve decided to end it all, Dave.  The world.  Over.

-So you are God, now?  (in the phone) Isn’t there something else you should be doing?

--Yes.  On both counts.  I need you to tell the world, give them some time to think about it.  OT style.

-(in the phone) I don’t care what your sister is doing! It’s what you’re not-- 

--Will you do it?

-(gestures with the phone, pointing at it, glaring, while the voice pleaded on the other side; in the phone) I am your father!  I don’t care if the world ends in 5 minutes!  Do it! (slams the phone closed)

--Will you?  If you won’t, there is no point to continue.

-Can’t you see I’m busy?  I’m already late.  (gets up)  Why am I humoring you?  Stop pretending to be God.  It is sacrilegious. (the phone vibrates)

-- There is nobody e—

-(in the phone) What.  YOUR son is not liste –

Poem: Modernity

Modernity, you come to me crowned Caesar

Into Rome.  Triumphant, lacking shame,

With captives in your train.  But who these two?

High Ideals of antiquity brought low.

The first, the large and noble Chivalry,

Graceful in even defeat, against whom

Your power first arrayed.  His field well chose

And perilous, his fellows strong of arm,

Lady at his side.  Who could best this hero?

Modernity, master trickster, General sly,

You spoiled his game.  For what in nature is fair?

Does Darwin fight one to one?  Or Hawking

Bide his time to let the foe arise?

His destrier unburdened bucks and rears

With echoing report.  His lady glares

With feminist zeal and the smoking discharged gun.

Mighty Progress!  Peerless seducer proud!

A grinning toast to you of blood red wine.

Modernity, let me lay this laurel wreath

Of conquest on your twice victorious brow.

The second captive, mocked in porphyry stands.

No open field hosted bent Romance's fall,

But subtle plotting, sweetly intricate.

Your genius elevates your foe in screen

Until his risen fame has climbed so high

That leity dare not to hope his grace

receive.  And in between his hight and those

Courageous lies a tangled forest you've sown.

Here model nymphs and lusty displays blink,

And beckoning beats and siren's song entice

To dance and grind in boiling seas of limbs

Entwined in mirth.  Where moans of parting legs

Replace the sighs of parting lips at the sight

Of roses.  Where once the fire kindled bright

By blushed breaths of poets inspired dreams,

A four alarm blaze of obsession now frights.

A shout and shot of Chambord, I toast you, victor.

But hold before you rest, finish what you've

Begun, and root your enemy out, he thrives

In me.  Your time now, your chance, my strength

Vainly used in brave sorties uncheered

Returns to hide entrenched behind these walls.

Assay these weary defenders, call upon

Your vassals and tributes all.  Gather your pow'r,

Your host entire charmed, and battle this influence.

Should I survive my cloven heart's collapse,

The battle won, I'll toast with glistening eyes

And hemlock true, your latest, greatest, victory.