A Sudden Blast of Frozen Air
A cold wind was brewing. The freezing weather
was stewing. Outside in the cold New York streets, it was frozen tundra. There
were icicles hanging from every possible area. There had been freezing rain the
night before. The streets were slippery and covered in ice. A man, named Sonata,
sat at the front desk of a building on 88th street and 2cd avenue.
He sat in the warmth of the building looking outside at the frigid weather,
daydreaming. Sonata was jolted from his daydream, by a sudden blast of frozen
air.
Mr. Cristiforo, a board-member and tenant, had
just entered the building. “Good evening
sir!” said Sonata, promptly. “A little bit too much of a cold evening, for it
to be good, don`t you think Sonata?” said Mr. Crisitforo, with his usual
attitude, and rolling his eyes. “I guess so sir. I`m just glad you’re back safe
and warm sir!” said Sonata, doing his best to brighten the grumpy man`s
evening. “Yes, I suppose.” said Mr.
Crisitforo, as he fumbled for his keys, clearly done with the
conversation. “Have a good evening!”
said Sonata, in one last vain attempt to get some sense of approval for his
concerns. Sonata felt like a begging dog, but never voiced this feeling. Mr.
Crisitforo got in the elevator without a word, and left in the same fashion.
The automatic door reopened for no apparent reason, and there was an ominous
sudden blast of frozen air.
Sonata was used to this sort of treatment. He
had served in the military, and was familiar with the sense of entitlement,
which came with; money, rank, and power. He had never experienced these
feelings first hand, only the residual ripple of those who did feel entitled. He
also did not feel as though, all people with money, rank, and power came off as
(or even felt) “entitled”; he just hated being treated as though he didn`t have
any value or was some ignorant schmuck.
Sonata was a middle class child, in an era where
the middle class was becoming increasingly non-existent. He was a well-educated
young man, though he tried not to show it off.
He always did his best to work hard, and keep his employers happy. Life
had dealt him some bad cards, but no more than the next man. He had landed this
job as a doorman, and to this day; it was his favorite job. He had to put up
with the usual Mr. Crisitforo at his job, but apart from that minority, most of
the tenants were pleasant. The job was quite enjoyable. He also had a few
tenants who were unusually sweet (and he thought were attractive). The job was
certainly more enjoyable, then that last sudden blast of frozen air.
Sonata worked the overnight shift, from eleven
pm to seven am. Part of the reason Sonata found the job so pleasurable, was because
it gave him the opportunity to read more and write. He was an avid reader, and
he read all sorts of tales. Any well written adventure or mystery would sate
his unquenchable thirst (which he thought was quite a contradiction, but thought
of no further). The tales would remove him from the mundane monotony of
everyday life. The stories caused such a stir in his imagination, he found
himself getting lost in daydreams more often. Sonata could travel to distant
and not-so-distant lands, just by following the words in the palms of his
hands. He was thinking about a new book he had bought (from Strand); and during
this thought Sonata was jolted, from the thought, by a sudden blast of frozen
air.
Sonata spent the rest of the night: writing out
his thoughts, ideas, and watching the pedestrians pass by the lobby, outside
(although he dreaded the blasts of cold air which would hit him, when each passer-by
activated the automatic sliding door). He observed as people: walked their
dogs, hailed cabs, and he saw a couple lovers embrace. He thought it was
beautiful how they shared body heat to keep them safe against the chill. He
also noticed all the gorgeous single women pass. Women seemed to be the only
distraction, he couldn`t ignore. Sonata imagined what it would be like to date
a woman from this area. He would watch
as they passed; and picture himself talking to one of them, and asking one of
them on a date. The reality was he never spoke a word, for fear of risking his
job (which seemed a good excuse for his lack confidence). He felt, at least, he
was brave enough to smile at a couple of the angels. Sonata was imagining his
idea of the perfect woman when, he was hit by a sudden blast of frozen air.
A beautiful woman had just walked by and smiled back
at him. It was always nice when one of the eligible pedestrians, would return
his friendly smile. “Any one of them could be my dream girl” he thought, as
they passed out of his vision. He did not value the physical appearance, over
the mental aptitude and personality. He would never admit to this to his friends;
but in truth he really wanted someone he could bond with and have a good
conversation. He was a simple man, and
was looking for simple love (loving friendship” he thought in his head). The
drama and games that come with relationships (of immature people) was not for
him. Sonata had his heart broken, and was hurt enough times to know, he never
wanted to experience heartbreak again.
Heartbreak always felt like a sudden blast of frozen air.
Sonata longed for and desired affection, just as
much as the next hopeless romantic; he wasn`t desperate however. He used his
vivid imagination, time and time again, to reflect on his idea of a perfect
woman. When he would write, he would
imagine he had met her, and have full written out conversations with her. She
would (since he was writing for her) always give the responses he found most
desirable. She was eloquent, intelligent, funny, pretty, and a little
nerdy/dorky. He wrote about her again tonight. He was telling her how much he
loved her, and how he would do anything to spend forever with her. He thought
to himself; perhaps it was because he never knew his biological mother, that
this idea of a romantic love seemed so important… Maybe he just watched too
many Disney movies as a child? He had returned (from the previous digression)
to his “dream woman”, and was describing her beauty; when the automatic door
opened again, and he was hit by a sudden blast of frozen air.
Sonata shivered, and warmed himself. Sonata
began by describing her hair. He wrote about how soft and smooth it felt as he
ran his fingers through it. She had
tender lips, the juicy and plump kind, that just beg to be kissed. Her smile
made a perfect crescent and could assuage even the most hate filled heart. She
was slim and petite, her body was the perfect silhouette of a woman. She was
tall and stunning, absolutely gorgeous. From her neck to her long glamorous
legs, everything about her was perfect. He always described her exactly same
way; except the only factor about her that changed, was the eyes. She had
gorgeous green eyes… no hazel eyes. Sonata was mulling over the details of her
eyes, as he was hit by a sudden blast of frozen air.
