by Professor

Disclaimers: Nothing to disclaim here. This is a sweet, innocent little tale. Go ahead. Read it. You know you want to.

There is a Part 1 to this story and reading it first will make Part 2 much more meaningful.

Dedications: Thanks to E for asking me to do this, and not strangling me for my procrastination. And thanks to Spawn for her little red pen and for not pointing and laughing.

Feedback is always welcome: professor@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2004 by Professor. All Rights Reserved.

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My alarm rang with its normal efficiency, 3 shrill beeps and then the local soft rock station. Why I still set the alarm when I'm always awake before it goes off I'll never know. With a sigh I rolled myself out of bed and began my morning ablutions. Clean and appropriately attired in grey pin stripe pants and white blouse I stared at myself in the mirror, trying to psyche up some enthusiasm for the dawning day. Not coming anywhere near close enough I gave my efforts up, grabbed my briefcase and headed for the door.

Have you ever just opened your eyes some morning and realized that your whole life was in a rut? I've been having that morning every day for about a month. My life was safe and secure, and incredibly boring. Eventually you reach a point where you accept that you're lame, or you start making changes, doing things differently, trying new things out. I had reached that point and, not convinced of my lameness, I chose to shake things up. This momentous decision occurred on my front step.

So with that thought in mind I headed for the nearest bus stop, instead of hailing a cab or dealing with traffic as I usually would in order to get to work. I achieved a seat on the correct bus line with minimal theatrics and smiled to myself. This whole 'try new things attitude' was a breeze and I immediately embarked on a mental list of all the other decisions I could make that would "shake things up".

I was happily daydreaming of the board's reaction to my new proposals when a commotion at the front of the bus caught my attention. I focused just in time to see some hapless passenger pick herself up off the floor. I watched her struggle and lurch all over the place as the bus shot into motion again. Taking in the number of free seats left on the bus with a glance, I surreptitiously moved my briefcase from the seat next to me onto the floor between my feet. Just in time for the seat to be taken by the stranger. I watched her for a bit out of the corner of my eye as she brushed at her pants and studiously kept her eyes down. Someone like her didn't have a problem with ruts I bet, and that sent me off on a tangent in my head.

So it was a surprise when the next time I came to myself I found I had a lapful of stranger. My eyes were drawn to the large gap in her shirt caused by buttoning the third button in the second buttonhole. Muted and far off sounds proved themselves to be her voice apologizing, but the only thought that was really registering was: well, this is surely different than normal. She removed herself, leaving behind trace remnants of her apparently unfortunate morning.

For the first time in our short acquaintance I got a good look at her face. A slight blush worked its way up her neck and cheeks. Her hair hung haphazardly in her face and her eyes darted here and there in an embarrassed flicker. Her hands gestured vaguely as she continued to apologize. The entire picture she created struck me as adorable. Quite unable to stop myself I found my hand reaching up to remove a few strands of the unruly hair, safely tucking it behind one ear. I smiled as her jaw became slightly unhinged, perhaps at my forwardness. The driver's yell shook her from inaction and she was off the bus and on the sidewalk before I could blink. I swiveled in my seat to watch her as the bus continued on its way. Yes this was definitely turning out to be a different day.

I had one transfer to make to get to my office building downtown, and I used the time to make sure I had all the papers and visuals I needed for my meeting first thing this morning. I wasn't looking forward to it and in my present state of mind I had a feeling it was going to be a momentous occasion. After fastening my briefcase closed I reached up to pull the stop cord and the bus came to a halt without any mishaps. I debarked and found myself on the sidewalk roughly a block away from my office building.

For the first time since I gave myself a pep talk in the mirror this morning I took stock of my appearance. Shouldering my briefcase I frowned down at the spots that now liberally decorated my outfit. I couldn't attend a board meeting looking like this. I spent at least five more minutes pacing back and forth debating whether I should head home and change and whether I should pitch my proposals this way or that. I must have looked a mad woman walking back and forth in stained clothing talking to myself, judging from the looks I was getting and the wide berth passersby afforded me.

Mid rant my eye caught the time on my wrist watch and I realized I had run out of time. I had to get to my office if I wanted any time to prepare properly. Just as I started to jog the block to the front doors, the sky opened up and rain began to splatter everything in sight with big, fat drops. I reached the safety of the front lobby before more than two or three of them had a chance to drop on me.

Spotting a couple of the board members arriving, I ducked behind some artfully arranged potted plants. No use in giving them any easy ammunition, like my appearance. Of course if they saw me hiding in a planted jungle…well, the point was moot, but I decided to take my chances. I was praying there was a spare set of clothes in my office closet.

As I freed myself from the dark heart of Africa I saw my friend from the bus head toward the elevator. I beat her to the button and wondered idly which one of us was stalking the other. Smiling at how odd this whole day was turning out, I stepped into the now empty elevator car. Turning to see my erstwhile companion still standing there I beckoned, "Coming?" She pushed her floor and I assured her that twenty-one was fine for me.

As the elevator ground to a halt I couldn't help but smile and remember that old adage about getting what you asked for. I wanted to shake things up and boy were they shaken.

The ringing of the emergency phone put a stop to any more thoughts of self-pity. I listened to the short answers that made up this side of the conversation as my companion meted out yeahs and uh huhs. She hung up the phone with a decidedly resigned air and muttered for a bit before turning to me and sharing the wonderful news of our imprisonment for at least another thirty minutes.

I sank into a lotus position and decided that the time shouldn't be wasted by remaining strangers and finally introduced myself. She didn't strike me as a Sylvia, but then again I imagined I didn't strike anyone as a Gretchen either. I was slightly charmed at her offer of jelly beans in answer to my declaration of hunger. I searched my purse for anything to add to the atmosphere when I came across my security blanket of sorts. The dim light given off by the generator was enough to cause me not to panic, but if we were going to be stuck here for hours I would eventually need something to stave off the fear.

I snapped the stick and bathed the elevator in a soft green glow. I could see her looking at me strangely, after all how many grown women do you know that are scared of the dark? "Safe candlelight," is the only explanation I offered. The rumble in my stomach forced me to dive into the jelly beans, and not being one who likes to dine alone I made sure she had one too. Today was definitely turning out to be all about shaking things up. I could hardly wait to see would happen next.

The End? Maybe not...

Read the Sequel: Wrist Alarms and Baby Corn

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