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Winston stared at the miniature house with its fresh coat of paint and its perch, feeling a mixture of pride and anxiousness.  Birds flying through his yard would now have their own special place to relax, and he envied them.

He paced around inside the house.  Eyes darting, he couldn’t find a trace of his ex-wife.

How to get over her completely?  He’d begun with a list of all the things he wanted to change about himself.  He learned to cook, established an exercise routine and vowed to stick with it, stopped watching so much television in favor of reading more books.  He made lists of herbs to plant in his garden, carpentry simple and complex around his home (the birdhouse being a small, most recent example), places around Philadelphia to visit via bicycle, new gastropubs to frequent, etc.  He even made a master list of his various lists, for organizational purposes.

But today he couldn’t think of a single thing he felt like doing.  Unnerved, he felt.  Who was he anymore without something to do?

Back in the backyard, he stood and stared.  A light breeze passed and made his neighbors' wind chimes chime.  He took a deep breath and sat in his favorite chair, an outdoor rocker with comfy cushions.  Maybe I’ll just do nothing for a few hours, he thought.

He fell into that peaceful zone between wakefulness and sleep.  A Dark-eyed Junco flew from a nearby tree and stopped momentarily on a fence post in Winston’s yard, listened to him as he snored.

Image courtesy of Steve Creek Outdoors

Posted by liminalfiction
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20 comments:

  1. Karen Wojcik BernerJuly 16, 2012 at 5:59 AM

    I was really drawn in by Winston and would like to read more. The "Who was he anymore without something to do?" line reminds me of the men I know.

    Well done.

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 18, 2012 at 6:44 AM

      Thanks, Karen! That question conjures many a person and situation for me too.

      Delete
  2. Jack UrquhartJuly 16, 2012 at 6:23 AM

    Ditto what Karen writes above. A little glimpse of quotidian reality.
    (Reminds me of ... me!)

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 18, 2012 at 6:45 AM

      Thanks, Jack! I always appreciate your twitter mentions, and now it's great to see you here with a comment. Stating that a story reminds you of something in your life, let alone yourself, I take as a wonderful compliment, so thank you!

      Delete
  3. Thomas DerryJuly 17, 2012 at 12:31 PM

    The realization it's OK to do nothing sometimes... priceless.

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 18, 2012 at 6:49 AM

      Hi, Thomas, and welcome! I was hoping people would pick up on that notion of it being OK to do nothing. In my opinion, doing nothing is very underrated and undervalued in American society. There's this seemingly universal perception that we should always be doing something, and I for one think it's unfair. Thanks for your comment and I hope you visit again!

      Delete
  4. John WiswellJuly 17, 2012 at 9:15 PM

    Found this to be oddly peaceful, Richard.

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 18, 2012 at 6:50 AM

      Thanks, John, that's nice to hear as I'd hoped that by story's end, that's how readers would feel. I always appreciate your comments.

      Delete
  5. BevimusJuly 20, 2012 at 12:00 PM

    This story was like a comfy blanket- much needed on a dreary day like today.

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  6. Helen A. HowellJuly 20, 2012 at 10:09 PM

    A real sense of loss here, deciding to be his own person again, one couldn't help feel Winston's emotions here, his need to make a new life, and yet the lack of purpose that seemed to exist for him right now but also a recognition that he could do nothing if he choose to. Nice work Richard.

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 27, 2012 at 11:09 AM

      Thanks, Helen! Recognition that he could do nothing was certainly the key for him.

      Delete
  7. Tim VanSant WritesJuly 21, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    That "peaceful zone between wakefulness and sleep" is one of the best places to visit. I love it there.

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  8. Steve GreenJuly 21, 2012 at 9:14 AM

    Sometimes "nothing" is the best thing to be doing, a bit of time out to enjoy the peace and quiet. :)

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 27, 2012 at 11:11 AM

      It's so undervalued in American society, I think, Steve. We seem to feel we should always be doing something, but a little bit of nothing between activities is healthy, I think.

      Delete
  9. Adam BJuly 21, 2012 at 11:36 PM

    The peacefulness of nothingness, captured very eloquently.
    Adam B @revhappiness

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 27, 2012 at 11:12 AM

      Thanks for reading, Adam! I appreciate the comment and the compliment it contains.

      Delete
  10. Deanna SchrayerJuly 22, 2012 at 5:19 AM

    That's a lot of story in such a short space Richard. I have a feeling if only he'd started his lists before the wife became the ex, she wouldn't have become the ex. Or would she?
    Excellently written!

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    1. liminalfictionJuly 27, 2012 at 11:14 AM

      Not sure, Deanna, but you may be right. In an older story here called 'Assigning Blame,' Winston reveals that his wife was cheating on him with one of his co-workers, and I'm not sure whether that would've happened anyway. Thanks for the compliment!

      Delete

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