Friday, June 10, 2011

Bathroom Monologue: She Danced

She danced like no one I've ever seen. You ever stick your hand out the car window and wave it up and down in tune to the breeze? Like it's a wing in the wind, or part of an invisible current? You ever done that when you're tired and your defenses are down, and you find that feeling becomes more important than steering the car? No, you'd never admit it, but I do that. And watching that princess bound and dip like she didn't have a backbone, it was like watching another person perform the feeling I get in my hand. She wasn't lithe, but a girl made of wires couldn't have done all that. She made me a fan of ballet inside of one minute. It was the only real elegance I've ever seen, so in rhythm with the music that I never would have believed she was improvising, and I never could have believed anything else. I knew right then on the edge of my chair that this was the woman I was going to marry.

It's a lucky thing I fell in love with her at first sight, too, because goddamn, she was a case. Snuck into the reception and discovered my princess chewing out her horn section for being a quarter-beat off. I tried bringing her a glass of bubbly and she blew past me, spilling it all down the side of my jacket. Didn't even glance back. 

A few minutes later I sidled up and she handed me a glass. I thought it was an apology and sipped it. But as soon as I tasted the stale stuff, she laid into me. Thought I was staff and wanted me to take her old drink to the kitchen, not sip it and listen to the conversation. Even when I explained her mistake, she had this way of making it seem like I was wrong.

Should have backed down, as I didn't fare much better in conversation than I did as a waiter. Got verbally spanked on the history of dance, and then on the history of sculpture. As I slunk away she complained that she didn't want to see anymore fans, and I warned a couple of approachers on my way out. Apparently I did it too close to earshot. She peeled right between her fans, berating and jabbing me in the chest until I was up against a wall.

That I didn't throw her across the hall is evidence of love at first sight, or at least extremely patient lust. Even charging me, this woman could move, shuffling her feet like a bird. But banging my head was still too much and I stripped off my jacket, still wet with her stale drink, and tossed it in her face.

Even then, I wasn't really mad. I just wanted to see how mad she'd get at a legitimate provocation. The reaction? Angry like birds in rage, all exaggerated head turns and fluttering her arms. Any time she got tiffed for the rest of the night she'd glare at me across the floor, like I was an investor in everything that got under her skin. No doubt in my mind that's how I landed the first date.


This is a new version of an old story that ran in BURST Magazine in 2009. This version is dedicated to five people. The first four are Sonia, Mari, Catherine and Danni, who talked with me on Twitter about the lack of happy endings in flash yesterday. The fifth is Randall, who deserves one.

43 comments:

  1. I used to do a lot of dancing, and well that stereotype of the prima ballerina is pretty accurate more times than not.

    I liked how the MC kept his cool through all this, and as always, happy endings are kinda nice sometimes.

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  2. I dug this one, John... Am I right in pointing out that this doesn't have the usual 'Wiswell' tone? Felt much harsher than usual... Which, as you know, I gravitate towards.

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  3. I liked being lead through the story with his attempts to catch her attention. Looks like it worked. wink.

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  4. en pointe, un pas du chat, thank you for inviting us into the coryphee

    marc nash

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  5. She may have loved to dance, but she was a real prima donna wasn't she! Give the man a star for effort, that obviously paid off! Happy ending! :O)

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  6. Loved the penultimate line about the investors in everything she hated. Does he really land that date or is this total self-delusion?

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  7. I loved the earlier parts of the story of him just trying to get her attention as a man (and not a fan or waiter). I'm thinking love is blind and all of that. Or his self-esteem is kinda lacking. Makes me want to be a fly on the wall at that first date. Great job, sir!

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  8. Some people just like to be pushed back, like it's the challenge that turns them on more than anything else. I'm sure this couple will have many good spats in the future. And a few good nights of make-up as well. Not that I envy either one, mind you. :)

    A good story, John.

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  9. Very funny - everything about it is charming.

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  10. Michael, haha, couldn't ask for a better first comment than firsthand experience validating a little of my plausibility. Thanks, Michael!

    Anthony, I'm always experimenting with style, tone and vocabulary. It's reaffirming to read someone thinking I'm deviating. How different does it feel, Anthony?

    Lara, how long do you think he held that attention?

    Marc, you're welcome for the complimentary tickets.

    Helen, funny, this is sort of my second #fridayflash about love people don't understand. Previously I wrote for Narcissus's girlfriend. Maybe this guy should give her a call.

    Scribbler, I promise you it is not delusion. He got a date. It went well, too, by way of going terribly.

    Alan, I'm sure he has self-esteem somewhere. She just needs to punch through enough other personality walls to reach its indignation.

    Stephen, I certainly would have left, but then I would have been out of there before the performance was over. Different strokes!

    Cathy, you even found the first paragraph humorous?

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  11. Wonderfully descriptive, but...

    He ends up with a headcase dancer with a God complex and that's a happy ending? For whom?

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  12. Heehee, I have to agree with Tony. Shrews cannot be tamed, they only get worse with age!

    Great little story though, I had to laugh when he tossed his wet jacket at her.

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  13. I'm with Tony and FAR. He should run, not walk, and get away from that nutcase. Nice job of describing bad behavior.

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  14. John, this is one of my favorites. For the life of me, I can't explain why. This is just so great.

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  15. So Tony, FAR and Tim form Three Musketeers begging this guy to get away from her. My defense? The heart wants what it wants. None of you fellas have ever loved against your better judgment?

    Max, anything of mine that leaves you so happy you can't articulate it feels like a winner.

