Authors: Gina Ranalli
Holding the vase out to the wall, she smiled and laughed. “Oh, I know I shouldn’t have picked them, but aren’t they gorgeous? It’s just the right time of year for them. They’re at their peak, you know. Soon, they’ll be wilting.” She plucked one out of the vase and pressed its blood-red head against the wall at a height just slightly above her own nose. She held it there long enough for Wally to get a good sniff before sniffing it herself and returning it to the vase. Placing the vase on the table nearest Wally, she turned back to the wall and wagged a finger at it. “Ok, now, if you don’t let me finish what I’m doing, you’ll never get to hear about our fabulous day.”
With that, she gave the wall a stern look, feigning seriousness before leaving the room to return to preparing their plates.
* * * * *
She unfolded a card table in front of the wall, with a single chair opposite it for herself and placed their fabulous Italian dinner on it, complete with one burning candle in the center.
She gave Wally an especially large helping because, God knows, men love to eat big, and poured beer into his mug for him.
As she bit into a piece of Italian bread, she asked him about his beginnings, but he wasn’t very forthcoming with that information. The woman assumed it was a sore subject, which was something she could relate to and instead proceeded to tell him about her own upbringing. Her parents were monsters she said. Abusive and neglectful monsters. School had been nothing but a torment to endure, though she’d somehow managed to get decent grades. She’d left home the minute she’d been old enough and fell into a wild torrid romance with a young handsome artist, whom she eventually married.
“
Of course, that turned sour faster than a cup of milk in the sun,” she said. “But, oh well. We all go on and recover from these little setbacks, don’t we? What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger, so they say.”
She sipped her wine and tucked her hair behind one ear. Nodding, she said, “That is
so
true! Let’s drink to it.” She held her wine glass to the wall. “With age comes wisdom!”
Smiling, happier than she dared admit, they finished the meal chatting and laughing until her plate was completely clean of even a speck of red sauce.
“
Whew! I’m stuffed! I think I’m going to have to hold off on the pistachio ice cream for a bit.” She watched the wall, then laughed. “I think
someone
is trying to get me drunk.” She made a tsk tsk sound, made a valiant attempt to hide her smile, then drained her glass of wine and helped herself to another.
She stared at the wall, tilting her head just so, hoping she looked attractive. When nearly a minute passed, she realized they had slipped into an awkward silence. She cleared her throat and said, “Well, you sure didn’t eat much. Is Italian not your favorite?”
Pause.
“
I always thought it was everyone’s favorite, but Chinese is definitely up there too. Next time it will be Chinese, I promise.”
Pause.
“
Oh, you don’t have to say that! My feelings aren’t hurt at all.”
Pause.
She laughed. “Okay, okay. I believe you. Italian is your
second
favorite.” She hesitated then said, “Well, why don’t I put on some music for you to listen to while I get this cleaned up?”
Without waiting for a response, she rose from her chair, went to the stereo, and, still feeling in an Italian mood, chose a Frank Sinatra CD and put it on.
While Frank crooned, she gathered up the dirty dishes and piled them atop each other with an expertise that could only mean she had at one point in her life been a waitress. She did, however, leave her glass and the bottle of wine and asked Wally if he’d care for another beer, even though he’d barely touched the first.
“
Don’t be silly. It’s no trouble at all. Besides, that one must be warm by now.”
* * * * *
By the time she returned to the living room, the CD was half over and Wally seemed to be snoozing.
“
Wake up, sweetie. I have to show you the pictures of our day.”
Pause.
“
I know. I’m sorry. I had to print them first and while I was waiting for them I figured I might as well load the dishwasher.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes, playfully tapping the wall with one hand. “Oh, you wise guy!”
She removed the drinks from the card table, placing them instead on the end table beside the roses, and pulled the table away from Wally. Leaning against the wall, almost snuggling into it, she held the stack of photos up next to her left shoulder, the images facing the wall.
“
See? Here I am in the park with that fancy fountain. Oh, and this is that Jackson Pollock painting I thought you’d like. I’ll tell you, a
lot
of people linger around that one.”
She showed the wall all the photos that had been taken that day, including the ones of herself in the movie theater. “And this is where the hero rescued the girl from the burning car.” She dropped the stack of photos to her side. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any more of the movie or even know how it ends because that’s when the manager threw me out. Some ridiculous rule about cameras in the theater apparently. Not to mention, I think that bitch beside me complained to him about the flash irritating her.” She shook her head in disgust. “It’s not like I didn’t pay for the damn ticket, just like everyone else.”
She tossed the pictures on the table and snuggled up to the wall, running her fingers across it at chest level. “Oh, I know. I just get so annoyed.”
Several minutes passed with just the sound of Sinatra finishing up his last number. She closed her eyes, relishing the firm steadiness of the wall. “Mmmm,” she murmured. “I feel so safe and comfortable here. You make me feel so…alive.”
Her eyes flew open and she moved away from the wall. “Why don’t we watch a movie?” she suggested. “To make up for the one today?”
She didn’t wait for Wally’s response, just started going through her DVD’s and tossing various titles over her shoulder at the wall. “How about
Pirates of the Caribbean
? I just love Johnny Depp. No? Ok, what about
Slingblade? Beyond the Walls of Sleep?
