Curtis and Carol ... Update: Big Picture
. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50167142311_7a59455592_k.jpg Curtis Stevens Update When we left off with Curtis, he and Susan had just failed the 112 Day Challenge. More importantly ......
Forum Discussion
.
Grounded
Back to our story … Wonder what’s gonna happen.
Curtis was able to find some clothes at least,
and I’m pretty sure Carol didn’t have a problem with what he was wearing.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244038338_dc422ce60d_k.jpg
There was a tad bit of awkwardness to start with, as would be expected …
But they lightened things up with a little chit-chat
and it wasn’t long until Carol was showing him around the house.
Finally, they headed to the kitchen and she showed him where to find the pots and pans.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244038813_8fb697f9d8_k.jpg
Curtis was busy cooking dinner, when low and behold
Nicholas called Carol.
Curtis tried not to eavesdrop, but from the sounds of things
Carol went through the happenings of her day,
told him Curtis was there ...
and her general tone suggested things might be turning out okay so far.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244674521_7752b50299_k.jpg
Curtis had made some cheesesteak sandwiches
And the two of them had what could only be described as a lovely dinner.
No one was in a rush
and they talked a little about everything in the world …
Kind of trying to get a good feel for each other.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244884267_c348e6cc58_k.jpg
Curtis was quick to take care of the dishes
and Carol decided not to worry about the stove until tomorrow.
When Curtis was done with the dishes, he offered to do the stove.
Carol told him not to be silly.
She then suggested they go out back for some fresh air.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244040648_d3d42c07ee_k.jpg
As Curtis had suspected, Carol had a nice place …
It even had some waterfront appeal.
As the evening drew to into the darker hours,
Those two just kept yakking each other's heads off.
Curtis kept his plan close in mind and stuck with it …
Pay attention, ask the right questions, and let her talk.
It even seemed to be working out for him.
I just know y’all are about to get bored to death … Hang on.
We might get to the fuzzy bunnies, fireflies and fairytales in just a second …
Looks like the sun is going down right now.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244885907_fb39b6f064_k.jpg
When every bit of the sun was gone and a stillness set in …
The conversation had come all the way back around
and almost caught up with the times.
Carol
”I assume the book tour is over.
Marcy at the Hut said you had been in a few mornings lately.”
Curtis thought that just might be an opportunity
to find out what Carol’s ideas were regarding his book and everything in it.
Curtis
”So, what did you think about the book?”
To Curtis’ surprise, Carol answered in a rather matter of fact kind of tone …
The kind that in a peculiar way tends to get your attention.
Carol
”I can’t say ...
I haven’t read it …
and I don’t intend to.”
BAM!
Whoa … What just happened?
Yes friends … All of a sudden it was like the world had stopped turning.
That question seemed to have gone over like lead balloon.
Carol was looking at the ground, and biting her bottom lip so hard it might draw blood.
She was thinking hard on something at that instant …
Kind of like the words had spilled out on accident.
Curtis panicked,
and started looking for a recovery.
It was more like grasping for straws,
and the same dang thing kept crossing his mind …
” … Wrong Question.”
It had been looking like a lovely ending
to what could have been a glorious day …
When Curtis and Carol were quickly struggling to keep the dreamboat
from crashing on the rocks.
It seemed like almost all was lost
when an ever so slight breeze, starting cutting a ripple on the bay
and the moon started shimmering in the reflection.
Then, for the third time that day …
Carol grabbed the steering wheel.
And Lord Child …
She might as well have struck a match and lit the fuse.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244050718_433879ff80_k.jpg
Carol Anne
”Something has been bothering me lately,
And I’m not real sure what to do with it.
You see, there’s this man in town …
Some big shot writer.
He just made a fortune off a book where he dug all his skeletons out of his closet,
Put them on the page in black and white, and laid them out for the world to see.
Most everybody knows him …
And everybody seems to have their opinion of
who he was, who he is and what he could be.
But you know … I met this other guy at the beach this morning.
He was cordial, almost humble … I looked in his eyes and saw his soul.
We had dinner, he listened, and he cared what I thought.”
Carol stopped for a moment, and took a deep breath,
collecting her thoughts for what was coming next.
That girl was about to lay her cards on the table.
Carol Continued
”Curtis … I don’t want to know the man in the book.
I don’t want to have anything to do with him.
I want to know the man on the beach.
That's the man I want to know.
and I’m about to find out which one is standing in front of me right now.
I’m a grown woman Curtis … And I don’t give a what other people think.
I don’t want to read the book, because I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder all the time,
like everyone else, waiting for you to up.
At the same time … I don’t do messy.
Right now, I want you to go home and think about what I have said.
I want you to think about whether or not you are interested
in the two us of us writing a new book.
I won't wait by the phone, or cry in my pillow …
And I have had a lovely evening …
Sorry it has to end like this.
I have faith in you, and I know you can figure this out …
I trust you, and that’s all that matters.
Let me know when you figure out which man you want to be.”
Curtis acknowledged he understood what she had said
and they both shared a few more awkward moments
of half-hearted and polite thanks you’s and goodbyes …
But they were both still thinking harder on what Carol had just risked.
Carol, still standing at the water’s edge, watched Curtis as he eased around the corner of the house,
wondering whether or not she had just made a big mistake … She’d know soon enough.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244678916_34c79e33b5_k.jpg
Curtis on the other hand ...
Was playing back in his head what Carol had said.
He felt funny … And it was starting to bother him.
Curtis wasn’t a half mile from Carol’s house when he had to stop the truck
and start thinking about everything again in detail.
It had all left a mark on him … But in all that there was something Carol had said ...
