Afloat

Afloat

“Kitty?

 Kitty? Where are you?”

“I am here. But I am unsure where here is. Is that you Brock?”

“Yes love, what are you doing out here?”

“Do you see me, Brock?”

“No, I do not see you. But I can hear you. We must be close.”

“Close to what Brock? Where Are we?

All I see is I am surrounded by this unpainted sea.

It makes me dizzy. As a matter a fact I must close my eyes for a moment and maybe it will go away. Am I dreaming?”

“Yes, a dream. You have control of this dream Kitty. Now come to me. Open your eyes.”

“I am quite a bit frightened. You sound as if you are in the clouds.”

“Open your eyes. What do you see?”

“I see my hands. Looking down at my hands I can move them through the mist. Which direction do I reach out for you, my darling?

Everything looks the same.

If you are here wake me from this disturbing sleep.”  

“Tell me Kitty what do you remember? I will come closer to your voice.”

“I remember running down the dark alley, after you, chasing your shadow. I Kicked off my heels because they slowed me down. I think then I got lost.

The roads all looked the same. Narrowly running up and down, twisting and turning around stone bends.

Each building with their big glass windows. In my reflection I saw the evidence of tears down my cheeks.

Then I heard the waves. Something whispered to me to head for the seashore. I was worried about you. Why did you run? What happened, Brock, to us? Are we dead? Are you any closer?”

“Do not speak like that Kitty. We are both fine. We are just a little lost in the mist, and yes, I believe I am near. Keep speaking to me.”

“Ah! I remember the party.”

 Ker Splash!

“Brock, what was that?”

“What was what, dear?”

“That sound in the water. I am alone in this little boat. And now I am afraid of the water. Are you in a boat Brock?

“Yes, and I am getting ready to toss you a rope. I must be ten feet away at the most. I have tied an empty bottle to the end for weight so do not let it hit you. I am sure the splash was nothing more than one of those birds we love to watch. The ones that dive deep under the surface fishing for minnows.”

“I do not hear any birds. And I did not mention a splash.”

“Sure you did. Tie the end of the rope to the front of the boat, there should be two places on each side. I am following the sound of the crashing waves with my oars.”

“I do not hear you paddling Brock. Pull me near so I can see you.”

“I am taking us to shore. It smells like rain.”

“Why did you run into the water?”

“I do not know but the champagne is still sweating out of me. I remember you. Us, at the party. You looked amazing the way you swung your hips. All the sparkling beads dancing from the fringe of your dress. The pair of silver earrings I bought you walking earlier that day on the busy streets, coffee, hand in hand. Your short brown hair bouncing off your shoulders, a prelude to the night.

Remember the mirror balls on the ceiling bouncing diamonds off the walls? So many dazzling shapes. Why, I recall the 5-man band on stage, they said they were friends of your father. There was a drum, and trumpet, the piano…And the artwork. I can see those Paris city landscapes framed on the wall. The artist whose name I cannot place now. Then there was that big old shaggy dog, what was its name? Why he sure did not like me much. Tell me more of what you remember Kitty?”

“Oh yes, the dog carrying something dead across the dance floor. How repulsive. The owner should have known better to let him wander around with guests. His drooling fangs were desperate to bite someone. He must have been senile for we have lots of dogs on grandpa’s farm that never bark like that. Maybe it was you cologne. The one she bought you.

Now that I think, I recall the smoke-filled room. Walking through it was like a dream. The silhouette of couples necking in the corner. Cheating card players at the round table holding close their scotch and bourbon. I carried that silly quell Zaïre for show you know. I could not stand the smell of those cigars. I remember the sound of toasting glasses from every direction when the clock struck twelve. You looked so handsome in the tie my father gave you for Christmas. I know it was midnight blue for the occasion, yet I am struggling to remember the color. I could not picture the Paris paintings you just spoke of except in black and white.”

“Kitty, I did not know you did not care for the cigar bar. The way your father went on about you tagging along with him when you were just a child. I assumed it was nostalgic. How you played under the tables as he managed his affairs.”

“My father would tell you I enjoy anything just to get you to take me out. He fancies you. So does mother. But you know that.”

“And what about you Kitty? Do you fancy me?

Without their encouragement in your ear? I would have made other plans after dinner.”

“Oh Brock, I am frightened.”

“Calm down darling and keep talking to me. And do not be coy.”

 “Ok. But I did not want to be a fuss because you had it all planned out. The dinner was lovely. Who knew cabaret and lobster went hand-in-hand? The ahi tuna appetizer was heaven. What did you have, the pork chop? It was a wonder you found the place for I know how much you dislike seafood.”

“I do not dislike it Kitty, I am allergic. I would have liked to try it otherwise.”

“Oh right, forgive me how could I forget. The time of my mother’s party, with the oysters, now I remember. Doctors said you would not live, but you did. And here you are. With me. Right?”

“Yes, it was an elegant New Year’s dinner.”

“That is until you left me by the punch bowl Brock. What took you so long?”

“Oh, well I had to go thank Greta and Rick for inviting us. You know how she gets; Rick and I searched the entire hotel before finding her; head over hands, resting half asleep on her powder station.”

“Yes, but when you returned you were missing your tie. And you were all…”

“All what?”

“Wet.”

 “Was I really missing my tie?”

