Sim_spiration Prompt 5/18/2011
Because I write a lot, and because there is a spoiler at the end, I am posting this here.
Monday Song Lyrics: “I pity the fool who falls in love with you.” “Forget You” - Cee-lo Green
Lizzie’s hands danced over the piano keys as she played the final notes of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” with a flourish. The young people who had been dancing to the tune stepped apart and clapped politely.
“Thank you,” Lizzie smiled. “Why don’t we take a short break for refreshments? There is cake and punch in the dining room.”
Everyone made noises of approval, and moved towards the food. One person, however, remained behind, choosing to stay seated on the sofa where he had spent most of the night.
“Aren’t you coming, James?” called Taddy. James shook his head.
Taddy sighed. “Go on without me,” he whispered to Calla, and went over to take a seat beside his friend.
“What’s wrong, James? You’ve been sitting here moping all evening.”
James sighed. “If I had know this was going to be a…couples party, I wouldn’t have bothered coming.”
“Aw, James, don’t be like that. Look, you can dance with Calla for a while after we start up again; I’ll offer to spell Mama on the piano…”
“No, Taddy. Dance with your girl. I’ll be fine.”
“You know, there’s a very simple solution to all this, James.”
“What’s that?”
“We’ve got to get you a girl of your own.”
James snorted. “No thanks. None of the girls in town even remotely interest me that way.”
“None?” queried Taddy, a disbelieving look on his face. “Well, what about the city? Our cousin Raymond will be growing up soon; I bet Uncle Victor and Auntie Jane would throw a party where you could meet…”
“Taddy, no. I’m not interested.”
“You’re not at all interested in girls?”
“No, I am interested in girls. Rather, I’m not interested in girls right now. Papa was the first man in the family to know who he wanted to marry when he was my age, even if he took a roundabout way getting there. I’d rather go off to college unattached, and see what my options are.”
Taddy resisted the urge to laugh. “I pity the woman you do fall for, James.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’ll be so naive about everything, and the poor girl will have completely unrealistic expectations to live up to. Come on, let me fix you up with one of Calla’s friends. You can get all the awkward firsts out of your system now. What’dya say?”
“No, Taddy. Has it ever occurred to you that I might want my ‘awkward firsts’, as you put it, to be with the woman I decide to marry?”
“I never would have pegged you for a romantic, James.”
“Neither would I,” admitted James. “Come on; maybe there’ll be some cake left.”
The two got up, and Taddy threw his arm around James’ shoulder in brotherly way. “So, Viola and Sterling, huh? Wonder what Mrs. Alcott has to say about that.”
Monday Song Lyrics: “I pity the fool who falls in love with you.” “Forget You” - Cee-lo Green
Lizzie’s hands danced over the piano keys as she played the final notes of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” with a flourish. The young people who had been dancing to the tune stepped apart and clapped politely.
“Thank you,” Lizzie smiled. “Why don’t we take a short break for refreshments? There is cake and punch in the dining room.”
Everyone made noises of approval, and moved towards the food. One person, however, remained behind, choosing to stay seated on the sofa where he had spent most of the night.
“Aren’t you coming, James?” called Taddy. James shook his head.
Taddy sighed. “Go on without me,” he whispered to Calla, and went over to take a seat beside his friend.
“What’s wrong, James? You’ve been sitting here moping all evening.”
James sighed. “If I had know this was going to be a…couples party, I wouldn’t have bothered coming.”
“Aw, James, don’t be like that. Look, you can dance with Calla for a while after we start up again; I’ll offer to spell Mama on the piano…”
“No, Taddy. Dance with your girl. I’ll be fine.”
“You know, there’s a very simple solution to all this, James.”
“What’s that?”
“We’ve got to get you a girl of your own.”
James snorted. “No thanks. None of the girls in town even remotely interest me that way.”
“None?” queried Taddy, a disbelieving look on his face. “Well, what about the city? Our cousin Raymond will be growing up soon; I bet Uncle Victor and Auntie Jane would throw a party where you could meet…”
“Taddy, no. I’m not interested.”
“You’re not at all interested in girls?”
“No, I am interested in girls. Rather, I’m not interested in girls right now. Papa was the first man in the family to know who he wanted to marry when he was my age, even if he took a roundabout way getting there. I’d rather go off to college unattached, and see what my options are.”
Taddy resisted the urge to laugh. “I pity the woman you do fall for, James.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’ll be so naive about everything, and the poor girl will have completely unrealistic expectations to live up to. Come on, let me fix you up with one of Calla’s friends. You can get all the awkward firsts out of your system now. What’dya say?”
“No, Taddy. Has it ever occurred to you that I might want my ‘awkward firsts’, as you put it, to be with the woman I decide to marry?”
“I never would have pegged you for a romantic, James.”
“Neither would I,” admitted James. “Come on; maybe there’ll be some cake left.”
The two got up, and Taddy threw his arm around James’ shoulder in brotherly way. “So, Viola and Sterling, huh? Wonder what Mrs. Alcott has to say about that.”