the trends (615 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: blog
Rating: 1.79 on 25 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Corn Nugget (View user info) at 2005-05-30 13:51:23 EDT
I sit in the living room, my legs draped over the arm of the lazy-boy. From this vantage point I can look at everyone, yet when I get caught up in my own revere I am able to turn my body, face forward, and ignore the bodies that pepper the room.
Lara and Jim sit on the couch, noticeably leaning away from each other, yet still making subtle movements that show that they love each other. He pulls a hair out of the hinge of her glasses, she pats his knee, and I wonder who those signs of affection are for. Is it simply a natural tendency to groom your lover? Is it an outward signal of love and affection? Or is it a desperate attempt to re-ignite a slowly burning ember?
Mark is sprawled out before the television, he's looking at it as if he were watching an incredibly interesting show, yet the t.v. is turned off, and he's really only staring at a grey screen. Once in a while he'll look over to Lara and smile. When he does talk, it's usually directed towards her. My crooked mind assumes that they are in love. I don't think they realize it yet, and I'm not sure they ever will.
Erin, Marks girlfriend, comes out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl filled with something that resembles spaghetti. She proudly sets it down on the coffee table, hands us each a fork, and waves her arms before her, as if she is presenting the gods with a sacrificial lamb.
All of us frown, with the exception of Erin, who is beaming with pride. We look at our forks, and then at the bowl, and then back to Erin. Mark asks where the plates are. Lara mentions napkins. Erin shakes her head and says, "Just eat from the bowl, we're all friends!".
So we do. We take turns stabbing at the spaghetti, twirling it around our forks, dangling it into our mouths. Nobody is happy.
Erin watches me like a hawk. I feel her 19 year old insecurity bubbling to the surface. We don't know each other well.
"Well, Corinne... do you like living here?" she looks around the house, as if I choose it myself, and put up the pictures of deer, as if I caught the fish that hang mounted on the wall.
For some reason I think too long before I answer, and she continues talking, "It must be hard, huh? Living with your mom again... and you're... twenty seven?" I hear the hidden insult drip from her teeth. I decide a shrug is the best way to keep her unsatisfied, angry, and insecure.
She quickly goes to Mark, fits her body next to his, and stares at me. Mark continues to stare at the grey screen.
Lara and Jim continue to make awkward movements on the couch. I see that they have shifted even further apart, yet the sweet touching and grooming has escalated. I turn my head and look out the window. Everyone is uncomfortable.
Mark moves Erins body away, and gets up for a beer. I watch Mark leave the room. Erin re-adjusts herself, her eyes never leaving mine. "Corinne, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, why?"
She huffs in reply. I turn to look out the window again, and I think about relationships, and the burning desire for most people to be in one.
I think about my own burning desire to have someone who thinks I'm facinating, someone who wants to share insights with me, someone who admires my idiosyncrasies.
Mark saunters back in to the room, and heaves himself back to the floor. This time he is not sitting near Erin, but at Laras feet. Lara subconsciously shifts away from him, and then somehow she shifts back, a bit closer. Her leg rests against his shoulder.
Erin still stares at me. Jim sips his wine, looking at nothing.
I look around the room, and then look back out the window, feeling a little unsettled, and very melancholic.
User Reviews
Submitted by Deidra (user info) at 2005-06-01 12:51:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by Vulva (user info) at 2005-06-01 12:24:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck living at home, +2 anyway
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2005-06-01 12:15:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yep.
Excellent
Submitted by peckerhead (user info) at 2005-05-30 23:55:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by dodahdave (user info) at 2005-05-30 14:02:04 (#)
Ranking: 2
You managed to capture that painful, awkward feeling of uncomfortable social interactions quite well.
Nicely done.
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I remember reading a pop psychology book a few years ago. One point that always stuck with me was when the author said, "Confusion can be helpful." I think what he meant was that confusion and/or tension is a step and has to be worked through.
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2005-05-30 23:46:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
aww thanks guys, I was just trying to follow the circe/lojooooope trend of being sensitive.
and Dave, I may (or may not have) had my fill of ubermen! Good luck on the being single and living with your mom thing.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-05-30 22:45:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Lil' nuggets of truth.
Submitted by SkyLaR (user info) at 2005-05-30 22:16:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Durae (user info) at 2005-05-30 21:54:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like you.
Submitted by lojope (user info) at 2005-05-30 19:51:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well-captured.... really well-captured.
Submitted by JML (user info) at 2005-05-30 19:23:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
vn
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2005-05-30 18:48:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
(Kicker of all ass)
and then some...
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-05-30 18:42:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-05-30 18:12:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this a lot. It was interesting to see you frame the conscious and subconscious social interactions in the group. Makes you wonder what you miss out on when you're not paying attention to the people around you.
Submitted by SiskelandFatboy (user info) at 2005-05-30 16:31:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"someone who wants to share insights with me, someone who admires my idiosyncrasies."
This was a wonderful statement.......
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2005-05-30 16:29:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
your friends are fucked up
Submitted by Megso (user info) at 2005-05-30 15:36:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"My crooked mind assumes that they are in love." ...perfect
Submitted by homeslice (user info) at 2005-05-30 15:11:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
i dont get it.
is it a joke or what?
Submitted by Crap_Finder_Queen (user info) at 2005-05-30 15:07:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
A nice story for a sunday afternoon. +2
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-05-30 15:03:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-05-30 14:44:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
stupid relationships
BAH!
Submitted by swamp_donkey (user info) at 2005-05-30 14:42:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Your psychic abilities turn me on.
Submitted by Mr-Boo (user info) at 2005-05-30 14:30:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked it. Have a +2.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2005-05-30 14:04:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes, Dave. But you're a cute English slut.
And why haven't you rated my post yet?
I'm selfish...
Submitted by dodahdave (user info) at 2005-05-30 14:02:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You managed to capture that painful, awkward feeling of uncomfortable social interactions quite well.
Nicely done.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-05-30 13:58:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice.
I may soon have to move back to my mothers and I am dreading it.
Oh and by the way.....
"Corinne, do you have a boyfriend?"
Just to let you know I may soon be available. I am house trained with good personal hygeine and most of my own teeth.
(I am such a slut).
-Dave