(No Title)

I sit down in the brown velvet chair at Starbuck's, turn on my portable keyboard, and wait for...what? Within a minute or two, a man sits on the couch opposite me, clutching his coffee, not looking me in the eye. He plants himself firmly in the remotest corner of the couch, feet squarely set on the floor, and looks beyond me, out the window. He is forty or so, with huge glasses, enormously clunky black tie-up boots, and a pocket protector. His jacket and billed cap display a Pepsi logo, and I glance into the parking lot to confirm he is a truck driver. Another couple minutes go by, and a woman joins him, dressed identically, only with earrings. They are trucking partners, here for the first time, pop drinkers in a coffee drinking world. She sits down a little left of center, a little closer to his side of the couch than he might have liked, and I picture each of them at home in bed with their own spouses, the men hugging the edge of the beds, and the women hugging the men. They both wear wedding rings, but not each other's. "This is pretty good," she says, as if she's never tasted coffee, or maybe has had her doubts whether there could be anything virtuous about such an expensive beverage. The man clutches his coffee close to the vest, never putting it on the little table they might have shared, never letting himself get too comfortable. The woman is a little stiff herself, at first, but loosens up rapidly. Soon, she is leaning on one elbow, head hanging back, legs crossed femininely and in striking contrast to her costume, sprawled over 2/3 of the couch, stroking the velvet as she sips. She is laughing easily at everything her partner says. He isn't a funny man, that's the thing, but he is friendly. He looks straight ahead when he talks, but she turns to look right in his face when she responds. He's afraid of falling for her, I think. And she's already fallen for him... I'm thinking her husband never makes her laugh like this. Not only is her husband not funny, he's not even friendly. The trucker, on the other hand, is sincere, honest, droll, a good man. He is not trying to entertain her, but she is more than entertained--she is relaxed and happy. And he's starting to realize it. He's only had this effect on one woman in his life, and when it happened, he married her before she could form a second impression. Now he can't believe it's happening again--lightening isn't supposed to strike in the same man twice. She takes her jacket off and throws it to the side, settling in, as acclimated now to these surroundings as if she spent every lunch break here. Over the speakers comes the tune, "I am a man of constant sorrows..." and she says, "I don't like this song." "You don't?" he asks, and then he makes some comment that has her laughing so hard she's punching him on the arm. He doesn't move, just holds his coffee a little closer to his heart, and wonders. By now, she's sitting on the edge of the couch, closer to him, and leaning into him as she speaks. He still faces forward. Finally, she looks at her watch and says, "All right, let's go." Before she can grab her coat and purse, he jumps up and makes a run for the door, eager for the relative safety of the truck. Seldom have I seen a man more frightened, or more in awe of his own astonishing charisma.

Posted by Katy on 11/15/02 at 01:30 PM

Fallible Comments...

