I was standing at the corner of my street waiting for my sister to pick me up. We were going to an air show sponsored by our company to hear our dad speak, but we were running late. So I was standing on the street so I could jump in the car when she drove by. I was leaning on the rod iron fence on the corner of Hobart and Yeshiva when I saw a man wave from a distance in my direction. I thought he must be waving to someone behind me and so I looked away and concentrated on the white convertible I was hoping to appear around the corner with my sister in it. A few minutes later I heard someone call "Leslie!" I didn't turn to look who it was until that voice became very close behind me. The same man who had waved a minute or two later was next to me now and seemed slightly confused as to why I had not waved back or answered his call of what he thought to be my name. He quickly confirmed "Excuse me, but are you Leslie?"
I paused for a minute, not sure whether to dash his hopes or not. Quicker than I could catch what I was saying, I responded "Oh yes, I am! I am sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you but my mind was wandering! Then you must be..."
"Derick. Derick Petriela."
"Of course." I responded quickly. Observing the direction he had come from and the pace of his breathing I took the next step down this character route and ushered forward, "Shall we go then?"
"Of course. So my wife mentioned that you had changed your mind about the blue on the side wall and thought it would be too strong a contrast or something?" Derick continued, fortunately providing me with a leg to stand on with my alibi.
"Yes, I thought we could go with a softer neutral color like a light cloudy grey at least on one wall, which will provide you will a multitude of options for furniture pieces and art work for that room."
I was secretly VERY worried at this point that I would start confusing him enough that I would have to explain myself too much and then none of the details would add up and he would know the truth. So I did what any self-respecting con-artist would do. "Sir, do you mind if I come right back? ...I know this seems strange but there is something I was just dying to show you and your wife and I realized I just left it in my car!"
"Oh, that's fine! Just meet me on the porch at this second house on the right here."
I spun around and half ran back around the corner only to see the white convertible waiting there for me, next to a lovely woman standing on the corner. She was much prettier than I, with beautiful red hair and a stylish, tailored top on with jeans and heels the perfect weekend height. I had just enough time to admire her outfit before I tapped her on the shoulder to relay the message, "Ma'am I think there is a gentleman waiting for you around the corner at a big yellow house." After this I hopped into the car in one sweeping motion and waved as if I had just got to know her while having a lovely time over tea. She stared slightly confused while glancing back and forth between our car and the corner from where I had come.
OBVIOUSLY if you know me at all, this is not what happened. I awkwardly told him my name was not Leslie and sweat profusely until my sister finally appeared around the corner at which time I bolted toward the car. ...Not the most adventurous sheep in the pack.
I would never have even thought to do something so movie-esk if I hadn't just read an article called "The Lies We Tell" by Daisann McLane in National Geographic Traveler magazine. (http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2010/09/real-travel-text) The journalist talks about how she feels little shame in taking on whatever character necessary while in the field to get an interesting story or a few "harmless perks." She pretends to be a jewelry designer in a gem shop in Bangkok so she can see the finest of a seller's stones at a discounted rate. I was truly intrigued by this story that I was border-line uncomfortable with.
The second time I was tempted was this past week at work. Sometimes I stay later than usual just to finish things up and although I am probably one of the main distracting voices in our section of cubicles, I still find it much more enjoyable to work once everyone is gone because it is peaceful in the yellow-lit line of metal and cloth open cages that we work in. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the hustle-bustle of the day at it's busiest as well, but that has nothing to do with this story.
I was quietly working at my desk after most of the people around me had gone home when I heard a cart rolling, two rows down. A man started singing slightly above the accepted office voice level and I realize that it was the cleaning man coming to empty the trash cans from all the rows. He started to sing louder and I was under the belief that he simply wished to past the time and didn't know that I was still working there in my cube. The closer he got, the louder his singing was until he was right outside of my cube and there was no way that he did not see me sitting at my desk. So I decided that he probably needed a little company and this was my one chance to turn life into a musical. So I belted out the beginning to the third verse of "Faithfully" by Journey, almost in perfect harmony with Pete (I could see the name on his badge now).
"Circus Life! du nu nu nu UNDER THE BIG TOP WORLD! We all need the clowns..."
"TO MAKE US SMILE!" He joined me in unison and turned to look me in the eyes. "I'm forever yours... FAITHFULLY!" He belted which adoration beaming from his smile.
ONCE AGAIN, if you know me... I did not break out into song with the cleaning guy at work. No matter how much I think it makes a great cheesy ending to Glee, it's not my style.
All I can say on this point is that I suppose we should all be open to exploring different aspects of our character, as long as we know our limitations...?
;)