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  16. Perhaps, as a flash fiction rookie, I shouldn't say, but I do think you're right: not enough happy endings.

    This story was smooth. I like how it pulls you in at the start. And yay for the first date. Although, she sounds like a...

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  17. Somehow I'm reminded of the boys in elementary school tugging on my pigtails. Boy did I let 'em have it for that!

    This is very well written John, with just the right amount of longing and just the right amount of frustration woven together to make a beautiful story.

    Interesting that we both did romance this week.

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  18. That was a fun read. The ending fit and I could see someone telling his buddies about this in just the manner it was written.

    AJ

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  19. Charming. I think Cathy got that just right. I sure hope the first date went better than the first meeting.

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  20. I left the story wishing I could shake him. Enjoyed it!

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  21. I can only imagine their fights...
    Yes, this felt different from your usual 'layered, tongue-in-cheek' style.

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  22. "or at least extremely patient lust" Yep, that sounds about right to me. It's amazing what a guy will do for a pretty face or a sway of the hip.

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  23. love to see sidle used in a sentence.. well done and yes she is quite a case..

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  24. A well written and interesting story John, I wouldn't give much chance to their long term future together though.

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  25. Henrietta, are you rookie to reading it, or just to composing it? Because the dwindling happy ending is endemic in a deal of serious literature.

    Deanna, sometimes you just feel like a story about lovin'. Always got to try new things, right?

    AJ, I was going for the tone of him relaying it like that. Glad it achieved properly for you.

    Laurita, if I tell you it went worse and that sealed the second date, how will you respond?

    WJ, and he'd probably deserve it.

    Laura, I'd like to imagine their fights being the sweetest parts of the relationship.

    Danni, I'll have you know I've seldom done anything dumb for a sway of the hips, outside of self-destruction.

    Mr. Solender, all hail Seinfeld.

    Steve, given the story is two years old, they've lasted a while, right?

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  26. I have to agree with Tony on this, but I agree with your point that the poor guy got what his heart wanted. LOL :D

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  27. such a diva! LOL Liked the part he threw the drink at her (drink throwing usually goes the other way around) But I don't hold out much hope for this relationship.

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  28. I like this character, John. Any guy that can fall for a witch in funny shoes must be a true romantic - or crazy. In either case I wouldn't mind hanging out with him. :)

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  29. Thanks, man. Always been one of my favorites.

    I was holding off commenting until I dug up the old version to look at, you know, actually be helpful. But the hell with that, now, I just love this one.

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  30. I'll be helpful some other time. Thanks, again.

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  31. I think it says a lot about me that I don't actually see that as being a happy ending...but if being stuck with such a melodramatic bitch makes him happy, then fair play to him. I did like the tone and the voice of this, it seemed very genuine.

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  32. Melodramatic bitch? Ohhh, that's precious in so many ways, Icy! lol

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  33. Thank you, and yes it's much less dark than what I normally read here. I really thought he'd belt her when he took off hurs jacket, but the happy ending was a great surprise. Excellent, as always!

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  34. The ending made me smile, but I wonder what a man with such a high tolerance level is doing with such a mad hen? Loved him, disliked her. But, maybe that was your intention. Hmm.
    Well done.

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  35. My God what a terrible person. And so well described. I hate her.

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  36. I love the descriptions of how she blisters everyone with her complaints. You capture that early stage of love where someone can't do anything wrong. Hope he learns to dance on eggshells.

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  37. Mari, glad you enjoyed it, even if you're split on the outcomes.

    Sonia, how many dates do you give them?

    Chuck, well, I may have a little of him in me. The romantic patience, if not the preferences.

    Randall, you're plenty welcome. Happy to give you the props.

    Icy, the sickest burn on the dancer so far goes to this lady.

    Ganymeder/Catherine, much less dark than what I typically publish?

    Deborah, perhaps a man with that high a tolerance is looking for an emotional work out? Good question, Deb!

    Matt, haha, I think most people would have a similar reaction in life.

    Aidan, he's got some experience at it. Maybe not the dancing part.

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  38. I agree with Icy, he should have dumped the drama queen immediately. But the story was well written and conveyed a lot in a short period. Thanks for including us.

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  39. Good gravy! Who'd wanna date a nasty creature like that?! Lol. Hmmm...can't wait to see how he handles her menopause.

    :P

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  40. Okay, I agree with most, but the very beginning, comparing her dancing to that hand feeling when driving...that was masterful. To be so free in any dance or event as your hand feels when it catches the wind--that sort of got me longing, for what, I'm not sure. You grabbed me.

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  41. Julie, glad you enjoyed the craft, if not the center of attention. She seems to be the most loathed of anyone I've created recently.

    Kat, those nasty creatures never seem to have a shortage of companions, for plenty of bad reasons. Perhaps some good ones, too?

    Peggy, so glad that intro did something for somebody. It's my favorite part, though most people seem more taken with her despicable behavior later on.

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  42. Reading from the Wiswell repertoire is always a class in writing. In this piece you created such complexity in the MC and the prima donna.
    I particularly liked the opening imagery.
    Adam B @revhappiness

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  43. I've fallen for a girl or two like this, the one alluring quality (in this case dance) stirs the emotions which feel like love, a love that is unrecognized—unrequited, yet composure is maintained to the point the peeling veneer exposes the unsavory prima donna to an intentionally blind eye (wow, long sentence alert. breakdown in 5...4...3...2...). Yeah, you got it going with this one. Thanks.

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