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CSUDH - Habermas - UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan, Transcend Art and Peace
Created: November 1, 2001
Latest Update: November 2, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

The November Novel - Day 2
Chapter 1: NOW as a Goldfish

Copyright: Jeanne Curran, November 2001.
"Fair use" encouraged.

Silly dream. I don't look like a goldfish. Well, blond, but not gold. And that's a mistake. It's supposed to get gray. So, instead it turns blond. Story of my life. If it had turned gray like it's supposed to, pace grammarians, but I can't always say what I think in your brand of grammar. Too arrogant, too stilted. Where was I now? Oh, yes, if it had turned gray like it was supposed to, maybe "they" would have taken me seriously, kind of like an elder statesman. I always dreamed of growing old with gray hair, and a terribly sophisticated demeanor. I should've known better.

Maybe I wouldn't like being an elder statesman. Maybe I'm used to being an outsider, a geek. I remember when I wanted to be accepted. Well, maybe I would have settled for just not being totally rejected. Like maybe daddy could buy my Christmas present this year instead of stealing it?

"Oh, yes, let's go down to Thalia Street. I'll bet they'll have a Santa Claus, too."

Everyone's going. The store is so pretty. I like the lights, and the pine cones, and oh, look at the reindeer. Maybe I can find something for Mother. I like that scarf. She looks so pretty in drapy things. Maybe we could get it. Daddy, . . . where is Daddy?

He's so tall, I'll see him. Oh there he is, over there by the dolls. What's he doing? He shouldn't be doing that. What if somebody sees him? I wish I hadn't come. Oh, please don't let that man see him. I want to go home. Mother, I want to go home. Why didn't you come with us? I want to go home.

"Yes, Daddy, I'm coming."

I know better than to drift back into Woolworth's. He didn't get caught. No one ever knew. Except I did. . . . 314 words. I counted them.