Way down there towards the end, and almost as an afterthought.
”... I trust you …"
No one had ever really trusted Curtis before.
To Be Continued …
.
Grounded
Back to our story … Wonder what’s gonna happen.
Curtis was able to find some clothes at least,
and I’m pretty sure Carol didn’t have a problem with what he was wearing.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244038338_dc422ce60d_k.jpg
There was a tad bit of awkwardness to start with, as would be expected …
But they lightened things up with a little chit-chat
and it wasn’t long until Carol was showing him around the house.
Finally, they headed to the kitchen and she showed him where to find the pots and pans.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244038813_8fb697f9d8_k.jpg
Curtis was busy cooking dinner, when low and behold
Nicholas called Carol.
Curtis tried not to eavesdrop, but from the sounds of things
Carol went through the happenings of her day,
told him Curtis was there ...
and her general tone suggested things might be turning out okay so far.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244674521_7752b50299_k.jpg
Curtis had made some cheesesteak sandwiches
And the two of them had what could only be described as a lovely dinner.
No one was in a rush
and they talked a little about everything in the world …
Kind of trying to get a good feel for each other.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244884267_c348e6cc58_k.jpg
Curtis was quick to take care of the dishes
and Carol decided not to worry about the stove until tomorrow.
When Curtis was done with the dishes, he offered to do the stove.
Carol told him not to be silly.
She then suggested they go out back for some fresh air.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244040648_d3d42c07ee_k.jpg
As Curtis had suspected, Carol had a nice place …
It even had some waterfront appeal.
As the evening drew to into the darker hours,
Those two just kept yakking each other's heads off.
Curtis kept his plan close in mind and stuck with it …
Pay attention, ask the right questions, and let her talk.
It even seemed to be working out for him.
I just know y’all are about to get bored to death … Hang on.
We might get to the fuzzy bunnies, fireflies and fairytales in just a second …
Looks like the sun is going down right now.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244885907_fb39b6f064_k.jpg
When every bit of the sun was gone and a stillness set in …
The conversation had come all the way back around
and almost caught up with the times.
Carol
”I assume the book tour is over.
Marcy at the Hut said you had been in a few mornings lately.”
Curtis thought that just might be an opportunity
to find out what Carol’s ideas were regarding his book and everything in it.
Curtis
”So, what did you think about the book?”
To Curtis’ surprise, Carol answered in a rather matter of fact kind of tone …
The kind that in a peculiar way tends to get your attention.
Carol
”I can’t say ...
I haven’t read it …
and I don’t intend to.”
BAM!
Whoa … What just happened?
Yes friends … All of a sudden it was like the world had stopped turning.
That question seemed to have gone over like lead balloon.
Carol was looking at the ground, and biting her bottom lip so hard it might draw blood.
She was thinking hard on something at that instant …
Kind of like the words had spilled out on accident.
Curtis panicked,
and started looking for a recovery.
It was more like grasping for straws,
and the same dang thing kept crossing his mind …
” … Wrong Question.”
It had been looking like a lovely ending
to what could have been a glorious day …
When Curtis and Carol were quickly struggling to keep the dreamboat
from crashing on the rocks.
It seemed like almost all was lost
when an ever so slight breeze, starting cutting a ripple on the bay
and the moon started shimmering in the reflection.
Then, for the third time that day …
Carol grabbed the steering wheel.
And Lord Child …
She might as well have struck a match and lit the fuse.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244050718_433879ff80_k.jpg
Carol Anne
”Something has been bothering me lately,
And I’m not real sure what to do with it.
You see, there’s this man in town …
Some big shot writer.
He just made a fortune off a book where he dug all his skeletons out of his closet,
Put them on the page in black and white, and laid them out for the world to see.
Most everybody knows him …
And everybody seems to have their opinion of
who he was, who he is and what he could be.
But you know … I met this other guy at the beach this morning.
He was cordial, almost humble … I looked in his eyes and saw his soul.
We had dinner, he listened, and he cared what I thought.”
Carol stopped for a moment, and took a deep breath,
collecting her thoughts for what was coming next.
That girl was about to lay her cards on the table.
Carol Continued
”Curtis … I don’t want to know the man in the book.
I don’t want to have anything to do with him.
I want to know the man on the beach.
That's the man I want to know.
and I’m about to find out which one is standing in front of me right now.
I’m a grown woman Curtis … And I don’t give a what other people think.
I don’t want to read the book, because I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder all the time,
like everyone else, waiting for you to up.
At the same time … I don’t do messy.
Right now, I want you to go home and think about what I have said.
I want you to think about whether or not you are interested
in the two us of us writing a new book.
I won't wait by the phone, or cry in my pillow …
And I have had a lovely evening …
Sorry it has to end like this.
I have faith in you, and I know you can figure this out …
I trust you, and that’s all that matters.
Let me know when you figure out which man you want to be.”
Curtis acknowledged he understood what she had said
and they both shared a few more awkward moments
of half-hearted and polite thanks you’s and goodbyes …
But they were both still thinking harder on what Carol had just risked.
Carol, still standing at the water’s edge, watched Curtis as he eased around the corner of the house,
wondering whether or not she had just made a big mistake … She’d know soon enough.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50244678916_34c79e33b5_k.jpg
Curtis on the other hand ...
Was playing back in his head what Carol had said.
He felt funny … And it was starting to bother him.
Curtis wasn’t a half mile from Carol’s house when he had to stop the truck
and start thinking about everything again in detail.
It had all left a mark on him … But in all that there was something Carol had said ...
Way down there towards the end, and almost as an afterthought.
”... I trust you …"
No one had ever really trusted Curtis before.
To Be Continued …
.