He felt like he would get sick; from the
freezing air that kept blowing in, and put his coat on. Sonata finished her
description. He then spent hours in his head lost in conversation with her; but
mostly listening (to things he imagined she was telling him) and getting lost
in her (ever-changing) heartwarming eyes. She was into rock and loved playing
video games. He would listen to her talk
about music and her ideas. She would talk about her fears and doubts. She would
recite poems, written by his favorites; like Whitman, Dickenson, Plath, Blake,
Angelou and Shakespeare`s sonnets… as well as poems from the deep reaches of
her creative mind. Her personality was (at times) intimidating, but she was
loving and patient as well. She made Sonata promise, not tell any of the poems (which
she told him) to anyone (unless she felt they were ready). Her disposition and
demeanor made, Sonata feel that: she truly cared. She listened intently to what
he had to say, when he gave his opinion, or when he just explained how he was
doing. He loved her with all his heart, and she loved him (after all she was
his imaginary love). Her name was (based on a celebrity crush): Simone.
Sonata and Simone were discussing, as they lay
in a luscious grass meadow; when Mr. Crisitforo came by and interrupted the
daydream again! “Just checking to see what you were up too! Not dosing off?”
stated Mr. Crisitforo flatly, and whisper aloud “typical”. “Everything’s good
down here, are you doing good tonight?” said Sonata, still somewhat lost due to
his interrupted love affair. “Excuse me, young man?” Mr. Crisitforo said
interrogatively? “I`m sorry, Are you doing good SIR?” said Sonata,
apologetically. “No need for the attitude, but yes I`m fine. I will be speaking
to the manager, about your attitude, young man. I suggest you correct it.” said
Mr. Crisitforo. “And the proper word is: are doing Well… Well.” Mr. Cristiforo reiterated, as he hopped back into the
elevator.
Sonata had no time, to be bothered by the evil man,
he merely shook his head. “Good… and Good.” He whispered as the elevator doors
closed (once out of passive rebelliousness, and once cause he was glad the jerk
was gone). Sonata was longing to return to the eyes of Simone. After a while, Sonata
was back in his metal retreat. He was still picturing her beautiful smile. He
was looking deep into her hazel (or green) eyes, as she stared lovingly back at
him. He felt like he had spent hours in silence with Simone. They were just content
to be next to each other, in a comforting quiet. They were in the meadow, when
they embraced in the grass and shared a kiss. He broke away slightly and moved
her hair out of her amazing eyes. “I wish I could spend forever with you.”
Sonata said, “You can…” Simone replied. Just then, he was hit by a sudden blast
of frozen air.
“Sleeping on the job!” joked Jamal, doing his
best impression of Mr. Crisitforo. Jamal was the relief, for Sonata. “It`s
seven already?” asked Sonata, yawning. “Close, six thirty! You want to leave
early?” asked Jamal, the other doorman. Sonata thought for a moment. He knew he
might get in trouble if Mr. Cristiforo came back, and Sonata had left early,
but said “F*ck it, why not”! Sonata quickly gathered his things, didn`t even
bother changing, and was on his way to leave; all before Jamal had even sat
down at the desk. “Get home safe!” Jamal half-chuckled/half-yelled, as Sonata
hustled out the door. “The wind is horrible. Be careful, seriously, I almost
got hit by a falling icicle.” Jamal called out once more, but Sonata was gone. Jamal
shivered as he felt a sudden blast of frozen air.
The frozen tundra of the night was now an icy
desert of the day. Precarious icicles still hung everywhere, and there were
black ice patches all over the sidewalk. Sonata was walking and shivering in
the frozen air. Sonata was in a rush to get home. His date with Simone had been
cut short; and he was eager to sleep, and meet her in his dreams. He was hit by
a sudden blast of frozen air. He began to get nervous that perhaps her response
to his “I wish I could spend forever with you.” would change. What else did she
have to say? Doubt began to cloud
Sonatas mind, as he was hit by another sudden blast of frozen air. He slowed
down, downtrodden by his own misplaced doubt. “How will I ever know if she
really wants to spend forever with me?” he thought, as he was hit by yet
another sudden blast of frozen air.
Sonata took another step, and slipped on a patch
of hidden ice. His belongings flew from his hands and he landed hard on his
back. Everything flashed black and white for a moment and he felt a knot in the
back of his head. As his vision returned, he still lay on his back, as
originally positioned by the fall; he was hit by a sudden blast of frozen air.
He reached back and felt his head with his hand. When he withdrew his hand, it
was clear; there was a lot of blood coming from somewhere on the back of his
head. Sonata looked up at the sky, and at the icicles above him; and he was hit
by a sudden blast of frozen air. The strong unnatural gust of wind broke loose
about twenty icicles above him. They fell and landed in his limp body, he
screamed in agony for a second, and was silent. He took and final breath and
his vision went into complete darkness. The last sensation he felt was a sudden
blast of frozen air.
Sonata`s spirit awoke in a green field. Sonata
was nervously uncertain of how he arrived here, but also felt strangely calm. The
meadow was warm, and the sun shone brightly; the air was fresh and pure. The
only noise, Sonata heard, (other than the warm gentle wind and swaying of trees)
was light breathing of another person.
He saw her, and smiled. Simone looked into his eyes, as loving as
always. “I want to spend forever with you as well, love!” she said. They kissed
again, and Sonata never felt another sudden blast of frozen air.
Composed
By: Andrew Drucker
