We stopped and the couple in front of us looked at us. I think they thought "oh shit, a baby"...further "likely she's going to cry." The man moved his chair forward about a foot. He used the butt-scoot forward method and he did it with emphasis. The whole time his back was rigid and I knew it was directed at us.
I put the blanket down, then She in her seat, to the far left corner. Her bag in the lower right. I was reminded of the beach when I was little - where you anchored the blanket with your shoes. Doug tried to help and I was immediately on edge. I mentally hissed at him "You're making us look like newbies". Further I thought "I do this every day, you're not helping." I think there's an ease, an effortlessness in doing certain things that comes easier to me. Snap goes the release, the carriage unfolds gracefully. ZZZip goes the nylon bag, out comes the chair. It's one two three, easy for me. I think Doug gets lost. Mesmerized by the mechanics, he ends up looking much like the sweet befuddled old man next to my purse mouthed crone.
"What can I do" he hovers solicitously. He reaches out and fumbles in the spot where my hands are.
"I have it, I say, "Can you unfold the chairs?"
He sees my struggling with the release. He tries to help.
I wish he'd stop I think. I can get this and he's making it worse.
"Please," I say "Just get the chairs"
He fumbles with the drawstring on the bag.
He's so tall, I think with dismay. Everyone is watching.
"Do you need me to, do you want me to, is she ok..." he asks without waiting for a reply. Questions questions. I feel myself cringe. I'm stressed. There's no need, after all, to make a spectacle of ourselves.
I've been embarrassed in the past by Doug's solicitousness. Worried that he looked henpecked, afraid that someone will assume I bully.
Finally we are set. I sink into the blue back chair. I'm hiding. I want people to stop looking. I squinch low, trying to keep my head lower then the seat back. I reach down to unbuckle her.
"Is she ok? Does she need to be taken out?" he asks.
He's not yet clear on the concept that this is the best part.
And then she is in my arms. Snuggly in pink. Together we settle in. It was light when we got here, and it gets darker as the music starts in earnest. I'm wearing brown pants and a brown vneck. The closest thing I have, that fits, that mimics the original outfit. I can't remember what he wore, pants because it was cool for sure, and I think a brown crew neck sweater. Likely he was the most handsome man there.
"Do you need me to hold her" he asks.
"Nooo" I clutch her closer. He smiles. I smile.
The music continues. The songs are great, the sound fantastic.
We eat, we feed her, he gives me his shoes because its cold in just flip flops. It's Ellie's first concert. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64f4VfTNBD0
Oh my god, I think. We're "that" couple.
I lean over. "We're that couple." I whisper. "What? Who is?" he looks around. "No, no" I say "We are. We're THAT couple." "I don't get it, what couple?"
"You know," I said. "We're that couple that I always see where the husband handsome, and they have a baby, and they look really happy - like at the apple festival." He reaches to rest his hand over my leg. I continue. "I've always seen that couple and was sad. I've always wanted to be that couple."
Then he gave me a kiss on head.
"Yes, my dear. We are. We're that couple."
Finally.
No comments:
Post a Comment