Final Collection

by Jesse Goodrich

CHAPTER 4

  Sitting in his motel room, feeling able to finally relax after the long walk into town, Adam analyzed the chair he was in. He always noticed the subtle differences in chairs, especially when compared to his own and in this case was satisfied at how firm the cushions were. The slight discomfort made Adam feel like he was completely away from routine; even his office chair had adjusted itself to a unique and welcoming feel. Picking up his glass of water Adam surveyed the room while remembering yesterday’s events. “Sure, beauty is always noticed, but the way it felt looking at Officer Murray for those few seconds, it was unexpected,” Adam knew it had nothing to do with her in particular, which is what bothered him. Putting one hand on the nightstand to feel the integrity and also giving him something to grasp as his frustration gained momentum, “Which means my perception has changed, from noticing to actively searching…why so soon?” Adam gripped the table feeling as if he were going to send it soaring across the room - taking his hand away the anger which was focused in his hand and on the table drew back to the heart of him. Louder than expected but not shouting Adam released the steam building in him “Damn light…” calming down and being honest with himself Adam sighed, “Damn my curiosity.” He knew it wasn’t right, but the lie seemed good to say again in his mind, “If I hadn’t gone down that alley, I wouldn’t feel so conflicted.” Adam’s curiosity came in a strong wave that was usually reserved for improving productivity at work. Starting to feel ashamed that his curiosity was almost exclusively reserved for the office, Adam thought back to where it led him in the past. It was most prevalent when he met someone unlike he’d ever known before, just like when he met Sarah, but more importantly it was with people, “So why now, on something I could have easily missed, something that has no bearing on what I do?” Adam paused, rethinking the question, “What was I hoping to find?” Satisfied this question was enough for him to think about at least over breakfast tomorrow Adam moved to the bed and laid back, shutting his eyes, to drift away hearing the sound of cars passing.

  Time lapse

  Standing about thirty feet above the coast of a small, semi-hidden, inland lake, Adam enjoyed the view from a bluff he remembered being brought to when he was younger. Summer afternoons spent here romantically enjoying everything, usually brought him to reminisce about how life was different, not easier, but so much different many years ago; instead, Adam was looking at each of the trees surrounding the lake and watching the wind drive the water in waves away from him. The short, wide waves in the dark sky made the water look almost black beneath the white frothy tips. Adam was standing tall and breathing deeply to enjoy the cool air and he thought about his morning. Of the many foods and meals Adam enjoyed, the breakfast this morning was near perfection to him. What started, when he was barely nineteen, as a simple coffee and a cigarette while reading a newspaper at his hometown diner, slowly evolved to a hardboiled egg, toast, Irish bacon, and a small glass of orange juice. This was a breakfast reserved for only when he came back to visit, Adam figured it to be extra incentive to return. He still hadn’t reasoned an answer for the question he formulated the night before, “What was I hoping to find?” but that didn’t bother Adam, there was plenty of time to work it out. The puzzle of self, the mystery within, made Adam feel like he was searching his soul and thoroughly enjoyed coming up with answers. Allen’s message this morning meant Adam was going to leave early the next day, which still gave him an afternoon and evening to relax and focus on centering himself once again.

  Time warp

  Being at his desk in the office, Allen answered the transferred phone call with his usual business enthusiasm, “Good morning, this is Allen.” Immediately Allen recognized the voice of Eva, the young woman who he’d ask to come for an interview later this week. “Eva…sorry, hi, what can I do for you?” Allen struggled to remember whether or not she gave her last name when he approached her four days ago. Sweetly but with a keen sense for directness, “My apologies Allen, I won’t be applying for a position after all.” Eva replied. Allen was slightly in a panic, after what happened the other day with Adam, he felt that the effort would be almost for nothing, but he controlled himself realizing there would be other people and other opportunities and he appreciated the call in advance anyway, “That’s fine...” Allen was interrupted as Eva continued, “I wanted to express my apologies by inviting you to dinner tomorrow, four o’clock at The Double Pub,” she giggled over the words Double Pub as if she were forcing it, “Sorry, it’s not the most professional venue but, I don’t know, it jumped out at me.” Allen was now running on emergency systems, trying to figure out what Adam would do in this situation, “His mind was always so much quicker,” Allen thought as he clenched his fist. He could always have Adam go in his place, but neither of them would recognize each other. Having nothing else Allen determined it best to fall back on the truth, again resolute that there would be other opportunities, but now before he could say anything Eva jumped the conversation again which made Allen think of Adam and how he and Eva may just hit it off after all, “I can tell that maybe you have a wife,” Eva manipulated, “But feel free to invite her and a friend, really, I just want to apologize.” Then she was gone. Allen was happy that everything was basically still where he’d hoped it would be but was struggling with the idea that she wanted to apologize over dinner, about not being able to take his offer for a potential job. Also, “She didn’t even wait for me to say yes,” Allen said aloud. Realizing he was talking to no one he continued in thought, “She must really want to check that place out whether I’m there or not.”