I wrote this in response to a prompt for my writing class. All I could think of was this walk in the canyon. There's no drama, no plot, no characterization, in fact there's absolutely nothing. But it's a great memory just the same.
Around the corner: A Memoir
By Roseanne Lasater
Two people walk hand in hand along the edge of a canyon. The Sun is high and it’s the middle of August. They walk hand in hand.
ROSE
Wow, look. Here’s the trailhead.
RICHARD
Yes.
ROSE
It’s tempting, huh?
RICHARD
It sure is.
ROSE
What do you think? Do we have time?
RICHARD
Well. We have a little time.
ROSE
Okay, so we won’t go far, okay?
RICHARD
We can’t go far. We have to get back pretty quick.
ROSE
Wait. How long have we been gone?
RICHARD
Oh, probably less than ten minutes. Not long.
ROSE
Well they’re probably okay, don’t you think?
RICHARD
Yeah. Muffy was asleep. She’ll probably sleep at least an hour.
ROSE
Yeah, right. And Big Daddy and Erin are hanging out together on the edge, checking out the view.
RICHARD
Yeah. Can we see them from here?
ROSE
No, I don’t think so.
RICHARD
Oh. Well that should keep them busy for a little while.
ROSE
Yeah.
RICHARD
But we can’t leave them too long.
ROSE
Right. I know.
RICHARD
Dad needs to eat pretty frequently because of his diabetes.
ROSE
Yeah…So, what do you think? Can we go a little ways?
RICHARD
Well, yeah, I think we’ll be okay. Just a little ways.
ROSE
Just down there, around the corner. Okay?
RICHARD
Okay, just a little way. Just around the corner.
ROSE
Oh wow.
RICHARD
Yeah.
ROSE
Is that amazing, or what? The view completely changed.
RICHARD
You’re right, it did.
ROSE
Wow.
RICHARD
Wow.
ROSE
It’s amazing.
RICHARD
Oh, look. We can see a donkey train, right down there. Do you see it?
ROSE
Where?
RICHARD
Down there.
ROSE
Whoa. They’re like ants. Even smaller than ants. At first I couldn’t even see them.
RICHARD
Well, let’s go around that next corner.
ROSE
Yeah.
RICHARD
Oh my God. It just gets better and better! Can you believe it?
ROSE
No. Well, yes. Now that we’ve been here a few days, it’s kind of sinking in.
RICHARD
They say it takes a couple of days.
ROSE
I know. It was like all of a sudden a big space opened up inside my brain, and then I could comprehend how big this is. Like my brain had to make room for it.
RICHARD
That’s an interesting way of putting it.
ROSE
Wow. Over there I can see a little bit of the river. Do you see it?
RICHARD
Yeah. You know, there’s an Indian tribe that lives down there?
ROSE
Cool.
RICHARD
Okay, let’s go around the corner and see what’s there.
ROSE
Okay.
(Stops short and motions for Richard to stop and be quiet.)
RICHARD
(Whispering) What do you see?
ROSE
There’s a doe and a fawn. On the trail.
RICHARD
Oh my God, she’s gonna nurse it right here in front of us!
ROSE
Shhh. Don’t scare them.
RICHARD
Look at that. How cool!
ROSE
Wow.
RICHARD
Have you ever been that close to a doe nursing a fawn before?
ROSE
Unh uh.
RICHARD
Me either.
ROSE
Oh, look, those people got too close.
RICHARD
Yeah, she’s going.
ROSE
Dang!
RICHARD
Did you get a picture?
ROSE
Are you kidding? I never even thought to take my camera out.
RICHARD
Oh, too bad.
ROSE
There they go. Right up the side. Amazing.
RICHARD
Well, that was a treat.
ROSE
Really. No kidding.
RICHARD
Isn’t this great?
ROSE
This is awesome!
RICHARD
(Sighs) Well, maybe we better head back. I know, you want to go around that next corner, right? So do I. So do I. But babe, we can’t leave them for too long.
ROSE
I know. Okay, just one more corner. Okay? Honest, just one more. Come on. Please?
RICHARD
Okay. One more.
ROSE
Oh my God. Would you look at this view?
RICHARD
Wow.
ROSE
We’re in the middle of the Grand Canyon!
RICHARD
It really feels like it, doesn’t it?
ROSE
Really.
RICHARD
Oh God.
ROSE
What?
RICHARD
I can’t stand it! I have to see what’s around the corner!
ROSE
(Laughs) I know, it’s insane. It’s like a magnet that keeps pulling us in further.
RICHARD
Babe, this is great!
ROSE
We have to do this again when we have more time.
RICHARD
Yeah, right.
ROSE
By the way do we have any water?
RICHARD
I don’t. Do you?
ROSE
Nope.
RICHARD
Shit.
ROSE
Damn.
RICHARD
You know, I think we’d better turn back now.
ROSE
Yeah, I know. We should.
RICHARD
It’s the hottest part of the day.
ROSE
Yeah, and it’s all uphill going back.
RICHARD
Yeah.
ROSE
Okay.
RICHARD
Wait. Let’s just go around the next corner.
ROSE
Just a peek.
RICHARD
Really fast. And then that’s all.
ROSE
Right.
RICHARD
Right.
ROSE
Really.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
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