1 Minute Stories Perspective Stories

A Hidden Process

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The rain fell with rhythmic purpose as the man sat still in the dimly lit corner of the small diner.  Not a single person was aware of his presence as they shoveled fork after fork of their high-sugar, and even higher-fat meals into their faces.  It was like watching a cast of actors go about their parts without realizing the camera had stopped rolling.

Most of the patrons were men in their late fifties, or early sixties, paying no attention as they sat quietly trapped within their minds.

After a few moments, the man’s attention was brought to the unconscious finger tapping upon the two-inch-thick book that lay beneath his right hand.  With it, he remembered the true intention of the visit.  He came here to be alone so he could plunge himself into the book’s wisdom without distraction.

The book was titled “Better You Tomorrow”, by J.S. Turing, and was filled to the brim with almost seven hundred pages of anecdotes, tools, and ramblings for bettering one’s self.

Staring at the overwhelming volume, an unnerving feeling came over him.

“Is this really what it’s about? Is it about gaining more tools I know I won’t use?  Or, is there something else waiting for me I’m not seeing yet?”

His quarry rattled him, bringing to his attention the fact that uncertainty was never a welcomed friend.  Not to him, and not to anyone he knew.  Maybe this was why he purchased the book in the first place.  Or maybe, he was just too afraid of facing the world through his own creativity.  Either way, it was time to make something happen so his life wouldn’t continue to go unfulfilled.  He was tired of being single and, even more tired of not having his own work put out into the world.

With this last thought still ruminating in his mind, he became aware of a sensation he had not felt in a long time.  It was as if this unintentional surrender to reality had broken him free from an invisible affliction smothering his well-being.  Because of it, he picked up his coffee, took a sip, then pushed the book away as if choosing himself over what would have been another fruitless journey.  With a deep sigh, he sat back hard into the seat, and looked up.

That’s when he saw her.

He couldn’t help but to stare, as her presence provided a stark contrast to everything else within the diner.  She was tall, thin, and removing her damp coat, revealing a black V-neck sweater and blue jeans.

“Where did she come from?” he asked himself almost knocking his coffee from the table.

“Boy, if I didn’t push the book away … I wouldn’t have …”

His mind became interrupted when he saw the woman looking around the room as if searching for someone.  That’s when they made eye contact.  Instinctively, he shifted his gaze back towards his coffee trying to save himself from an awkward moment.  But it was too late.  The woman was now walking towards him, folding her coat as she approached.

Now standing at his table, she smiled, then placed her coat on the far end of the bench seat and sat down.

“Hi, sorry I’m late.” she said, as she rolled up her sleeves and brushed her dark hair away from her blue eyes.

“Oh?” the man replied.  “I’m not sure what you mean?”

The woman then pointed towards the book and smiled.

“You’re Jacob aren’t you?” she asked.

“I’m sorry miss, no.  That’s not my name.” he replied.

“But the book?” she said.

“What about it?”

“I’m so embarrassed.” the woman said.  “I saw you, then the book, and thought you were him.”

“You thought I was who, exactly?” the man replied curiously.

“I’m sorry.” she said, while reaching for her coat.  “I was supposed to meet the man who wrote that book.  I thought it was you.  Apparently, I’ve been stood up.”

As she got to her feet, the man’s mind raced as he tried to find the words to keep her from leaving.  Just moments ago he had pushed the book away in an act of choosing himself.  Now, because of that choice, he was given an opportunity to fulfill his place within a hidden process.  A process that not only brought this beautiful unique woman straight into his life, but one that would help him to understand the power of his own choices.

Without skipping a beat that’s when he looked over towards the book.

“That’s funny,” he said, as he reached his hand out and placed it on the book. “I believed I was here for the book too, but it seems the universe has other plans for us.”

He then reached out his hand and motioned for the woman to sit back down.

“Let’s try this again.  I’m Mathew.  Would you like a cup of coffee?”

The woman placed her coat back on the seat and sat down next to it.

“Tea is fine.” she said with a smile.

“I’m Eleanor.  Eleanor Vassar.”


REFLECTION

This story was meant to come with more questions than answers.  The reason for this was to get us to engage, take ownership, and fill in the blanks.

However, towards the end something took place.  A unique shift in perspectives led me into a new state of creativity within my own work.

As you can see, the woman says that her last name is Vassar.  This unique shift allowed me to see this short story (about choices and overwhelm) as an addition to my current works. Not just a singular entry as it was originally intended for.

But the real question is how does it move you?  What hidden gems are here that relate to within your own life?

As if a gift we have given to each other, I’ll let you decide.

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7 Comments
  1. Bill

    I guess that for me, kind of knowing how you write, I first merely read it as two of your characters and a chance meeting. Then, knowing that your characters are really you and everyone that interfaces with you all rolled up into one, the picture changed for me.

