Number Three Encounter by BJ Neblett

Number Three Encounter

by BJ Neblett

© 2013

E mail to the Stranger Newspaper, September 23, 2013.

Dear Sirs,

Please include the following ad in your ‘I Saw You and Missed Connections’ column with your on line personals.

Thank you.

Last Friday afternoon, September 20, it was around two PM, maybe 2:30, in downtown Seattle, the #3 bus. I got on at Third and James Street. I promised not to drip on you as I sat down. Did I?

You were wearing a grey Huskies sweatshirt. You had longish dark hair, a ponytail, pretty painted nails, pink I remember, and a killer smile. You reminded me of the sexy heroine stepping out of the pages of one of my short stories.

Me, I’m just a guy who sat next to you, a writer, a hopeless romantic some say, others aren’t so kind. I wore a blue slicker with a Looney Tunes tie and a silly grin.

We talked a bit, you and I, about the rain, and buses, and coffee, and Seattle, and nothing in particular.

I told you I wasn’t from Seattle. You said you could tell because I carried an umbrella.

I wanted to say more but I found myself drowning in your beautiful dark chocolate eyes.

The lady sitting in the wheelchair asked us to ding the bing bong for her to make the bus stop and we both laughed.

I made you a pink origami duck. It matched your nails, do you remember?

How’s he doing?

Actually, I looked for you the next day, and the day after.

But you were gone and so was the rain.

Anyway, I’d like it if we could meet; maybe have coffee and talk about the rain and buses and Seattle and ducks.

You can be my sexy heroine with the killer smile.

I’ll be just a guy with a Looney Tunes tie and a silly grin.

You can text me anytime.

And remember to ding the bing bong when you want the bus to stop.

I’ll be waiting.

Billy.

The Chase by BJ Neblett

The Chase

by BJ Neblett

© 1992, 2013

            Does the Coyote live or survive? Would his life be better without the Roadrunner, or would his life be meaningless? Does he need the Roadrunner or does the Roadrunner need the Coyote?

            Why does the Coyote keep climbing back up from the abyss when he knows his fate is to fall again? Or does he know? Is the Coyote a slave to his desires, wants, needs; or merely a product of his own existence?

            Without the Roadrunner would the Coyote continue to live… or exist… or survive? Could the Roadrunner exist without the Coyote? Would the Coyote be the Coyote without the Roadrunner?

            Should the Coyote, knowing that he is to never catch the Roadrunner, continue to try; or should he redirect his efforts? And if the Coyote were to redirect his efforts would he still be the Coyote… or something less… or something different?

            Do the ends justify the means? Is the reality as good as the fantasy? Is it the present or the wrappings that hold the attraction? Is it the reward or the competition that keeps the Coyote going?

            If the Coyote catches the Roadrunner, what then? Is there another Roadrunner somewhere for the Coyote to pursue… perhaps bigger… even more elusive?

            When does it end… or does it?

            Does the Coyote cease to exist if he stops chasing the Roadrunner? Does the Coyote cease to live once he has caught the Roadrunner? Is the Roadrunner meant to be caught?

            Does the Roadrunner actually exist… or does he just live in the mind of the Coyote?

            Does the Coyote actually exist? Or does he just live in the minds of those who believe in… or need… the chase in order to live… or exist… or survive?

            If the Coyote and Roadrunner didn’t exist would there be a need to invent them?

            I think so.

                                                                                                Houston, Texas

                                                                                                June, 1992

Thanks to Charles M Jones for endless hours of laughter and sleepless nights of contemplation.