“I do recall very clear this, even with the bubbles fizzing in my ears still from all the celebration. I had to entertain a few dandy’s in your place.”

Let us not get into tiff at a time like this Kitty. There was something important I needed to say tonight. Last night.”

“Say what? Start with why I had to run after you. And what we are doing out here?”

“It’s more like, I needed to ask you something and it is slipping my mind.”

“Brock, do you hear the waves?”

“I do. They are coming in faster, smaller; we will reach shore soon.”

“I think dark is coming upon us now. The sky feels suffocating. The air is cold. We must have been out here all day.

“Listen to me Kitty, you have paddles?”

“No. I do not feel any. Wait what was that?”

 “Another splash?”

“There it is again, closer.”

“I want you to take my oars and row. When I see shore I shall dive in to drag us up the sand. I will tell you a story if you like?”

“As a matter of fact. Tell me about when you went to play tennis with mom. She swooned over the fact she had you hanging from her arm the whole time. Especially to all the girls at her luncheon afterwards.”

“Yes, yes, she did. I can almost feel the sun on my face from that bright hot afternoon.”

“Tell me Brock, wasn’t Gretta there that day?”

“Ah yes, she was. So funny how coincidences happen. Why do you ask?”

“Because you never mentioned if Rick was with her and now, I remember when you arrived at the flat later that night you went on and on about her. It was the first time I had heard you speak of her. Not that I was jealous. I admit I was simply curious if you had even remembered the conversation you had with mother because your attention sounded mostly held by Gretta. What she wore, the company she was with, as if admiring a star.”

“Do not be like that Kitty. I was excited. Your mother is the star. And sure, I remember the conversation. She wanted to know about the trip to Sedalia, by boat, if I wanted to go next year.”

“Yes, but it’s as if you were so eager to see Gretta again, you had to have dinner with her that week.”

“I was introducing them to you, they are my friends. And, they are married. I do not like where this is heading Kitty. They just want to join us. We can have all the adventures together. Are you any closer?”

“I do not know. And I do not understand Brock how I cannot see your face? Where is the dock? The party is long past but I have seen no sails of others. I have heard no footsteps or foghorns, no alley street wanderer lighting a cigarette in the distance. How far could we have drifted?”

“The mist will begin to lift. And dawn will rise to light the way.”

“Is that a line from your poem?”

“It is actually. Thank you for noticing.”

“I do not understand how you can be so unbothered by this.”

 “Kitty, look there! Do you see the light in the distance? Row towards it!”

“Yes. I see but I do not sense your boat in tow? The light, I think it is headed this way. Did I drink too much? Am I passed out in the backseat as we head home? It is starting to feel like a bumpy ride. Or the sun must be rising but there is no satin sheet of gold reflecting off the ocean surface. I miss the colors of the morning sun. We must be dreaming. I need to rid myself of this drenched coat and dress. I want to dive in and swim just to feel like I am getting somewhere.”

“Do not do that Kitty. Not yet”

“Brock this is no time for your riddles, I want to wake from this nightmare. I want to wake next to you holding me tight. We will make tea and forget this night ever happened.”

“That sounds lovely Kitty. Remember the night we saw that silly movie? The one about the woman getting tied to the train. So much drama. Such a nightmare yet she lived. And her rescuer won her heart in the end. Let me be your rescuer.”

“This is no time for poetry Brock. But I hang on hope of what you are going to ask me in this dream state. And I answer yes. A thousand times yes, as long as you ask me when we wake.”

“Do not worry darling. Now I need you to do me a favor.”

“Anything.”

“Look over the side of the boat and into the ocean.”

“What nonsense is this?”

“Just trust me.”

“I am not sure, but I think I can see movement. Is that a school of fish circling below?”

“No Kitty. It is earth and the human inhabitants are like ants spinning the globe. We turned upside down off the New York shore and if you want to live with me you must say goodbye.”

“You are mad. What are you talking about? Wake me up!”

Suddenly, behind Brock the sky opened up and long thick slimy octopus arms came out of the clouds clutching both ends of her small boat with two of the tentacles. A bouquet of arms opened up around her and Brock, the ends without heads making their way up her clammy legs towards her thighs. She jumped up in shock but managed to stutter out the words, “Brock, what is happening?”

“Say you will join me Kitty?”

“Um I don’t think this is not the way father imagined you would propose!”

Two more tentacles with round jelly suction cups dropped from above twisting and twirling they turned exposing the ends with heads having the faces of Greta and Rick. Connected to some giant creature in the clouds, dozens more slithery arms dangled out of the sky all with faces facing the bright glowing starlight. Brock’s stood before the chaos with open arms and now she could see him, begging her to stay but in an insincere way. Suddenly realizing her only way out was to jump in, she knew what she had to do. The light was coming at her, growing bigger by the second sounding like a tidal wave crashing penetrating its way through the sky focused on her now to swallow whole.

“Say you’ll join us the faces begged in sync.”

Kitty, standing up, boat rocking, ripped off her dress releasing the hold the feelers had and inhaling her deepest breath, dove into the grey ocean. Swimming deeper into the ozone of oxygen.

Falling out of the sky onto the warm brown sand of her east coast home, Kitty turned and looked back at the yellow sunlight which she had just recently begun to call boyfriend, suspended somewhere beyond. Charming another with his warmth and poetry she was sure.

The end Chris B

Original Art Caitlyn Grabenstein