Let Go and Go On and On by Tim Kinsella

Author:Tim Kinsella
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Curbside Splendor Publishing
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

PART 3

Annie Hall

(1977)

Far across the grounds, beyond the men hanging garlands on the palm trees, the caterer’s people set up tables under a tent.

In the thick and tickling smell of fresh cut lawn, you worried a moment that your white jeans and white T-shirt might get stained green, the pollen drift of landscaping.

You hoped the caterers set up their tables upwind from the stables.

With a long slug from your tropical cocktail, one hand on your hip, you surveyed all of it, the perfectly groomed sprawl.

You didn’t usually have a second cocktail before lunch, but the guests would begin to arrive in only a few hours.

No need to be nervous.

You were conscious of your own affectations; you felt at home within them.

Wearing your hair a little shorter, feathered, helped with the impression that you fit in.

Keeping your bangs still a little too long past your brow maintained your sense of continuous self.

You sauntered over, watched the people decorate the pool, the careful balancing of the floating bar with just the right number of bottles on each side of the inflatable Santa in sunglasses.

One chubby Mexican girl kneeling at the pool’s edge, leaning, eventually insisted the younger white girl get undressed and jump in.

You smiled when they noticed you and paused.

They were nervous that you might offer a late-blooming opinion to contradict the efforts they’d already invested.

It really looks lovely. – You told them.

The chubby Mexican girl looked to the younger white girl, and the younger white girl smiled to you.

Thank you ma’am. – She said, squinting into the sun.

Her voice had both the twang and the throaty-quality that you had been aware of shaking from your own voice since first arriving in LA.

Yeah, you bet. Great job. – You said, pitying her, her voice, her lumpy forehead.

You couldn’t look at her, couldn’t consider her any longer.

Turning, you bumped into a maid in a hurry, flustered carrying a basket of stacked white towels.

Oh. I’m sorry. – You said.

Oh no. Excuse me – she replied, visibly embarrassed.

It’s OK. Are you OK?

Oh yes, yes. Fine, miss. Just need to get everything together.

The maid started to step away, but your thoughtful gaze obligated her to pause a second.

She squirmed.

You know, this place really looks beautiful today, doesn’t it? – You said.

Yes ma’am.

You really did feel – it hit you sometimes, when you stopped to look, that you did live in some kind of dream– a young girl’s dream of being a Princess.

Sometimes I just look out over all of it and I can’t believe it.

It really is a very beautiful estate ma’am.

Isn’t it?

You could sense her impatience to return to her work.

The maid said – You are a very lucky woman, ma’am.

You nodded thoughtfully.

You could see how people would think so.

Despite herself, the maid almost rolled her eyes, but instead said – Excuse me then, ma’am.

*

From behind, Paul hugged you around your waist and, moaning softly, you leaned back into the embrace.

Smiling, folding your cold drink in towards your wrist, you spun around into his arms.

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