Author's note:
The goal of this series of cumulative vignettes is to briefly (in 1000 words or less) capture the tension that rises right until the moment of an erotic coupling... which is then purposefully left unresolved. The emphasis is more on the buildup than on the climax, so keep that in mind as you play along!
+++++++
"It's just a movie..."
Good grief.
My husband seemed to be overreacting way too much to my plan to meet up with one of my deaf clients (Steven) and his friends to watch the movie "CODA" at the local theater.
"And besides," I told him, "it's not like I'm meeting up with only him - there will be other people there too."
My husband still wasn't convinced: "I know... I still think that's weird, though. Married women don't usually arrange to meet up with a young single guy to watch a movie."
He had a point
. I asked him: "Ok, fine - do you want to come along?" I knew the answer.
"Not really."
I smiled. "Ok then. I figured as much. It's no big deal... it's just a movie."
Against his better judgment, my husband eventually relented, especially after I convinced him that I was practically old enough to be Steven's mom; his friend group would be more likely to see me as their chaperone than as their peer.
+++++++
We arranged to meet a few days later at the movie theater for the 8pm showing. I always arrived early for things, so I stood out front waiting for Steven and his friends to arrive.
About ten minutes later, I saw Steven walking down the sidewalk toward me... alone. As he approached, I signed to him,
Where are your friends?
They couldn't make it
, he signed back.
A hiccup of uncertainty surged through me - knowing that my (and my husband's) comfort level with this idea was based on the expectation of this being a group activity. Before I could react any further to that, though, Steven had reached me and abruptly - startlingly - gave me a hug. A