Nervous

Saturday, April 9, 2005

(6:14am) The sunrise broke as candy stripes across the horizon, in golds and creamy reds – the sort of colors that can’t quite be described. Collette had the odd feeling she was likely the only one to see it that early morning. The sun had seemed to rise earlier that day.

Collette had not quite thought how to live that particular day. Lief was not expected back till near three, and the madrigal dinner was not till 6:30. In fact, the new Sunrocket phone system Lief had just installed, did not allow her to make out-going calls till Sunday and no one had their new number, so she felt somewhat trapped. In the meantime, there was plenty of spring cleaning to be taken up with, and there was more to write on her previous daydream –

…While Collette let the letter rest, she was tempted to call Lief, but, no, she would wait. He would be back shortly anyway. For the moment, the fresh late winds of early May fluttered the voile curtains and the passing afternoon sunshine whispered through the vibrant blossoms of middle spring. The coldness of Collette’s wet locks cooled her skin as she dressed in comfortable clothes and tucked herself up on the couch. She sighed a moment, and looked up to the ceiling, thinking, but not on the letter… on other things she would always be thinking of – a list of things to be done. Ten minutes passed as she straightened up the little apartment, putting some new laundry away and unloading the dishwasher. She pulled a can of grape soda pop out of the fridge and walked out onto the balcony. The wind played with her hair as she leaned over the railing to see the St. Louis sky of a late blue spring. The letter still lay on the dining room table…

(16:40pm) Collette enjoyed getting ready for the dinner. She slipped on her cotton black dress with a field of white flowers and black sequins. A black ballet top went over the dress, and a black lace shawl served as a sash wrapped twice around her hips. For jewelry, she took the Christmas turquoise bracelet from Carrie-Bri and hooked another chain to it, wrapping it around her neck. And then there were the birthday amethyst earrings from Joe. But inside, her stomach was in wrenches. There was some great nervous pit there, and she couldn’t figure out how it could be so. It had seemed to be over her the past several days.