    It was like you having a chance encounter with another part of yourself. A part maybe that you felt separate from, as well as were longing to meet at the same time. Strangely enough, it was the very book that both those parts were interested in exploring, that was the basis for your coming together.

    Furthermore, the one character was looking for the secrets held within the book, while the other character was interested in the secrets held within the person who wrote the book. The book itself, was perhaps nothing more than a nexus where these inward looking characters could see each other for what they are.

    Good stuff as usual Adam King!

    • Adam King

      Thank you Bill, I’ll keep them coming.
      You know, the more I thought about this one myself, I started to see a LOT of questions.

      1. If they woman (Eleanor) is meeting an author, what’s her position?
      2. Is the main character (Mathew) an author himself?
      3. Is Mathew looking for a way to get published? Is he reading the book because he wants to learn who other successful people do to get a book written?
      4. Is Mathew in some kind of mid-life crisis?
      5. When I began, Eleanor was someone interested in Jacob’s work, now she seems like a professional who may be advantageous to know.
      6. Does Mathew have an issue with diet?
      7. How much of me is actually in this? I’ll answer this one the best way I can. Yes, there’s a lot in here that’s me, but I have such a passion for imagining my readers as I write. It’s like looking into a camera when you’re recording. You have to imagine your audience, as if you’re talking with them, and as if it’s about them while you’re sharing your message. Same thing here.

      As you can see, there’s a lot going on. Then to throw the name Vassar out there, that was a big one for me. Why? It’s a long story that I’ll share one The Jewel of Pandean is finished.

      Again, thanks for the support. I have a long journey ahead of me, and I’m grateful we can experience it together.

  2. Angela

    What an interesting experience this short story just gave me! I immediately identified with the man and had an interesting flashback in memory to a time I stayed many weeks at a “men’s club” in New York while on business. Being surrounded by men at “their” restaurant each morning for breakfast and some evenings felt a bit awkward. I remember observing the servant versus affluent business professional relationships play out and was keenly aware that I was a woman in a man’s domain and quite unfamiliar with the protocols of behavior expected at that particular level of society. It is interesting that your story brings up that memory and those feelings. I’ve been grappling with similar feeling as I consider a job and/or career change.

    I am also very recently experiencing more and more of these intuitive moments when I feel an intentional or unusual awareness of what is happening around me and in me. I felt myself pushing that self help book away before Mathew did so.in the story. This much is my own story as I’ve chosen to break away from the traditional ideas of what my career should look like and how I should be progressing through my life as I was taught as a teen age girl searching for what success should look like.

    Just this morning I met someone for the first time and we both commented on how information and relationships were appearing at just the right moment and in just the right way to shine light on something for our benefit. I am excited to see her again and see where that light takes her over the next few weeks. By the way, she was wearing a Seahawk’s jersey decked out in rhinestones instead of a black sweater and jeans and in my reading of your story I had to giggle just a bit as I almost expected to read “Seahawk’s jersey” because my minds was so relating to the experience. How funny!

    The story opened doors and windows in my mind to look at so much of what is in my life right now in a very open way both as observer and as participant. I love it!! It is a spring board to tomorrow! How exciting! Thank you.

    • Adam King

      I love the synchronicities aspect. Just after I wrote this, Jen and I received a new years card from a family member. The card was a picture (of the couple) and the woman was wearing EXACTLY a black V-Neck sweater and blue jeans.

      Also, Bill and I were talking about the last article (A Hidden Process) and how something in his own life just came up out of the blue.

      This makes your sentence (Just this morning I met someone for the first time and we both commented on how information and relationships were appearing at just the right moment and in just the right way to shine light on something for our benefit.) even more powerful.

      Lastly, I like that you’re paying more attention to your surroundings. I’m beginning to get the “nice job Sherlock” from my wife every time we go somewhere because I can see “hidden things” around the people in those locations. For example, how I could tell that the owner of a deli we were at was A. The true owner, and B. A United States Marine. And, his name before he introduced himself.

      As you can see, there’s a lot of beautiful things the perspectives of Tessera have given to us.

      So very cool…

    • Anonymous

      Divinely orchestrated id say (: it helpes us see when such meetings occur , not to simply dismiss them as mere concidsnces , but rather see as in this case that all is divinely guided . There are things we cannot yet see (: We are where we meant to be .

      Beautiful story thank y Adam
      Loved the name twist (:

      Questions :

  3. Terri

    My life has been filled with strange meetings and coincidences.

    And, i have begun to see more happenings in new ways than in the old fearful ways.

    I feel that we are all in for a roller coaster ride of new in our lives.

    Adventures are about to happen that will call us to the MORE of us and we will let go of the LESS of ourselves more easily.

    A great story Adam—thanks foe the reminders of all that we are.

    • Adam King

      I experience the same things, of course.
      Thank you Terri for sharing your experiences and acknowledging the story. 🙂

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