The Bedtime Tales of Be287m

The Eye of the Hurricane

David Wilcox's voice faded after the final refrain and I turned the radio off, leaving just the sound of the windshield wipers.  We drove in silence for a while.

"It's been a while since I heard that song,"  I said at last.  My passenger didn't say anything.  I glanced over but couldn't read her expression in the dark.

"My college girlfriend used to listen to that song all the time,"  I continued.  "When she was feeling sad, she'd turn the lights down low and put it on.  I'd hold her in the dark until the tears passed."

I paused, remembering.  Remembering her in my arms.  How she would move from her sadness into gentle happiness.  Her smile and gentle touch.  Remembering our slow gentle lovemaking that would last all night.

"So what happened to her?"  my passenger asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"She left.  Said she had to at least try to chase her dream.  I argued she should stay with me or take me with her.  She refused.  Eventually she stopped returning my calls.  Then my letters started coming back 'Addressee Moved.  No Forwarding Address.'"

"Oh."

I shrugged,  as I had done a million times before.  "She decided I was second best."

We drove another block in silence.

"I should explain that,"  I said,  though I knew I really didn't have to.  "There's a verse in the song

"She used to say it was true,  so true.  I didn't realize she was right until later."

My passenger didn't say anything.  I hadn't expected her to.  She'd gotten what she wanted from our encounter and I'd gotten at least some of my own second best.  I glanced over and saw her staring out the window.

"Let me out up here, okay?"

I nodded and pulled over to the curb.  Then I reached for my wallet.

"Here's another fifty."

"Wow!  Thanks, Mister."  The money disappeared into her bra.  "Look, if you want to party again, I'll be around."

"I know where to find you," I agreed.  She got out of the car into the rain and walked away, not looking back.

Then I put the car in gear and headed back into the night.  The storm was starting up again and I still had a long way to go.

--Fin--

© 2004, all rights reserved. Lyrics by David Wilcox, used without permission.

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