Conversations With Jack & Diane
Prodigal Friend
Diane sat comfortably, the koa bench she adorned crafted
by local artisans. The air conditioned mall felt refreshing
compared with the stiffling heat of the humid day outside.
She watched as Jack slowly sauntered toward her, his eyes
bright with delicious joy as he greedily nibbled at a rainbow
colored Shave Ice. The Hawaiian equivalent of a snow cone. The
closer he got the more excited she felt. It had been a while since
she last saw Jack. He’d gone away to another island after his
accident to recuperate. She’d offered to be there for him, but as
usual Jack had to go it alone and he’d disappeared, with only an
occassional postcard to let her know he was still, as he put it,
sucking air. She smiled again as he neared.
“Hi stranger,” she offered, a longing grin flushing her
flawless face.
“Hey you perfect piece of feminine flesh,” he winked,
planting himself down next to her. He breathed deeply. “God I’ve
missed the scent of you.”
“And who’s fault is that Jack?” she shrugged. “You’re the
one who decided to put the friendship on hold.” She turned her
head away from him and folded her arms across her softly heaving
chest.
“Angry, are we?” he chuckled, the main drive of his efforts
still on the shave ice cone.
“I’m so angry I could kill,” Diane assured him, turning her
cerulean gaze on him.
“Really?” Jack laughed, raising his hand instantly to plead
levity. “I’m sorry,” he offered as he saw the true anger in Diane’s
eyes. An anger filled with compassion. He smiled at her softly.
“Don’t you dare think that that smile of yours is gonna
have any affect on the rage that I’m feeling.”
“Oh sure it is,” Jack teased, finishing-up the shave ice cone
with a flourish. “Ahhhhhh,” he sighed. “Nothing like a rainbow
flavored shave ice on a hot summer day.” He tossed the
crushed-up paper cone into the trash bin on Diane’s end of the
bench.
She grabbed his hand before he could pull it back. “If you
ever separate yourself from me like that again Jack. Our
friendship is over...” She squeezed his hand and lifted it to her
lips. “I’ve missed you.”
“And I you,” he nodded, enjoying the feel of her warm, soft
lips on the back of his hand. “May I have my hand back now?” he
smiled, always the joker.
“Do you really want me to stop?” she whispered, her lips
brushing against his hand as she spoke, her sweet breath rushing
like a sun-warmed breeze across his skin.
“You’re a naughty little girl today my love,” he smiled,
slowly separating his hand from her tender grasp. He sat back
gently, his gaze still on Diane. “Look,” he finally offered. “I
know it wasn’t fair to you. The way things worked out. And I
wish I could have done it differently Di. But I couldn’t. I just
couldn’t. And if you were hurt in the process I am truly sorry.”
“I don’t want apologies Jack. I just want to know where I
stand with you. Are we friends or just merely acquaintances?”
“You already know the answer to that Diane,” He held her gaze.
She finally nodded. “I suppose I do,” she agreed. “But
sometimes being friends with you is like getting nails driven into
your skull by a madman bereft of any sense of decency.”
“Geez, speak english will ya,” Jack chuckled.
“Remember,” he joked. “I’ve been ill...” He laughed happily as
he settled into the bench, enjoying his time with Diane. “I tell you
what,” he proffered playfully. “Let’s forget the serious talk for
right now and just People Watch, ok?”
Diane pursed her lips, pouting seductively, and folded her
arms about her chest again, blue eyes cocked skyward as she
feigned aggressive thought.
“Alright,” she finally agreed. “But only if you swear that
we can talk about the state of our friendship at your earliest
convenience.”
Jack couldn’t help it. He roared with laughter. “You are
the stiffest little thing today, aren’t you babe? Loosen up why
don’t ya?” he prescribed. “Relax love, life is short. Our lifespan
but a spot of oil in the sizzling pan of existence, absorbed and used
up in the blink of an eye.”
“How utterly unspectacular your analogies are my sweet
friend,” she laughed. “Not exactly inspiring if you know what I
mean. To think of oneself as a mere splash of oil upon life’s
griddle. Geez Jack, you have been sick haven’t you?” She tossed
her head back in laughter as she began to appreciate the returning
rhythm of their intimacy.
Post script...
In these tenuous times of progressive human strife, perhaps
we could all strive to be to each other as Jack and Diane are.
Fearless in the face of their differences. Vocally divergent in
perception at times but always tolerant of each other’s need for
self...
The End
Unpublished Works © 1997 GJB
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