Kate the cat begins to howl for her breakfast before the sun comes up. What time is it? Q asks sleepily, and I reach for my wrist to illuminate my glow-in-the-dark watch. But my fingers feel only bracelets: my watch is gone.
I had it yesterday. I wear it everywhere but in the bath. I wear it all night. I can find the time without risking awakening my arthritis by twisting myself into a pretzel to catch a glimpse of the radio's green numerals. I don't have to turn on a light to see it: I press the winding mechanism and it lights up. I love my glow-in-the-dark watch.
Where is my watch?
I have another watch, but I don't like it nearly as well. It's a ladies' watch, small and elegant. But her face is so tiny it's hard to see, and it's also a basic black, so the numerals are hard to make out. And she doesn't glow in the dark.
Glow-In-The-Dark is a guys' watch. Once in a while they share the top of the dresser:
Hey, babe! Howya doin'?
Good evening.
Turnin' in early tonight, huh?
Yes. Every night.
Hey, babe -- watch this! See! How's that for light, huh?
Remarkable.
Hey, watch this -- wanna see me blink twice real fast? Watch!
I see.
Hey, and watch this -- ever see an expansion band stretch that far? Am I right or am I wrong?
Um....
Hey, wanna see me blink three times really fast? Watch!
The mind reels.
Hey, look, there's this little drawer in the jewelry box I know about. Ya know, just a little place...my light is really awesome in there, 'cause it's, like, dark, ya know?
Um, I don't think so.
Hey, uh...well. Yeah....uh...Hey, where'd you go to school?
Wittenaur.
Oh, yeah?....
Me, I went to Timex.
I thought perhaps you did.
Yeah. Well....uh, well, guess I'd better get some rest. She'll be grabbing me before I know it, heh heh, ya know.
You, ah...she wears you every day?
Oh, yeah. We go to New York, we fly all over the country. She even sleeps with me.
I'm sorry?
Nah, not like that. Heh. You know what I mean. I'm working all the time....Hey, ya know, I never see you at work.
Uh, well....she doesn't wear me much. I think it's hard for her to see my numerals.
Yeah? Jeez. That's tough.
Oh, I'm fine here in the drawer. Really.....So, you're in the city a lot.
Oh, yeah.
She bought me when she sold her first book. As a present to herself.
Oh yeah? I didn't know that. Wow. She grabbed me in the drug store once, when she forgot to put you on. Hey, did I ever tell you about the time we went to India?
She took you to India?
Oh, man, what a place...Hey, I've got some pictures in the drawer there. Ya wanna take a look at'em later?
Uh, well...maybe I could. Just for a minute.
Cool. Don't worry, she never looks in there. She'll think I got lost.
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