Buh4Bee
09-05-2011, 02:42 PM
Etiquette's Dictation
It was the time of the year when the song of the cricket's succumb to the patter of rain. On
this particular Friday, you could hear the tires rushing over the wet tangled leaves. The sky broke and a ray of light shined into the classroom, illuminating the desk of the teacher leaning over a pile of paper. Looking up into the sky, she felt an acute ache from the brightness.
Her husband and son walked up the sidewalk and she motioned them into the school. Mrs. Roberts flipped a few more pages in a curriculum guide before walking into the hallway. Standing in the light of the door, she leaned down to greet her young son. Picking him up, she noticed the last blonde highlights fading into dulled shades. Inhaling him, she embraced his tiny body.
Out of the corner of her eye, three men passed as she kissed her husband. This trio had a movement unto its own that only the familiar identified instantly, as if they were shadows from the past. This pack of men were father and sons resembling each others inner and outer spiritual construction. These were good men, even if poorly flawed.
Franz faced her as she hesitated before looking over her shoulder. He stood with pocketed hands, while brightly smiling into her eyes. She had not seen him for years, but had often dreamed of this smile and to encounter it was stunning. It was of pure joy radiating through the dim hallway with the energy to blow back her hair. He often smiled this way in her class after an agreement had been reach about philosophical or ethical differences. She always thought that God smiled on her through him.
When the rush of this shock subsided, she recovered herself to reply with her own smile. It was like the sun burning the vapor off the dewy morning mums. She held up the baby and walked over to Ajax, Franz's brother. She eagerly shook his hand and handed him the baby. He took the child and cooed at it as naturally as any uncle might. Although these people were all incredibly awkward they understood this about one another and for this reason their greeting was of an oddly subdued happiness.
“Yes, yes, FINALLY meet my husband.” Mrs. Roberts announced.
And there was another round of introductions and greetings. A moment of small talk was followed by an awkward pause. “Well, if I can just grab my bag, I will walk out with you.”
They walked out of the building into the rain. He was a man now as she imagined him to become. And he smiled as he observed her interact with the child carried on her hip. He told her of his studies and accomplishments. “Well, I always knew this would happen, because you and your brother are so gifted. And here you are engineers.”
They continued to chat under her umbrella, until the allotted time dictated by etiquette ended.
“You look so happy,” he said.
“Yes, and you have made something of yourself. Both of you must make your parents very proud.” Her husband pulled up besides them on the sidewalk and she waved, signaling that she was coming. “Well, it was so nice to see you again and congratulations on finishing college and good luck getting a job.”
“Likewise and you have a cute guy there.” He said as he leaned into the window and waved at the baby.
She stood there a moment awkwardly and he embraced her and kissed her on the cheek in a very open and polite manner. He continued to smile at her as she fumbled into her car. As the car pulled away, Mrs. Roberts watched him smiling and waving until he was gone. She turned, put on her sunglasses as the sky opened up and her heart began to rain.
It was the time of the year when the song of the cricket's succumb to the patter of rain. On
this particular Friday, you could hear the tires rushing over the wet tangled leaves. The sky broke and a ray of light shined into the classroom, illuminating the desk of the teacher leaning over a pile of paper. Looking up into the sky, she felt an acute ache from the brightness.
Her husband and son walked up the sidewalk and she motioned them into the school. Mrs. Roberts flipped a few more pages in a curriculum guide before walking into the hallway. Standing in the light of the door, she leaned down to greet her young son. Picking him up, she noticed the last blonde highlights fading into dulled shades. Inhaling him, she embraced his tiny body.
Out of the corner of her eye, three men passed as she kissed her husband. This trio had a movement unto its own that only the familiar identified instantly, as if they were shadows from the past. This pack of men were father and sons resembling each others inner and outer spiritual construction. These were good men, even if poorly flawed.
Franz faced her as she hesitated before looking over her shoulder. He stood with pocketed hands, while brightly smiling into her eyes. She had not seen him for years, but had often dreamed of this smile and to encounter it was stunning. It was of pure joy radiating through the dim hallway with the energy to blow back her hair. He often smiled this way in her class after an agreement had been reach about philosophical or ethical differences. She always thought that God smiled on her through him.
When the rush of this shock subsided, she recovered herself to reply with her own smile. It was like the sun burning the vapor off the dewy morning mums. She held up the baby and walked over to Ajax, Franz's brother. She eagerly shook his hand and handed him the baby. He took the child and cooed at it as naturally as any uncle might. Although these people were all incredibly awkward they understood this about one another and for this reason their greeting was of an oddly subdued happiness.
“Yes, yes, FINALLY meet my husband.” Mrs. Roberts announced.
And there was another round of introductions and greetings. A moment of small talk was followed by an awkward pause. “Well, if I can just grab my bag, I will walk out with you.”
They walked out of the building into the rain. He was a man now as she imagined him to become. And he smiled as he observed her interact with the child carried on her hip. He told her of his studies and accomplishments. “Well, I always knew this would happen, because you and your brother are so gifted. And here you are engineers.”
They continued to chat under her umbrella, until the allotted time dictated by etiquette ended.
“You look so happy,” he said.
“Yes, and you have made something of yourself. Both of you must make your parents very proud.” Her husband pulled up besides them on the sidewalk and she waved, signaling that she was coming. “Well, it was so nice to see you again and congratulations on finishing college and good luck getting a job.”
“Likewise and you have a cute guy there.” He said as he leaned into the window and waved at the baby.
She stood there a moment awkwardly and he embraced her and kissed her on the cheek in a very open and polite manner. He continued to smile at her as she fumbled into her car. As the car pulled away, Mrs. Roberts watched him smiling and waving until he was gone. She turned, put on her sunglasses as the sky opened up and her heart began to rain.