Miscellaneous Writings

Shoes on the Fence

“Hello?” she spoke quickly.

“Hey there, sis. How are you today?”

“Hi, Shirley. I don't know how I'm doing today. I'm stressed because I don't know how to answer Greg's proposal. I'm so glad he chose not to ask me in front of a crowd of people.”

“I know honey. Want me to come over?”

“Yes, I'd really like that. Thank you.”

“That's what sisters are for. I'll be there in ten minutes.”

Sally walked to the table in front of a big picture window and looked out to the ocean. Restless, she walked to the kitchen counter, poured a cup of freshly brewed coffee and sat down at the table.

Thank goodness I didn't accept the ring, she thought to herself. Why had he felt the need to propose already? We've only dated four months. Is that long enough to know if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone?

Sally heard a key in the front door and walked to meet her sister as she stepped into the doorway. Shirley leaned forward and kissed Sally's cheek. “How's it going chickee?” Shirley asked as she gave her sister's shoulders a squeeze.

She laid her head on Shirley's shoulder and sobbed. Shirley held her sister while she cried.

“Oh, I wish mom were here.”

“I know honey. So do I.” She patted Sally's back. “Let's sit down with a cup of coffee and talk about this.”

In the kitchen Sally pulled down another mug and poured Shirley a cup. They sat at the table and Shirley began.

“So what's the one thing that bothers you the most, or that makes you question whether or not you want to spend the rest of your life with him?”

“I'm not sure that there's any one thing. Greg is wonderful. He's sweet and kind and would truly be a fabulous husband – but not for me. It's a bit rushed. Shirley, we only met four months ago and now he feels that I'm the one?”

“You know as well as I do that life is short. Sometimes people just know. They are in love and there's no question that marriage is for them. So why not get started with the rest of their life? My question to you is do you want to spend the rest of your life with Greg?”

“I just don't feel like we've had enough time to experience life together. Marriage wasn't even on my mind. It's too soon.”

“Then tell him how you feel. If he thinks you're the one for him he'll respect your feelings, right? He'll allow the relationship to continue until you're ready. He's a kind and understanding man. I think if he's in love with you enough to ask for your hand in marriage, he would wait until you're ready.”

“But I'm not sure that waiting would make a difference. I don't want to hold him back from happiness. Like you said, life is too short. I think it would be best to break it off now and not continue with a relationship that I feel won't grow.”

“If that's how you truly feel, then you're right. It's not fair to give him false hope.”

Sally looked to the ocean and took a deep breath. “I'm glad you came over, Shirley.”

“Hey, that's what sister's do. I'm here for you anytime. This is a huge, life changing decision and not one to take lightly. I'm always happy to be a sounding board. I love you.”

Sally leaned over and hugged Shirley. You're the next best person to sound off to since Mom's not here. I love you, too.”

The seagulls sounded like a swing's rusty chain moving back and forth. The sun was high and hot as was the breeze. The brown haired woman continued walking away from the ocean. She didn't look back at the tall man she'd left standing at the ocean's edge with his head hung low. Walking back to her house she stooped, removed her water shoes and on hung them on the fence. Turning she continued with the mission which began the moment she walked away.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REWRITE

“Hello?” she spoke quickly.

“Hey there, Sis. How are you today?”

“Hi, Shirley. I don't know how I'm doing today. I'm stressed because I don't know how to answer Greg's proposal. I'm so glad he chose not to ask me in front of a crowd of people.”

“I know honey. Want me to come over?”

“Yes, I'd really like that. Thank you.”

“That's what sisters are for. I'll be there in ten minutes.”

Sally walked to the table in front of a big picture window and looked out to the ocean. Restless, she moved to the kitchen counter, poured a cup of freshly brewed coffee and sat down at the table.

Thank goodness I didn't accept the ring, she thought to herself. Why had he felt the need to propose already? We've only dated four months. Is that long enough to know if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone?

Sally heard a key in the front door and walked to meet her sister as she stepped into the doorway. Shirley leaned forward and kissed Sally's cheek. “How's it going chickee?” Shirley asked as she gave her sister's shoulders a squeeze.

She laid her head on Shirley's shoulder and sobbed. Shirley held her sister while she cried.

“Oh, I wish Mom were here.”

“I know honey, so do I.” She patted Sally's back. “Let's sit down with a cup of coffee and talk about this.”

In the kitchen, Sally pulled down another mug and poured Shirley a cup. They sat at the table and Shirley began.

“So what's the one thing that bothers you the most, or that makes you question whether or not you want to spend the rest of your life with him?”

“I'm not sure that there's any one thing. Greg is wonderful. He's sweet and kind and would truly be a fabulous husband—but not for me. It's a bit rushed. Shirley, we only met four months ago and now he feels that I'm the one?”

“You know as well as I do that life is short. Sometimes people just know. They are in love and there's no question that marriage is for them. So why not get started with the rest of their life? My question to you is, do you want to spend the rest of your life with Greg?”

“I just don't feel like we've had enough time to experience life together. Marriage wasn't even on my mind. It's too soon.”

“Then tell him how you feel. If he thinks you're the one for him he'll respect your feelings, right? He'll allow the relationship to continue until you're ready. He's a kind and understanding man. I think if he's in love with you enough to ask for your hand in marriage, he would wait until you're ready.”

“But I'm not sure that waiting would make a difference. I don't want to hold him back from happiness. Like you said, life is too short. I think it would be best to break it off now and not continue with a relationship that I feel won't grow.”

“If that's how you truly feel, then you're right. It's not fair to give him false hope.”

Sally looked to the ocean and took a deep breath. “I'm glad you came over, Shirley.”

“Hey, that's what sister's do. I'm here for you anytime. This is a huge, life changing decision and not one to take lightly. I'm always happy to be a sounding board. I love you.”

Sally leaned over and hugged Shirley. You're the next best person to sound off to since Mom's not here. I love you, too.”

The seagulls sounded like a swing's rusty chain, moving back and forth. The sun was high and hot as was the breeze. The brown-haired woman continued walking away from the ocean. She didn't look back at the tall man she'd left standing at the ocean's edge with his head hung low. Walking back to her house she stooped and removed her water shoes and hung them on the fence. Turning she continued on with the mission which began the moment she walked away.