…I looked like a hung over magician Saturday night. I didn’t purposely set out to look like a magician, I hate magicians actually; they’re annoying. A waitress knows me as a regular and didn’t believe it when I told her why I was dressed up. Neither did the table of college students I met later in the night. Without my bag of paperwork and lesson plans, I got bored. The only tools with me were a pen and my sunglasses, so I put them on - even though there wasn’t a need for them and it was harder to see. As a reflex, my hand will immediately begin doodling on the nearest object, a coaster. I suppose it was my affinity for architecture that inspires me to draw buildings or in this case, a house.
Meanwhile, my friend was talking to a waitress who was now sitting with us. When she went back to work, another familiar face walked in and sat with us. She had had a crush on my friend but came to sit and talk to me.
“I have a single friend you should meet”, she started “I think she’d like you because you have style!”
“I do what can.” I wasn’t sure how else to respond at the time. I was tired and had other subjects preoccupying my mind.
“You even look sexy when you’re hung over.”
Even this didn’t really build enough interest for me to look up from my doodling on coasters.
“That’s why I don’t think you’re a good match with that girl you were with at the party last week.”
Now I stopped writing. Without my prompting, she began making very general statements such as:
“She wasn’t _____________ enough for you.”
I wasn’t doodling anymore, instead the pen was being strangled in my hand and I glared behind my sunglasses listening to her ridiculous judgments. My friend changed the subject. He knew I was getting upset. Still glaring at her, this ridiculous little girl, I had a moment of self assessment. Somewhere outside, was a table of her friends and I was dressed up like a hung over magician. I took my drink, coaster, and pen then walked outside.
“Howdy, you’re friend was boring me so I hope you guys are more entertaining.”
Naturally, I sat next to the cutest girl, who also turned out to be the shyest and most soft spoken. I poked fun at them. They questioned my affinity for wearing sunglasses at one in the morning. I replied by saying “I just had my pupils dilated”. They asked why I was so dressed up and I told them about my career and chaperoning a dance (or to be more specific, “I was making sure no one was doing bugger sugar in the bathroom”). They said teachers weren’t as good looking when they were in school. They complemented my doodle on the coaster. I claimed to have the power to reveal their personality just by examining how they draw a house. I teased them with a brief explanation using my doodle and made a bad joke about needing to add blinds on my windows. They replied with a perverted but flattering comment. They drew houses and I interpreted their meaning. It was very revealing for some of them and if I found them to be a protective and closed off person, I’d tease and say “Wow, you got issues. Do you need a hug? Are you okay? Remember, you’re with friends right now. Relax!” and they’d all smile and laugh.
Side Note: The House Personality test is a great way to introduce lesson plans over Symbolism or short stories such as Saki’s “The Interlopers” or Robert Frost’s “The Mending Wall” and really, isn’t that what it’s all about?
No comments:
Post a Comment