A victim of circumstance, perhaps it should not have surprised him that she put it that way. After all isn't that what had happened to him. He'd refused to accept it and taken hold of his own life. Yet now he was almost back in the same place despite the additional financial security his activities had given him. He wasn't going to give up though.
"Changing the world then? Something it seems we think we can do, only to find ourselves sadly mistaken so often. Yet still we try because it's the only thing that we can do."
"As for the future of Reggio, it's only important in that it affects our individual futures. Making the place better can only be as a consequence of helping ourselves not an end in itself."
Another sigh. Lulu knew all too well that there was little anyone could do but make the best of whatever situation they were given for as long as they were able.
"I suppose it's just a wild hope," she said, "A foolish hope to see things change one day, when really, all we can change is ourselves. Still...I will do do what I can."
He saw her sigh again and wondered where this would lead. He had no doubt as to his own feelings on the matter. To say he didn't care what happened any longer might indeed be an understatement. Yet there was that small bit of hope still and he wondered if that was enough to save him.
"Yes hope," he said suppressing his own sigh. "Maybe foolish, maybe not." Could he change himself after everything that had happened? That little bit of hope was perhaps his only chance.
Shaking her head, Lulu laughed lightly, as if she could brushed away their worries just like that. Gipo hit it well, but she could tell there was much on his mind that he left unspoken, and far be it from her to lead anyone to examine thought or memories they were not ready to face. She had said her piece. He would take it, or leave it, as he willed.
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," she said, "Less chance for disappointment. On the other hand," she added, raising her coffee cup as if in toast, "They say high expectations are what give us the opportunity to rise to the occasion. So...Here's hoping for a profitable collaboration. May the new year bring...pleasant surprises."
Her laugh was a balm at least for the present moment. Her response to his hesitation appropriate as well. To prepare for the worst could indeed lessen the chance for disappointment. He returned her toast with his mug, "to pleasant surprises."
He sat back and sipped his coffee for a few moments content just to watch her.
"So a lighter topic perhaps, although for many it invokes perhaps more serious interest than is healthy. Do you enjoy sports? There is a football tournament coming up in the city I hear."
Lulu stirred and sipped her coffee in contented silence as he watched her, every curve of her wrists, every glance of her eye a practiced art that was like second nature to her.
She smiled in earnest when he turned the subject to sports, a rare glimpse of her inner child, as the question conjured up childhood memories--some of the more pleasant ones. "As a matter of fact I do," she said, "My cousins used to play--back before we all grew up and went our separate ways."
It was nice to see her so animated and happy after the serious talk they had been having. Her childhood memories brought back similar ones for him.
"We should plan to go to a game then. It's been a long time since I've seen a children's game and there's a children's tournament going on right now. A League play in the city's stadium starts the Sunday after next."
"I'd like that," Lulu said, nodding. "Last time I've watched any sports at all...well..." she gave a wry laugh, thinking back to the summer and Ken Hidaka's challenge to get out in the sun more, but more recently than that there was the epic match between Mona's Angel of Twilight, Soiree Meira, and the Vesco Cyborg, Frank Flam. "I think I've had my fill of watching my friends end up in the hospital after prizefights."
"I'll look into getting us tickets then. As for fights there's enough of those for serious reasons that I can agree with not finding them enjoyable as sport either."
They sat quietly again for a while taking the time to finish their coffee.
"Is there anywhere else you would like to go this evening or may I escort you home?"
Lulu set her cup down gently, offering a soft smile as she gathered her things and reached for her reticule. "I have no pressing engagements at the moment," she said, "You may if you wish."
It was a beautiful evening for the walk, clear and 8C. He walked quietly for a while, neither too close nor too far from her. He was enjoying the sounds of the partying city around them and hoping she was too.
"It's nice to see people can still enjoy this time of year despite some of the bad times we've recently encountered."
Lulu walked with him in companionable silence, taking in the sights, the sounds--the flavor of the city--a soft smile settling over her countenance as she fairly glided along. The city's pulse was sensual, almost tangible to her, and she loved it in spite of its many flaws.
