KFC Girl
There are 'beginner' classes for skiing, and then there are 'never-ever' classes. "For people who never ever want to ski?", Alcoholic asked. Patty laughed mightily at that. It was the night before our 'never-ever' on Buttermilk mountain, Aspen. Over wine, Alcoholic told me about KFC girl. Only thrice in nine years did they ask each other out, and always to the same KFC. Only once did they succeed.
In many ways they were different. He, quiet, studious, the top of his class, and timorously fascinated. She, boisterous, lively, at the bottom, but not at all impressed. Probably the only thing they shared, in the beginning, was a corner of the classroom, where they sat together, day after day. As if love happens by osmosis. When young, his reservation was as tough onion peels, but he overcame it to ask her out.
It was raining. He arrived first, with heart turned 180, not realizing his watch matched his heart, worn thoughtlessly upside down. He chose a booth, sat down and waited, glancing at his watch periodically. At the entrance, KFC girl arrived, but she chose to make a stand at the entrance. How long did they wait for each other? How did he not realize that he was travelling backward in time? Such thoughts were agony for him, but only later. KFC girl gave up first, and then Alcoholic; their worldlines did not intersect.
Later that same day, they met by chance, somewhere else. She asked him, "Chi bao le ma?" When young, he did not understand brashness from pride. He said, yes, I did, when he hadn't. And that was it.
A year later, she asked him out. He agreed, but foolishly came late.
Alcoholic understood only one way to impress the girls, and one girl in particular. That was to win gold in the Physics Olympiad. Such confidence he had in himself, that hard work combined with his innate intelligence will save the day. He devoted his days toward mastering the Olympiad, his fantasies of triump becoming ever more intricate. It came as a surprise that he did not qualify to represent his city. Disappointment followed, and a resignation of his fantasies.
Many years passed, he left China and she stayed. On a visit back to his hometown, he asked her out again. Older, wiser, he made no mistakes. They finally met in KFC, sat down, had chicken. They were both newlyweds, he a month ago, and she two weeks ago.
Toward the end of his tale, Alcoholic began to mix up 'he' and 'she', which betrayed his increasing intoxication, and also his Chinese heritage. He reached for his phone to call her, to hear a familiar voice, something he hasn't done in years. That was how Katie and I affected him. I wish KFC girl had picked up his call - the number dialled was no longer in use. Distraught, he turned to me, she's alright, isn't she?
In many ways they were different. He, quiet, studious, the top of his class, and timorously fascinated. She, boisterous, lively, at the bottom, but not at all impressed. Probably the only thing they shared, in the beginning, was a corner of the classroom, where they sat together, day after day. As if love happens by osmosis. When young, his reservation was as tough onion peels, but he overcame it to ask her out.
It was raining. He arrived first, with heart turned 180, not realizing his watch matched his heart, worn thoughtlessly upside down. He chose a booth, sat down and waited, glancing at his watch periodically. At the entrance, KFC girl arrived, but she chose to make a stand at the entrance. How long did they wait for each other? How did he not realize that he was travelling backward in time? Such thoughts were agony for him, but only later. KFC girl gave up first, and then Alcoholic; their worldlines did not intersect.
Later that same day, they met by chance, somewhere else. She asked him, "Chi bao le ma?" When young, he did not understand brashness from pride. He said, yes, I did, when he hadn't. And that was it.
A year later, she asked him out. He agreed, but foolishly came late.
Alcoholic understood only one way to impress the girls, and one girl in particular. That was to win gold in the Physics Olympiad. Such confidence he had in himself, that hard work combined with his innate intelligence will save the day. He devoted his days toward mastering the Olympiad, his fantasies of triump becoming ever more intricate. It came as a surprise that he did not qualify to represent his city. Disappointment followed, and a resignation of his fantasies.
Many years passed, he left China and she stayed. On a visit back to his hometown, he asked her out again. Older, wiser, he made no mistakes. They finally met in KFC, sat down, had chicken. They were both newlyweds, he a month ago, and she two weeks ago.
Toward the end of his tale, Alcoholic began to mix up 'he' and 'she', which betrayed his increasing intoxication, and also his Chinese heritage. He reached for his phone to call her, to hear a familiar voice, something he hasn't done in years. That was how Katie and I affected him. I wish KFC girl had picked up his call - the number dialled was no longer in use. Distraught, he turned to me, she's alright, isn't she?
posted by Dr. Broke at 11:08 PM
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