I'll see you sad and raise you a tragic

[osprey_archer]

"Michael! Sicorra!"

I'm sitting on the swing, kicking thoughtfully at the woodchips.

"Michael! Sicorra! It's time to go home!"

The calling woman carries a bag of kettle corn and a smoldering cigarette stub. Her black ponytail bounces slightly as she walks under the trees beside the swings.

I drift back into thought, twisting the swing's chains.

"You want some popcorn?"

Uncertain, I stop the swing. Yes; she's talking to me. "You trying to get rid of it?"

"No; you just looked so sad, hon."

"Oh - no - " I stutter, mortified. "I mean, I'm just thinking." I already know that my thinking expression suggests epic tragedy, but never has a complete stranger mothered me over it before.

She smiles, not entirely convinced. "Just bored, hon?"

I beam, hoping to soothe her concern. "Just a little. And I would love some kettle corn, thank you." And I eat it, sweet and salty, as I walk thoughtfully back to campus.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Lovely. And it made me smile, because it reminded me of a time before I was married, but when I was going out with my now-husband. He was coming across the center of campus in one direction and I in the other: he had a stormcloud expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked, alarmed.

"What? Me? Nothing! Why?"

It was just his default expression :-P

I'm glad you accepted her offer of kettle corn.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

In high school, I knew a boy whose default thinking expression looked like he was in agony. As he was thinking most of the time (he ended up going to Princeton), I think many people were concerned about the state of his health.