I couldn't sleep. I was lying in bed watching the patterns reflected moonlight made on my ceiling when I heard the faint beep of the kitchen microwave. I smelled popcorn.
I decided to fill up my water bottle and see who was up. I slipped on a thick, terrycloth robe I'd gotten from Lisa last Christmas. It must weigh 15 pounds and it's so warm and heavy I seldom wear it.
I silently glided into the main room. Leong was standing at one of our two large picture windows staring out at the night. Her left arm cradling a bowl of ultimate-butter popcorn. Anna told me last night that Leong and her long-time boyfriend, who's back in China, had broken up. They'd been together forever and had been expected to marry.
A bright half-moon was hanging high over campus, an electric ornament on a velvet background, its moonlight glint painted the world, like ice on mountaintops.
"I heard about your breakup, " I said, "what does it mean? " In Leong's world, who you dated was of family interest. That person had to be approved, their bona fides proven - they had to fit into some long term plan.
"It means I can't be tamed, " she said, with soft bravado. After a moment, she spoke again, more seriously. "It's better this way - for now - someday.., " she trailed off.
I understood. All of our hopes are resting on someday, like so many wagers at a casino. I imagined some gambler, stepping up to a betting window, in an old black-and-white movie, saying, "Gimmie 5 bucks on Someday to win."
Something in her voice, a brittleness, precluded further questions. I looked at the clock, it read 3: 47. I gave her a hug and yawning, filled up my water bottle from the refrigerator's filtered tap.
"See ya." I whispered and headed off, back to bed. With any luck I could squeeze another hour's sleep out of the morning.
I love this poem. Almost makes me wish I were back in college again. Dorm life was so much fun!
Thanks - I'm loving it. I got lucky, I really like all of my suite mates. I usually do poem, poem, story - I like to try things.
I like this poem too, but the other too, and....what that f--k word concerned, YOU are right. But I wish she has not changed her brilliant ideas for the next coming poems.
IF you asked me, Kim, I like her other story-poem too, this is a bit 'dull' to my ears, of course 'excellent' but not The Anais I know or have known.
Dear Kim, do YOU know what Anais was thinking when she read your comment here? WHICH teenager (intelligent girl) would do what YOU expect of her? Just think easy BUT intelligently, I had been such a boarding-girl too.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Now this is the kind of delightful, fascinating, honest poem I have come to expect from you. Full of great feeling and natural dialog. Well done!
Thanks - I'm SO glad you liked it - I never know what people will like but I like telling stories the best