Annie, Yeah. Um, about the giving up Starbuck's thing...
Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
I really like this entry because you have written it so vividly, and so concisely.
Posted by Ivy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
I always knew your writing was this good! :)
Posted by Bridget on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
James, It is the high caliber of my readers that inspires me. Please visit again, you high caliber guy, you.
Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Ivy, I see from your site you are in Aberdeen. (My father is from Kilsyth, near Glasgow.) Was there in 1976 and loved it! Thanks for the encouragement!
Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Bridgie, I LOVE your story about "The Bachelor." Please put your web address in your comments here! xox
Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Here's the address... www.thosewhocan.blogspot.com 
Posted by Bridget on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
bridget - since you don't have any comments on your blog, i'll have to tell you here : i love your site!
Posted by bethany on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Bridget and Bethany, I would love it if, when you guys make comments here, you will fill in the line that says "URI" with your web address, so that readers can click on it! Spread the joy!
Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
i don't know how much joy is to be had at my blog, but i'll try to remember to add the url! :) just for you, katy.
Posted by bethany on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Yes, Katy, I moved here almost three months ago now, in August. I love Edinburgh, and look forward to checking out Glasgow and Isle of Skye. Have been to Loch Ness but no monster, worse luck. Keep on writing!
Posted by Ivy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Bethany--Thanks! I don't have a clue as to how to add the comments section. Katy's husband may have to hook it up for me! Hint, hint, Doug! :)
Posted by Bridget on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
What a great narrative--my mind's eye can clearly see what you have so astutely observed.
Posted by Maria on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Ivy, So you are in Scotland for keeps? I'm jealous...
Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
Maria, Thanks! So you're going to be a doctor? And you've delivered your first baby--so exciting! Enjoy your blog very much!
Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
katy, looks like we were both doing some serious people watching last friday! *rubs eyes, looks for someone to stare at. realises she is home alone* *fantastic* moment you've captured. i'm impressed. this is reason #47 why you should not give up starbucks. ivy: i've briefly been in scotland recently. spent all of 5 hours in glasgow and a week on iona in october. (i'm in belfast at the moment.) will visit your site!
Posted by annie on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM
I'm impressed! When did your writing get to be so good???
-----
Posted by James on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	(No Title) I sit down in the brown velvet chair at Starbuck's, turn on my portable keyboard, and wait for...what? Within a minute or two, a man sits on the couch opposite me, clutching his coffee, not looking me in the eye. He plants himself firmly in the remotest corner of the couch, feet squarely set on the floor, and looks beyond me, out the window. He is forty or so, with huge glasses, enormously clunky black tie-up boots, and a pocket protector. His jacket and billed cap display a Pepsi logo, and I glance into the parking lot to confirm he is a truck driver. Another couple minutes go by, and a woman joins him, dressed identically, only with earrings. They are trucking partners, here for the first time, pop drinkers in a coffee drinking world. She sits down a little left of center, a little closer to his side of the couch than he might have liked, and I picture each of them at home in bed with their own spouses, the men hugging the edge of the beds, and the women hugging the men. They both wear wedding rings, but not each other's. "This is pretty good," she says, as if she's never tasted coffee, or maybe has had her doubts whether there could be anything virtuous about such an expensive beverage. The man clutches his coffee close to the vest, never putting it on the little table they might have shared, never letting himself get too comfortable. The woman is a little stiff herself, at first, but loosens up rapidly. Soon, she is leaning on one elbow, head hanging back, legs crossed femininely and in striking contrast to her costume, sprawled over 2/3 of the couch, stroking the velvet as she sips. She is laughing easily at everything her partner says. He isn't a funny man, that's the thing, but he is friendly. He looks straight ahead when he talks, but she turns to look right in his face when she responds. He's afraid of falling for her, I think. And she's already fallen for him... I'm thinking her husband never makes her laugh like this. Not only is her husband not funny, he's not even friendly. The trucker, on the other hand, is sincere, honest, droll, a good man. He is not trying to entertain her, but she is more than entertained--she is relaxed and happy. And he's starting to realize it. He's only had this effect on one woman in his life, and when it happened, he married her before she could form a second impression. Now he can't believe it's happening again--lightening isn't supposed to strike in the same man twice. She takes her jacket off and throws it to the side, settling in, as acclimated now to these surroundings as if she spent every lunch break here. Over the speakers comes the tune, "I am a man of constant sorrows..." and she says, "I don't like this song." "You don't?" he asks, and then he makes some comment that has her laughing so hard she's punching him on the arm. He doesn't move, just holds his coffee a little closer to his heart, and wonders. By now, she's sitting on the edge of the couch, closer to him, and leaning into him as she speaks. He still faces forward. Finally, she looks at her watch and says, "All right, let's go." Before she can grab her coat and purse, he jumps up and makes a run for the door, eager for the relative safety of the truck. Seldom have I seen a man more frightened, or more in awe of his own astonishing charisma. Posted by Katy on 11/15/02 at 01:30 PM Fallible Comments... Annie, Yeah. Um, about the giving up Starbuck's thing... Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM I really like this entry because you have written it so vividly, and so concisely. Posted by Ivy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM I always knew your writing was this good! :) Posted by Bridget on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM James, It is the high caliber of my readers that inspires me. Please visit again, you high caliber guy, you. Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Ivy, I see from your site you are in Aberdeen. (My father is from Kilsyth, near Glasgow.) Was there in 1976 and loved it! Thanks for the encouragement! Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Bridgie, I LOVE your story about "The Bachelor." Please put your web address in your comments here! xox Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Here's the address...<br>www.thosewhocan.blogspot.com<br><br> Posted by Bridget on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM bridget - since you don't have any comments on your blog, i'll have to tell you here : i love your site! Posted by bethany on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Bridget and Bethany, I would love it if, when you guys make comments here, you will fill in the line that says "URI" with your web address, so that readers can click on it! Spread the joy! Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM i don't know how much joy is to be had at my blog, but i'll try to remember to add the url! :) just for you, katy. Posted by bethany on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Yes, Katy, I moved here almost three months ago now, in August. I love Edinburgh, and look forward to checking out Glasgow and Isle of Skye. Have been to Loch Ness but no monster, worse luck. Keep on writing! Posted by Ivy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Bethany--Thanks! I don't have a clue as to how to add the comments section. Katy's husband may have to hook it up for me! Hint, hint, Doug! :) Posted by Bridget on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM What a great narrative--my mind's eye can clearly see what you have so astutely observed. Posted by Maria on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Ivy, So you are in Scotland for keeps? I'm jealous... Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Maria, Thanks! So you're going to be a doctor? And you've delivered your first baby--so exciting! Enjoy your blog very much! Posted by Katy on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM katy, looks like we were both doing some serious people watching last friday! <br><br>rubs eyes, looks for someone to stare at. realises she is home alone<br><br>fantastic moment you've captured. i'm impressed. this is reason #47 why you should not give up starbucks.<br><br>ivy: i've briefly been in scotland recently. spent all of 5 hours in glasgow and a week on iona in october. (i'm in belfast at the moment.)<br><br>will visit your site! Posted by annie on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM I'm impressed! When did your writing get to be so good??? ----- Posted by James on 12/31/69 at 12:00 PM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: (No Title) Previous entry: (No Title) << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri