“The woman arrives on time, looking beautiful. It’s always good to have a beautiful woman. Her hair hangs in loose plaits, falling onto the scarf that he gave her last Christmas. He knows she is wearing it for him. He knows she does it to make him happy. They have only been together for three months, but he knew she was the person he wanted for the rest of his life. She had to feel the same.” “So much for exposition. Now, what of the complication? As she walks in, he takes her scarf and jacket, I remembered that. He is nervous; I can’t help but feel slightly worried about what she may say in response, but he has followed the plan; she can’t say no. He brings out the meal I have prepared.They eat.” “Next slide, please.” “‘You seem like you have something on your mind,’ she says to him, with a smile. The smile takes all his anxieties away. But there must be a complication. Fiction insists on a complication.” “‘Will you marry me?’ She starts to laugh, uncontrollable laughter.” “‘Ahah, you always were funny,’ she says, dabbing her lips with a napkin. Her mascara has run. My mouth goes dry.” “Walters, pay attention. Next slide.” “Sorry, Sir.” “As I am sure you will all agree, he has been wronged and humiliated. How could she do this to me? He needs to take control. Fiction likes a hero, not a coward.” “‘Won’t be a minute,’ he says. But it’s all so feeble.”
79 17
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs