Thursday, June 17, 2021

A Scream & A Story

Source: istockphoto (Altered)

There was a s-c-r-e-a-m!

No, it wasn't a dream, but yes, I had been sleeping.

Casting it aside as mere everyday drama: an early morning petty disagreement between two people in public, I rolled over and attempted to fall back asleep.

But the screams were now G-u-t-t-u-r-a-l and WAILING!!!

Clearly, they were the cries of some aggrieved female, possibly being assaulted!!!

Alarmed, I leapt out of bed and headed towards the phone to dial 911 while peering out my bedroom window for a crime in progress.

Nothing! I saw no one! My eyes darted across the expanse of parking lot behind our complex... still nothing!

Then, there to my right, in our small patch of a dog park, I spotted a young woman crouched on the ground surrounded by two small canines.

No one else was present... just this woman, her dogs and upon further scrutiny... someone on the other end... of her cell phone!!!

What the???

Whatever was going on, the hysteria continued for quite some time, until she and her pooches were... poof!... gone. Leaving me here: in my apartment, fully awake, somewhat distraught, and like you, clueless as to what the hell just happened.

Sorry. Sorry, to leave you hanging like some french film: full of intrigue but without an ending, because I know, as Americans, we prefer our stories neatly wrapped up like our burgers with french fries to go.

Source: GW University

So, while we'll never know the story behind the scream and wailing: if they were expressions of rage, grief, agony, over something major like a death, a divorce, an unforeseen disaster or something minor, like an overblown reaction to someone forgetting to pick up a half-gallon of ice cream... perhaps we can pretend to know, in order to tie up loose ends.

Me? I'm going with a "Break-up" but one with a happy ending.

I'm imagining the "Screamer's" fiancé on the other end of the phone conversation. You know, the usual... he found someone else and the wedding is off! And after some heavy-duty wailing, off she goes... back to the apartment to shred all his stuff.

But first... she decides to rummage through his coat and pant pockets for clues of infidelity when she discovers several crumpled, lottery tickets and immediately thinks... "LOSER!" but curious, she checks the numbers online and discovers one of the tickets is a "WINNER!"

New clothes? New car? New condo?

Hell yeah! A whole new life!... She's a Millionaire!!!

Or...

Same break-up, same story, but before shredding all her ex-fiancé's stuff, she and her furry companions head off to Starbucks for a dose of consoling sweet treats.

Source: Starbucks.com

There she orders:

A Venti Double Chocolaty Chip Creme Frappuccino
An Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese
And a Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie to go

But while waiting for her 1300+ calorie order to be filled, one of her dogs gets tangled around the ankle of a guy standing in line behind her... a guy who just happens to be tall, dark, and so very handsome. But she notices none of this because she's so intent on untangling the leash wrapped around this man's leg.

When suddenly, their eyes meet.

And as they say in cliché-land

"It was love at first sight."

Enough sentimental sugar... I'm counting on you to come up with something better. You won't have to try hard, anything will be less corny and predictable than the two scenarios presented. Perhaps you're into thrillers: spies and fast cars, or rom-coms: involving magic and potions, or something Sci-Fi: centered on time travel and parallel lives.

Lift my spirits. Surprise me!



Pronounced: say-la-VEE'
French phase meaning: 'That's life'

XOX... Dyan


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