My Sunny Story

It's my day off and that is how I am treating it for a change. I have chosen for myself a place in the sun for my little story, it's full of sunlight. I sit on the John Hay Library steps. Manning Chapel is across the street. So are three guys from the Telephone Company working on or in this pothole. Let me point out that I am not intimidated by their presence in my assumed space for the hard hat guys will always hold a special place in my heart. The bell rang from across the street. Those must be the bells I hear, I'm never quite sure where they come from. My little story starts--the one with all the sunshine--with Tom and I going to Louie's to look for a suit for the wedding. I did my work at Elizabeth's and was getting anxious waiting for Tom. Although I told him to take his time, I was pacing up and down. I worked my program and settled down. He drove up and we were off for Boston. Tom had his little ditties, the silly dialogue that usually gets to me, but not today. I have to remember that I am the more sophisticated one, back and forth from these stores, and that Tom has not had as much experience as I. Usually I don't remember that and I put him down. He tried on several suits. I also put down the color grey, and to my surprise, the grey suit looked the best on him. In fact, he looked grand, as my Irish friends would say. My hang-up with food did not seem to spoil the day either. Tom asked if I wanted to have lunch in Boston. I said I'd rather have lunch when we get back to Providence. The ride home worked out well also, I almost fell asleep. We parked the car in L'Elizabeth's lot and walked over to Great Soups in the Arcade. Risking using the word grand too much, lunch was grand too. Sean and I went to the Brown A.A. meeting at 5 o'clock. On the way home, I dropped Sean off with his baby present at his friend's house. It was at this point that I had to exercise my first choice of the evening. Should I go home, or say hello to Tom? My motives (for a change) were not to see the house, but since it had been such a nice day, and I was so close to Tom's house anyway, I could say goodnight to Tom in person. My second choice was harder. I was comfortable at Tom's house and I wanted to have some ice cream from the old spot--the homemade cone with jimmies--not to mention, how good it tastes, when Tom brings it in and I don't have to move from my cozy spot. At this point, I had to risk. "O.K. Tom what do you want?" Tom hesitated as usual, and I assumed, was afraid of saying the wrong thing. Well Ruth, I'd likeÞ to have something to eat, some ice cream, and some sex. O.K.I say, "your house or mine?" My house. We had our dialogue and put our plan into action. Third choice: Should I stay overnight or go home? I risked and stayed. I woke up at 4 a.m., but managed to get back to sleep. Tom had the coffee made and I didn't get upset because he was up first. Good coffee too. We talked and watched the birds eat their bread that Tom had put out. When I lived at home with Tom, I was always yelling at him for doing that, but this morning, it was so beautiful, the green bushes and trees, those birds eating their bread. Look Ruth, Tom said. "There they go all in a row, North I guess." Before I left, I told Tom what a spiritually great time I had. Putting my hand on his shoulder as he sat eating his bran flakes, I said, "Thank you Tom, it was wonderful." He said, "I love you." I said, "I love you too." And I left.

Copyright; Ruth Mahoney 6-Oct-87