Down on the street below, crossing around the fountain, a man and a woman
are talking. He is riding a bike and carries a backpack. She is walking
and has her books clutched to her chest, arms wrapped around the books.
As the man tries to stay level with the woman his bike tips and sways and
he constantly makes correcting moves, tipping and swaying. He travels
jerkingly across the pavement, covering a lot of ground to get mostly
nowhere.
The woman walks in a straight line, head facing forward, no movement
in her shoulders. Her eyes look to the left and the right trying not to
focus on the man but always returning to him.
He opens his mouth to say something
She: Don't. Just don't.
He: But-
She: No.
The woman turns her head to the edge of the road and her body follows. She
resets her shoulders and continues walking in a new straight line.
The man sways hard to follow.
* * *
Nearby from the darkness underneath a tree a younger man watches light
refract in the droplets from the fountain. Reflections dance on the
surrounding buildings.
He had said the Saturday Night Fever dance floor was not to be
missed. This town is the fount of all earthly delights.
The young man opens his right hand and looks at its contents: a delicate
gold hoop earring that He had given him afterwards. It's alright,
we don't have to see each other again. Take this to remember me by.
The man clenches his hand, raises his arm, cocks but then relaxes. He
lowers his arm and walks to the fountain holding the earring between his
thumb and forefinger. In the fountain large hard fish thrust their heads
upwards and spray shiny white water on the reclining woman at the focus
of the fountain. A wind blows the spray from the fish gently against
the man's skin.
* * *
Later when the restaurants have all closed and all the people are gone a
man and a woman walk up the street to the fountain holding hands. They
walk far apart, in contact only by their outstretched arms. They walk
slowly, throwing their feet in exaggerated curves. Their eyes gaze every
which way and return to smile at each other.
When they reach the fountain they see at its edge a delicate gold
earring. They sit down on opposite sides of it. The man looks down the
street to where they had been.
She: This is pretty. I think I'll keep it.
He: Make sure you wash it before you put it in.
She: I know, don't worry.
The woman turns to look into the fountain.
She: I remember when I first got my ears pierced. My mom was so mad. She
didn't want me to do it so I went with my cousin and didn't tell my
mom. When we got home I had these two ugly fake diamonds in my ears
and my mom said now you just watch yourself or your ears are going to
get infected.
He: And did they?
She looks down at the earring and slowly spins it on the marble. She looks
up at him. He smiles. She slowly looks down and then up again. She smiles.
Spring, 1992