Twang went her heartstrings.
Twang, twang and twang.
It was who he was internally that mattered. Not the outside.
Oh, she’d seen plenty of that in her life already. The “outsides.”
But, those twangs had never, well…
Struck chords in such discreet ways before.
“Don’t let Prufrock get the best of you,” she whispered, as he wandered down the beach.
Later that night she’d think only of him in the jacuzzi full of strangers.
The moon was down, but the stars were out and everyone left poolside was floating in the blue on tangents of their own. The familiar characters were there — water people, no doubt.
Each one was different.
The men were like sea lions in a pride. They hung together in a loose net of friendship challenged only by the appearance of various twentyish-something females who could tend to break the equilibrium of their car talk or sports talk.
At that point, Shell’s curiosity kicked in.
What would they do?
Which one would be the first to move?
She watched them silently from her corner like a cat, with a sly smile spreading.
The tallest had a penchant for draping himself languidly along the hot cement. His ribs rose hugely under the whorls of fur he carried.
He was the one who was the most seaworthy.
How could Shell tell?
Battle scars.
He was just one giant series of cuts and scrapes from working on things with his hands. His knees were like elephant hide they were so calloused. These things made him handsome, beyond that ruffled hair and flash of devilish blue eye. He reminded Shell of an aquatic Bond figure — lounging that way, with his keen wit.
Over the course of the last few weeks he’d managed to alert Shell to the fact that he was now alone … and the fact that he missed the way that women had acted in the 60’s. He’d spoken of that many times, all loungily.
But Shell?
She’d had that twang happen.
The twang said “wait and see.”
Wait and see…
It was going to be a long, long, long time until Shell was going to be able to see, or at least see him again.
She could wait.
The trouble was that Shell was, well, taken with the whole idea of him.
Everyone else paled by comparison.
“That’s how it always is for me too, Shell.”
“When I really like one of them.”
“I mean I can’t even talk.”
Shell was describing her thirteen year-old-style crush to her old best friend who was in the process of divorce, herself.
“I haven’t felt like this in years, Jayce.”
“I haven’t.”
The trouble was Shell realized that almost everyone was in the same boat after a certain age. They were all looking for the thing they hadn’t found yet, or the person, or the soul mate they thought that they’d been promised given the times they already lived out.
Maybe it was true love they were looking for.
“Maybe not, Shell.”
“Well, I am.”
“That and a painterly life, for this last half. ”
“I mean, you know, really fall in love?”
“Is that what you are after?”
“Maybe.”
Maybe all of us are…
Shell watched the sea lions perform and she sensed their lonlinesses and also the wariness.
Their generation had almost burned itself out in love. Loves that were lost, or loves that had left them scarred for life. It was easier to talk about car parts.
~
VALENTINE BONNAIRE - WRITER 
I have read this several times. You are really the most “power observer”, and that really doesn’t say it…I believe I have ever met and I can see why Carver is your idol, even in one reading of his writings, and in listening to his poetry on the Youtube..
The ability to say so much, with so few words, but perfectly chosen? That is what you do better than anyone. You create it all…atmosphere, feeling, emotion, and much much more…and you do it, so..
powerfully.
rr
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This is just beyond, as a compliment — so before I fall off the chair?
gee.
I am going to fall off. whatever you “get” from my stuff — thank you!
thank you! thank you!
this is a minimalist one?
thank you!
mean that……
Robin from Adrienne!
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Adrienne,
You gave me a compliment, and really, from you, it was so meaningful?
but, I am smashing my pens, in honor of your gifts
I am…
I feel so good about it..I am so happy right now, I can’t tell you…
my heart feels so light again….
I plan to pick up my flute..and play my guitar…
I hope to be there when you read this.
If I have to write something to qualify?
well, geez…
pray for me in that event.
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No, you are going to see where it all will be and at what hotel and then you are going to sign up!
And then in June 2010 you will be there as well!
And it will be fun.
And wonderful and it will be a break from all the rest, and when they hear you read you will feel supported and it will be the greatest!
(and in the meantime, maybe someday I will get to come out to the desert and visit before June, and that will be fun too — and light.)
It’s going to be a good year, Robin.
I’m glad you are going to play — and no, you sign up! You need bring nothing but your presence to that Conference and whatever you want as writing — there is no judging — it’s one of the best weeks you will ever spend, I swear!
On my facebook you can see I am linked to Marcia and also Perie — they are the main faculty at the Conf…poetry and the head of it all!
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I am not a writer Bonnaire, and can’t I be happy for five minutes?
geez.
Being a musician has been very time consuming? I think you understand this.
I will be there at the conference if you want?
Promise. I promise..
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Let me get this straight. You aren’t a writer, but?
You have written songs.
You have written poetry.
You have written fiction.
You have written things about oilies.
?
methinks you should give yourself a tad more credit?
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
sez I to you,
you be a writer too!
hugs, virtually!
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yup, I am not a writer.
I write, but I am not a writer.
good try,
I mean you really almost tricked me (not)
lol
so sez I
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fyi?
here is a writer.
https://vbonnaire.wordpress.com/
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okay.
thank you?
but, you are too!
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I have only a few questions because I can’t see you. In your response to me?
Did you have a serious look on your face?
or
Did you smile?
or
Neither
if Neither, Please explain.
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A smile.
Even if you don’t want to admit it?
You can write, and I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t mean it.
Whether or not you choose to believe that is something else entirely!
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well I am trying to write since you say so?
otherwise, it would not show my respect for your thoughts.
So?
I am trying.
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Now I am smiling!!!
On my way out the door.
I’ll be back.
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