The International Writers Magazine: Love Moment

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Stereotypical People • Julia Gordon Jennifer was excited walking down the street in her tight red jeans. In the new jeans, the birds seemed to be singing just for her. It was a bright and fresh spring day, and Jennifer was bright and fresh, with her own song to sing. Oh, if her life were a musical! She would toss her hands above her head and go down the street singing beautifully, joyfully as a fine white dove.

Yes, that is how she felt, a white dove with smooth, fine white skin, and long curly blonde hair. She was a beauty, yes a fairytale beauty. She smiled, she beamed, and the whole world smiled with her. Old men beamed at her from the sidewalk, perhaps a bit lecherously. Wasn’t she beautiful in her fresh white blouse? Oh, to be young, the old thought, as they looked at her. Oh, to be beautiful, the unattractive thought, as they looked at her, as she smiled at them with benevolent superiority. There was a spring in her step and it seemed to say, "I’m going to meet my boyfriend, my boyfriend, my boyfriend! I’m going to meet my boyfriend, la, la, la, la." She had a little tune to it in her head. She bounced along jubilantly, a jubilant little ball of sunshine.

Alexander sat at the coffee shop brooding and drinking his coffee. He was a dark young man of 24, handsome, dating the 20 year old Jennifer. He was the admirable grad student, getting his graduate degree in philosophy. He sat there, brooding over Heidegger’s treatises, his eyebrows drawn in the deepest of concentration. Sitting there, he knew just how intelligent he was. He knew he was more intelligent than probably anyone else in the café. He was witty. His memory was excellent. Now his fine mind flitted freely over the pages of the text, taking in each fine subtly of terms like "being-of –itself-edness." A fine, delicate, subtle concept indeed. But Alexander’s mighty, attuned brain could take it in and absorb it as if it were nothing, and he would be able to perfectly, adroitly discuss it in class on Tuesday. Yes, and all the class would feel enlightened, and nod admirably at the insights spawned from his delicate young brain.

Now Alexander sat reading in rapt attention, and his face seemed to be saying, without saying, "Hmmmm, yes, that’s very fascinating, very fascinating indeed, why yes! Hmmmm." And so he went on reading, with his face saying this. Because he was so intelligent, and his mind was focused on such high and enlightening things, he did not even notice that it was 3:45 and his girlfriend would be just out of class, coming to see him. No, that was the farthest thing from his delicate, intelligent brain. He sat in his chair, with his intellectual antennae up, so to speak.

Then Jennifer flitted in. The young men turned surreptitiously in their seats to notice her. She had the most beautiful smile, and her doe-like brown eyes invited men to stare deeply into them. Now she ordered a coffee, but Alexander had not even looked up, so concentrated was he on Heidegger’s complex philosophies. Jennifer thought he looked so adorable, with his brow furrowed like that, so intellectual in his green sweater and brown corduroy pants. She could already see him, the ruffled, absent minded professor, walking around the college, with young philosophy students following at his heels with questions, like disciples.
She had her coffee and now she sat down cozily close to him and peered over his shoulder.
"Watcha reading stud?" she said, playfully towselling his hair.
Alexander looked up, eyes slightly furrowed with annoyance. He did not like to be interrupted when he was concentrating deeply, especially not by something as frivolous as his girlfriend.
"Heidegger," he said rather irritably, closing his book with reluctance.
"Really? What does he talk about?" Jennifer asked brightly.
"Oh, it’s very complicated, I don’t think you’d understand," said Alexander.

Alexander knew in his heart that Jennifer would not understand. It was obvious to him that he was much more intelligent than she was. In fact, he was growing rather bored with her. He was thinking of breaking it off. How annoying to have his reading interrupted for silly chit-chat!
"Well, you’re so smart," Jennifer cooed. "That’s what I love about you baby."
"Yes," Alexander frowned, barely acknowledging this obvious fact. "And you know, I’ve been thinking, Jennifer. My studies take up much of my time. You know this. A philosophy major must be serious, high minded, dedicated, and I wonder if you understand these things."
Jennifer frowned, looking hurt. She was a political science major, she was in a sorority. What could be more important than she was, she wondered? After all, she was the prettiest girl in the café, she was sure of it. What was more important than that?
"I’m afraid this isn’t working," Alexander said coolly. "I’m too busy- my mind needs to be on my studies, just now, and I’m afraid you just don’t understand. You don’t understand my life philosophy. You don’t understand me at all!"

There was a note of triumph in Alexander’s voice. He enjoyed smashing this stupid girl’s hopes and dreams, smashing them as though they were delicate glass ornaments. Yes, he was a bull in a china shop, smashing her dreams! And of course he could philosophically defend his position. If asked he could write a lovely twenty page treatise on why things with Jennifer must end, quoting great philosophical minds and eloquently proving his point. This treatise flashed before his eyes and he thought perhaps he would write it and send it to Jennifer, should she need further explanation.
"You’re dumping me for Heidegger!" she shrieked.
"I didn’t think you would understand," Alexander said coolly, with a tone of resigned sadness in his voice.
"You jerk! You big jerk!" Jennifer began to cry pathetically, tears running out of her big, pretty brown eyes.
"Now my dear, don’t make a scene!" Alexander said.
"I’m leaving!" Jennifer snapped. With that she picked up her bag and bustled out of the café, leaving a faint scent of expensive perfume in her wake.

With a quiet, "Humph!" of satisfaction, Alexander opened his book and continued to read where he had left off. He felt very pleased with himself. His handsome, dark face glowed with satisfaction. He was glad to have simplified his life, glad to have done away with yet another unnecessary distraction. Really, one must focus on what’s important!

Jennifer walked down the street, mascara smeared, heart broken. The birds no longer sang for her. Now the ugly girls looked at her triumphantly. This pretty girl had been crying! Hah! Serves her right, for being so pretty, they thought. Jennifer wished the bright spring day would turn to rain. Oh, her poor broken heart! But three days later she met a hot guy named Drew at a kegger and fell madly in love with him, forgetting all about Alexander.

© Julia Gordon December 2008
sushibuca at gmail.com

Evening Singing
Julia Gordon
Evening came with the singing of insects, every little voice chirping and wanting to be heard. Kelly was at home with a bottle of wine

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