A Stranger (need to edit)
She had lost a great opportunity. That's what the cashier at the Woodstock market told her. Her best friend said the same thing. She added the words, "another door will open. Don't worry." Cynthia wasn't worried about the lost opportunity because she was never aware of it. Being Bipolar, there were many things in a given day, month or year that didn't appear on her radar. In the midst of five people in a room, she could be unaware of what was being talked about, who was talking, what potato chip and whip they were eating. Cynthia seemed to zoom in and out of her body like a busy bumblebee. Unfortunately, no one knew when she was really present and when she had flew away.
Stress conquered her memory long ago. She would soon forget to think about this mysterious opportunity. Friends and family would worry about it more than she would worry about it. At the moment, she was concerned about yesterday's Thanksgiving dinner. She promised her mother that she would be responsible for putting one wild flower in each bedroom. There were only two bedrooms. For no reason at all she decided to take Browser for an extra walk. Browser could never be taken out too often. He liked to walk in rain, snow, heat or cold. He was enjoying the walk so much that Cynthia didn't look at signs or lawns or cars as markers. She just laughed and ran along with Browser until they were at the base of the mountain. She'd only seen this place from a car window. She looked all around. Her head moved quickly like a woodpecker's red head. Then, she stopped. People would think her strange. She'd already seen children in cars passing by pointing their fingers at her. Then, two little girls walked up to her. One was licking a caramel apple taffy while the other girl licked a red candied one. The girl with the red coloring all all around her lips asked, "lady, are you lost?"
When afraid Cynthia never answered questions. She looked away from the little girls eyes. Then, they bent down to rub Browser. Browser had stuck his paw out for a handshake. He seemed oblivious of their problem. Cynthia pulled on his leash and started walking again. She pretended to window shop. She stood in front of the toy store window for a long time. Being small would make everything alright at this moment. Along with Browser would be her Grandpa Tate. With him along, nothing like getting lost would have happened. She stared at a red wagon. She didn't know why it caught her attention. She didn't have a brother. None of her friends had owed a red wagon. The red seemed so bright like the only right thing to do was to buy it and put it under a Christmas tree.
Then, Cynthia heard a horn blow. She turned around to look. It was a man in a small blue car. He yelled "need a ride?" Cynthia stared. Although she was grown up, what she was told as a little girl still held water. Her Grandfather said over and over, "Never talk to strangers. Keep walking. Stay in a crowd." But this young man looked so friendly. He was alone in the car. His skin was the color of dark chocolate, and his eyes were light brown. Before she could think, she had gotten in the car. It felt safe and warm and the Christmas carols playing on the radio made her feel like she had made the perfect decision. Grandpa would feel proud of her.
"Where can I take you?"
Cynthia paused. She looked straight out the window. She felt like a mannequin. "I want to go home."
"I suppose we're all tired of these holiday crowds and it's colder than usual. No joking, where's home?"
Cynthia often wondered could people tell that she was different. She wondered what did different look like. When she went to her Mental Illness support group every person looked normal to her. She wondered if this man could tell she was beginning to tremble. Her eyes began to open and close rapidly. That always happened in new places with new people. She looked back at Browser. Browser looked out the window. He looked like he was searching for their house. She could tell that Browser felt like they were in trouble. He was trying to figure out what to do while she couldn't think at all. Her mind had gone as blank as a white sheet of stationery paper. She hoped the man wouldn't ask any more questions. All he had to do was take her and Browser home. That wasn't hard. After all, this was Christmas time. Magic happened. She smiled and waved at a lady outside the car window. She was shoveling snow. Yes, this man with no name in a little....Oh, she couldn't remember the color of the car. Anyway, he would take her and Browser home. She looked up at the tall, blue and white mountain. Going up the mountain must be a shortcut. Yes, they would get home very soon. Cynthia leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. She began to repeat the words magic, magic, magic in her head. We're almost home. He's such a nice man.
Stress conquered her memory long ago. She would soon forget to think about this mysterious opportunity. Friends and family would worry about it more than she would worry about it. At the moment, she was concerned about yesterday's Thanksgiving dinner. She promised her mother that she would be responsible for putting one wild flower in each bedroom. There were only two bedrooms. For no reason at all she decided to take Browser for an extra walk. Browser could never be taken out too often. He liked to walk in rain, snow, heat or cold. He was enjoying the walk so much that Cynthia didn't look at signs or lawns or cars as markers. She just laughed and ran along with Browser until they were at the base of the mountain. She'd only seen this place from a car window. She looked all around. Her head moved quickly like a woodpecker's red head. Then, she stopped. People would think her strange. She'd already seen children in cars passing by pointing their fingers at her. Then, two little girls walked up to her. One was licking a caramel apple taffy while the other girl licked a red candied one. The girl with the red coloring all all around her lips asked, "lady, are you lost?"
When afraid Cynthia never answered questions. She looked away from the little girls eyes. Then, they bent down to rub Browser. Browser had stuck his paw out for a handshake. He seemed oblivious of their problem. Cynthia pulled on his leash and started walking again. She pretended to window shop. She stood in front of the toy store window for a long time. Being small would make everything alright at this moment. Along with Browser would be her Grandpa Tate. With him along, nothing like getting lost would have happened. She stared at a red wagon. She didn't know why it caught her attention. She didn't have a brother. None of her friends had owed a red wagon. The red seemed so bright like the only right thing to do was to buy it and put it under a Christmas tree.
Then, Cynthia heard a horn blow. She turned around to look. It was a man in a small blue car. He yelled "need a ride?" Cynthia stared. Although she was grown up, what she was told as a little girl still held water. Her Grandfather said over and over, "Never talk to strangers. Keep walking. Stay in a crowd." But this young man looked so friendly. He was alone in the car. His skin was the color of dark chocolate, and his eyes were light brown. Before she could think, she had gotten in the car. It felt safe and warm and the Christmas carols playing on the radio made her feel like she had made the perfect decision. Grandpa would feel proud of her.
"Where can I take you?"
Cynthia paused. She looked straight out the window. She felt like a mannequin. "I want to go home."
"I suppose we're all tired of these holiday crowds and it's colder than usual. No joking, where's home?"
Cynthia often wondered could people tell that she was different. She wondered what did different look like. When she went to her Mental Illness support group every person looked normal to her. She wondered if this man could tell she was beginning to tremble. Her eyes began to open and close rapidly. That always happened in new places with new people. She looked back at Browser. Browser looked out the window. He looked like he was searching for their house. She could tell that Browser felt like they were in trouble. He was trying to figure out what to do while she couldn't think at all. Her mind had gone as blank as a white sheet of stationery paper. She hoped the man wouldn't ask any more questions. All he had to do was take her and Browser home. That wasn't hard. After all, this was Christmas time. Magic happened. She smiled and waved at a lady outside the car window. She was shoveling snow. Yes, this man with no name in a little....Oh, she couldn't remember the color of the car. Anyway, he would take her and Browser home. She looked up at the tall, blue and white mountain. Going up the mountain must be a shortcut. Yes, they would get home very soon. Cynthia leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. She began to repeat the words magic, magic, magic in her head. We're almost home. He's such a nice man.
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