The Chair (792 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 2 on 27 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by nitty (View user info) at 2005-11-18 08:51:44 EST
Fifty years.
"That's a long time to be married to someone" is all I thought, as I watched the anniversary celebration from my seat at the hotel bar. I wasn't part of the party, didn't know the couple it was honoring, yet was just close enough to hear the festivities taking place in the main atrium to my left.
I watched the dinner, watched the dancing, watched the toasting, and tried to watch the hockey game on the TV over the bar so it wouldn't look like I was staring. I had almost talked myself out of listening to their party when the man in the tux running the show asked the old couple to say a few words about how they met.
And then I was interested.
She began;
"I was at a speakeasy, only they weren't called that anymore. I guess we just called it a tavern. I was there waiting for a friend who never showed up that night. He was there, too. I didn't notice him until he came up to me and used the worst introduction line of all time."
"Excuse me, but I think you've got my chair."
He continued.
"It's true. I was home from the war, had gotten up to get another drink, and when I got back there she was, sitting there like she owned the place."
The crowd laughed softly at the old man's attempt at humor, as he continued,
"I didn't have the heart to ask her to leave, so after she got up and I sat down I offered her the chair opposite mine at the table, which I'm glad to say she accepted."
He continued,
"I had been at that place a few times and had never seen her. I would have remembered. She asked me a few questions about the bar, the band, the crowd, and I was able to talk her out of a light for my smoke. Everyone smoked in those days. Thankfully we were both able to give it up, more than two decades ago."
Now the parents in the room were nodding and looking sternly at their children - don't start, it seemed to say, nothing good can come of it.
And she continued,
"Do you remember how nervous you were? It took you about 10 minutes to finally talk to me, and you could barely form a complete sentence. Remember the first time you offered to buy me a drink? Tell them what you said!"
"I remember. I asked 'can I drink you a buy?' I blushed because I knew I sounded so stupid, but it worked. I bought you a drink and here we are 50 years later."
"No, don't jump ahead. Tell them the rest. Tell them about the rest of the night."
"Well, she wanted a rum punch, I remember. Heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cider. I bought her one and just sat there talking..."
"He's right. We talked some more about the band, especially when they played a song about a girl with crystal eyes. He said it reminded him of me, even though he had only met me just that night. Then we danced, danced the rest of the night away. He said he was waiting for a friend to show up, too. Neither one of the people who were supposed to meet us ever showed up, or maybe they did, and we were just too wrapped up in each other."
"And then I offered her a ride home, which she happily accepted."
"Hold it right there! Sure I accepted it, but I want all our grandchildren to know that I was a lady that night. I only went with you because my friend who never came was my ride home. You were so excited about your new car I couldn't let you down. Besides, I didn't even kiss you goodnight, even though you tried. Not on the first date!"
"I was a gentleman, I never tried to kiss you."
"That's not how I remember it."
And now the crowd was gently laughing. Not so much at the comedic exchange of words between the old couple, but moreso laughing out of happiness. Looking at the old man and old woman on stage they saw something between the two that they all wanted to experience someday.
It was evident the story was over, so the man in the tux made his way back to stage and grabbed the microphone, but wouldn't let the couple leave just yet.
"After 50 years, you must know each other inside and out. But I'm willing to bet there is at least one thing, ONE secret you've never told the other. Tell each other now. Here in front of your family, friends, and loved ones, tell us something about your relationship that no one knows."
He handed the mic to the lady, and she almost whispered, "When you drove me home, I wanted so badly to kiss you goodnight. I just didn't want you to think I was that kind of girl. I'm glad you gave me another chance to do it!"
The old man took the microphone, and with a twinkle in his eye he said,
"That wasn't my chair after all."
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George Strait. By request.
Krissi - I'll get to your Tim McGraw soon.
-nitty
User Reviews
Submitted by PokeyPecker (user info) at 2005-11-27 21:58:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Skanky fuckers met in a bar.
Sleazebags.
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2005-11-27 21:51:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Why can't this happen anymore?
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-27 21:49:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
juuuuuuuust squeaked under my cliche radar.
Submitted by crownofsuns (user info) at 2005-11-27 21:14:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:02:04 (#)
Ranking: 2
Goosebumps buddy.
And I don't even have a heart.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2005-11-27 21:04:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't really understand what's going on here.
I mean, I understood the story.
Good story.
I just don't understand the rest.
Really good, though.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2005-11-27 20:49:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Lovely.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-11-18 18:26:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by Wrightcopy (user info) at 2005-11-18 11:38:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Ejryuu (user info) at 2005-11-18 10:08:47 (#)
Ranking: 2
Awwwww!
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2005-11-18 14:15:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
bravo!
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2005-11-18 13:59:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Beautiful
Submitted by userpete86 (user info) at 2005-11-18 12:09:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck this crap!
*sniff*
I don't want to talk about it...
Submitted by Wrightcopy (user info) at 2005-11-18 11:38:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Ejryuu (user info) at 2005-11-18 10:08:47 (#)
Ranking: 2
Awwwww!
Submitted by EAZEDZT (user info) at 2005-11-18 11:35:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome song, nice interpretation.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-11-18 11:33:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Where you been, Shaky?
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2005-11-18 11:33:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You've been watching "When Harry Met Sally" again, haven't you?
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2005-11-18 11:27:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I had a bad feeling that it would end in some depressing surprise twist, but it was god.
I mean good, but god works too. It was so god.
Submitted by GoodGirl (user info) at 2005-11-18 11:21:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
thiis is really good. you're a very nice writer.
Submitted by Ejryuu (user info) at 2005-11-18 10:08:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Awwwww!
Submitted by Fabit (user info) at 2005-11-18 10:06:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What a nice story
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:46:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Awww. That makes me want to stop brutally murdering neighbourhood cats.
Submitted by ozzy (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:27:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Tis good stuff.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:25:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:15:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
Well it's about fucking time you posted something.
E-mail me. I'm at home.
---------
*checks ski mask and thin gloves*
Submitted by boomslang (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:20:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
For some reason I thought this was going to end in a twist.
Like the old man would say,
"That night after I dropped you off, I went back to the bar and fucked your sister in the ass in the backseat of my new car."
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:15:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well it's about fucking time you posted something.
E-mail me. I'm at home.
Submitted by SiskelandFatboy (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:13:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
One of my favorites.
Email me please sir, I need your input on something.
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-11-18 09:02:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Goosebumps buddy.
And I don't even have a heart.
Submitted by Mike00295 (user info) at 2005-11-18 08:56:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good thing its Friday
Submitted by MickGinny (user info) at 2005-11-18 08:54:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
that woman has a wonderful smile... and a johnny cash hairdo.