Unscene #1

According to O. Henry, "There's a story in everything."

UnScene is my attempt to find a story behind any random object or idea that I come across as I go through my days. These "scenes" may be about something trivial or something important; it depends on what kind of story the objects or ideas want to show me. And what a show they do give!

I have always believed that stories have a life of their own; and like any living thing, they want to attest their existence.  I don’t think they want to remain unheard, or unseen.  So if it please you, friend, listen and take a look.

UnScene #1:  I got bored while waiting for my students to arrive, so I took out some chewing gum.

Chewing Gum

Joel sat behind the wheel, waiting for Michele to come out.  Pulling the road map out of the glove compartment, he again re-checked the route to the new restaurant.  The last thing he wants is for Michele to laugh at him for not even knowing which way to go.  This night, the first of many in his mind, must be 100% perfect.  The bouquet of roses waiting along with him on the passenger seat smelled subtly of his eagerness and anxiety, intoxicating and sticky-sweet.  He glanced back to the front door.  Nothing yet.

“What’s taking her so long?”  Ah, women.  He took out some gum and started chewing.  Cherry.

He remembered the last time he had waited in a car for a woman to come out of her house.  That was two years ago, on his birthday, early in the morning.  He wanted Elaine to be the first person he spoke to on that day.  So he sat waiting outside her apartment building around the time she’d be heading off to work.  Instead of roses, he had a small cake sitting next to him then, candles ready to be set, lit, and blown.  He had imagined making a wish for the future with his future wife beside him.  It would have been the perfect beginning for a new life.  His excitement was making the ring in his pocket seem to burn. 

Finally Elaine came out.  But she wasn’t alone.  The tall man beside her had his arm around her waist.  Elaine turned to him, on her tiptoes, to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him.  A long, lingering kiss.  She smiled coyly as he whispered some secret in her ear.  She stepped back and the tall man turned and walked away.  Elaine closed the apartment’s door as she went back inside.

Joel heard a door close.  He looked up and saw that Michele had finally come out, polished and radiant in a deep red dress that ended just above her knees.  Her hair was up, and her neck seemed so soft and smooth.  He knew he would smell her light floral perfume if he pressed his face to her warm nape.  He would like to imagine that scent, would like to taste it in his mouth.

But at that moment, as he looked at that beautiful woman, the gum that he had been chewing suddenly turned dry and lost all its flavour.