January 4, 2005

• So This is What Happened....

  So this is what happened.  You were for some unknown reason sitting in my local community rec center, staring disinterestedly out at the mild grey winter day, when you saw me slogging by toward the office looking somewhat sheepish.  Four minutes later I went back the other direction with a determined glint in my eye and a pool cue in hand.  Ten minutes later, I'm back, cue drooping and sheepishness increased.  Another few minutes, and here I go again, this time holding a basketball.  Inexpertly. 

  By this time you're intensely curious, and dropping all pretense of disinterestedness you wander outside around the corner, where (aaaahhh, yes) a situation desperately requiring a Hero presents itself:  twenty feet up in the gnarled bare branches of a tree at the edge of the playground is a bright stomp rocket.  The perpetrator of the deed (6, male) is hanging his head.  I'm attempting to dislodge it with the basketball, but can't actually throw the thing much higher than my own arms-reach.  Another mom takes over, much more successfully, and actually nudges the rocket -- but it only falls five feet before entangling itself even more firmly.

  So you stride in with your best nonchalant gallantry, politely seize the projectile, expertly bean the rocket on the first shot, and grin kindly at the cheering kids.  Then (given that you mildy resemble -- oh, let's not discriminate on the basis of gender or age and say: Sean Connery, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Susan Sarandon, or, in a pinch, Viggo Mortensen (with beard)) you give me a laughing squeeze of the shoulder and kiss on the cheek before walking out of the scene forever.

  * * sigh * *

  Okay, okay.  It was all true.  Except for the "you" part.  So all I've got to say is:  where were you? (and if you want another chance, at last check the rocket was still there...)

  tree image outtake from photograph © Alain Briot

  • 5:54 am
  • 12 Comments