Really? I think that one is so strange, but if you’re really in the mood for it…”
She turned the television towards the wall and pulled over one of her chairs so she could sit beside Wally. Then she turned off all the lights and they began watching the movie. “Someone gave me this, actually,” she said. “It’s not the kind of movie I would normally buy.” She stopped talking abruptly, then whispered. “Oh, ok. Sorry.”
Curling into her chair, she absently reached out now and then to touch Wally, and when there was a particularly scary or gruesome scene, she turned her face from the TV and did her best to press it into the wall. Not an easy feat from her arm chair but she still managed it fairly well.
The movie was intensely bizarre and often she found her mind wandering, looking past the TV and out the window opposite Wally at the night beyond.
Settle down, girl,
she thought to herself.
Don’t get too carried away. Remember what happened with the last one. You’re not even sure how he really feels about you yet. Oh, sure, he
says
he thinks you’re beautiful and he’s never known anyone quite like you before, but isn’t that what they all say when they want a piece and nothing more than a piece? You’ll just have to be patient and see what happens. And see how patient
he
is. That will be the true test. If he’s willing to get to know you—the
real
you—if he’s willing to wait.
Then
and only
then
will you be able to give him your heart.
She fell asleep in her chair, hopeful thoughts in her head, and a vague smile on her face.
* * * * *
Sun shining through the window into her eyes jolted her awake and she immediately looked at the clock. “Oh my God,” she exclaimed. “I’m going to be late for work!” She leapt out of the chair and faced the wall. “I’m so sorry I have to rush out like this. Will you be okay on your own? You have the TV and of course you can help yourself to anything in the refrigerator. I’ll call you later, ok?” She blew the wall a kiss and then hurried upstairs to shower and get ready for work.
* * * * *
As it turned out, she wasn’t all that late, which seemed to make the day drag on and on. Several times from her desk, she called her home phone number, listened to her voice on the outgoing message, and talked to Wally.
“
Hi, sweetheart,” she said. “How’s your day going, baby? Mine is ok. Busy as usual but still dragging. Every minute I’m not with you seems like an eternity. I know how silly that sounds, since we just barely got together, but that’s just me: a silly schoolgirl type. I promise this ridiculous stage will pass soon. You don’t have to get all panicked, thinking I’m trying to snag a husband or something like that.” She laughed nervously. “I mean, come on. You haven’t even met my parents yet! Even though we don’t get along, I’d still like to get their approval, you know.” She burst out laughing. “Oh, calm down! I’m only joking!” She paused, then said, “Well, okay, I’d better get back to work before my boss finds out I’m making personal calls again. I’ll be home a little after five. See you then, sweetie. Bye!”
When she hung up, she noticed the woman at the desk next to hers watching her. She smiled and said, “I have a new beau. Nothing serious yet or anything, but…” She giggled and showed the woman her crossed fingers. “A girl can hope, can’t she?”
The other woman, much older and rather stodgy, returned to her work with a slight shake of her head. She never smiled.
* * * * *
She returned home that night fairly exhausted from dealing with people all day. Not only were people tremendously boring but most of them rubbed her the wrong way, being so judgmental and self-righteous.
Wally, of course, was nothing like that. Wally calmly listened to her complaining and never once complained himself. He was always there for her and she was beginning to suspect that he always would be. He was so strong, so loyal. She doubted that he would ever stray; he just didn’t seem like that kind of guy. In fact, the more she got to know him, the more she suspected that the strong silent type was really more of an act than anything else. A way of protecting his own heart. She began to sense that he was actually quite shy and sensitive, deep down. Maybe, like her, he had been hurt one too many times and was cautious about giving himself to someone. Maybe he feared betrayal, just as she did.
These thoughts made her even more fond of Wally and after spending a week or so with him, she finally decided to call her one friend about him. She hadn’t seen the woman since college, more than ten years ago, but they still kept in touch. Well, truth be told, the friend didn’t actually call her—ever—but the woman understood how her friend wasn’t much for talking on the phone and didn’t hold it against her. She knew a lot of people were like that.
She brought the cordless down to the living room with her and sat in the chair next to the wall. “Now, normally,” she said, “I’m a person who thinks it’s healthy for a couple to have a few secrets from each other and respect each other’s privacy, but since I know how insecure you are, I’m going to let you listen in on my conversation with her. But—you have to promise to be quiet. No interjecting or interrupting. Deal? You promise?” She smiled at the wall. “Okay, then,” she said and began to dial.
When the phone was picked up on the other end, she could barely contain her excitement. “Hey, it’s me,” she said. “How are you?”
Listening, she waited a minute before cutting in. “I have good news,” she said in a sing-song voice. “I met someone special.” She reached out to touch the wall, ensuring Wally that she was indeed speaking of him. “No, no,” she said. “That guy was a loser. This one is
amazing
. Truly. He’s so kind and gentle and
funny
! Oh my God, you wouldn’t believe how funny he is.”
Her friend said something and the woman nodded. “That’s nice. But anyway, his name is Wally and I’d really love for you to meet him sometime.” She glanced over her shoulder at the wall and whispered “Shh!” at it. Into the phone she said, “Yeah, he’s here right now. And
very
shy. I think he’s afraid you’ll disapprove.”
She listened again and suddenly frowned. “Really? Well, okay, I guess I’ll let you go then. I just wanted to give you the good news. Say hi to Mike for me.” She paused and smacked her forehead. “Right! Mark! Sorry about that. Say hi to Mark for me. Okay, bye now.”