"Quite so," she said, turning to grace Gipo with that same smile. "Perhaps it's just a pleasant escape to see the world through rose-colored lenses now and then, but I like to think that no matter how dark the night may be, morning always comes."
Perhaps she had a point he should consider. Was it not said it was always darkest before the dawn?
"I don't know, I'm not sure I can always find that morning waiting for me. Sometimes the fight to find it is more then I can think I can manage. Most of the time I don't think I've given up yet but then there are some days where I only see the darkness."
"Well," Lulu said, "the Buddhist side of my heritage would say that perhaps you need only to wait for the morning to find you--but the Catholic side says we must fight the good fight." She shrugged. "Either way, I'd say we reap what we sow. But maybe I'm just going soft in my old age."
She laughed then, because it was silly, calling herself old at all of twenty-two. Sometimes she just felt so much older than most of her close friends, even in a city where everyone had to grow up too fast. "Or maybe I just haven't quote outgrown my girlish fantasies of happy ever after."
"Oh, but you wear it so well," Lulu said, pleased that she had made him smile in earnest. "No one would ever guess."
She hoped he was right about claiming the best of both worlds.
"You said later," she teased, "That means we're going to be around a while longer." She smirked. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me what you believe in right now."
"Changing the world then? Something it seems we think we can do, only to find ourselves sadly mistaken so often. Yet still we try because it's the only thing that we can do."
"As for the future of Reggio, it's only important in that it affects our individual futures. Making the place better can only be as a consequence of helping ourselves not an end in itself."
Reply
"I suppose it's just a wild hope," she said, "A foolish hope to see things change one day, when really, all we can change is ourselves. Still...I will do do what I can."
Reply
"Yes hope," he said suppressing his own sigh. "Maybe foolish, maybe not." Could he change himself after everything that had happened? That little bit of hope was perhaps his only chance.
Reply
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," she said, "Less chance for disappointment. On the other hand," she added, raising her coffee cup as if in toast, "They say high expectations are what give us the opportunity to rise to the occasion. So...Here's hoping for a profitable collaboration. May the new year bring...pleasant surprises."
Reply
He sat back and sipped his coffee for a few moments content just to watch her.
"So a lighter topic perhaps, although for many it invokes perhaps more serious interest than is healthy. Do you enjoy sports? There is a football tournament coming up in the city I hear."
Reply
She smiled in earnest when he turned the subject to sports, a rare glimpse of her inner child, as the question conjured up childhood memories--some of the more pleasant ones. "As a matter of fact I do," she said, "My cousins used to play--back before we all grew up and went our separate ways."
Reply
"We should plan to go to a game then. It's been a long time since I've seen a children's game and there's a children's tournament going on right now. A League play in the city's stadium starts the Sunday after next."
Reply
Reply
They sat quietly again for a while taking the time to finish their coffee.
"Is there anywhere else you would like to go this evening or may I escort you home?"
Reply
Reply
"It's nice to see people can still enjoy this time of year despite some of the bad times we've recently encountered."
Reply
"Quite so," she said, turning to grace Gipo with that same smile. "Perhaps it's just a pleasant escape to see the world through rose-colored lenses now and then, but I like to think that no matter how dark the night may be, morning always comes."
Reply
"I don't know, I'm not sure I can always find that morning waiting for me. Sometimes the fight to find it is more then I can think I can manage. Most of the time I don't think I've given up yet but then there are some days where I only see the darkness."
Reply
She laughed then, because it was silly, calling herself old at all of twenty-two. Sometimes she just felt so much older than most of her close friends, even in a city where everyone had to grow up too fast. "Or maybe I just haven't quote outgrown my girlish fantasies of happy ever after."
Reply
"If you are old then I must be ancient," the smile reached his eyes with that quip.
"I like the way you think though. You can wait when that feels right and act when that does. You're ready to grab the best of both worlds that way."
"AS for happy ever after? That comes later, we're both too young for that!"
Reply
She hoped he was right about claiming the best of both worlds.
"You said later," she teased, "That means we're going to be around a while longer." She smirked. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me what you believe in right now."
Reply
Leave a comment