Mirror Image
Growing up Brian was a happy child. Born into a middle-class family, he enjoyed a good education and all the other things that go along with growing up. Brian was an introverted child and he really has not fully grown up to be other than that.
During his childhood years he loved to play video games with his older brother. His brother departed the nest, but Brian was still able to play the games over the “net”.
His education came fairly easy to Brian. His tested IQ was in the genius range. His parents wanted him to pursue a career in a professional field.
Brian loved the sciences, his mind always seeking clues to complicated puzzles. Brian bored easily, if something did not challenge him, he soon tired of it!
Growing up in New York city presented challenges of its own . Everybody there was in a hurry. To where it really did not matter. Endless perpetual motion.
Drawing and painting was a hobby that Brian really enjoyed. So much so he drew and painted his way through high school and into college. Brian’s field of study was the sciences. His love for painting continued, so much he quit college and started painting full time.
His family was furious, for what kind of life would painting provide their precious son. His dad always went around spouting trash talk about the “ARTS’, and how they were worthless when it came to supporting a family.
Brian yearned for the day he could support himself, and get away from his foolish father. Brian’s mother was more understanding and she stood by her son’s wishes. She thought Brian could become a very famous Artist and would be very wealthy.
Brian appreciated the way mom supported him, but wealth was the furthers thing in his mind. He painted and drew for the relaxation and the sense of fulfillment it provided to his soul.
Damn it’s raining again, wiping sweat from his brow. The winter months in the tropics produced almost constant rain. The nights were humid and hot, very hot, and very humid. I’d like to go to town tomorrow morning. Several things were needed to replenish the pantry. Being single had its advantages. Less of everything to buy and only buy things you thought were needed. He was a poor impulsive shopper. Get in the store, grab a few items and rapidly depart. On the bright side he would see that lovely cashier again, what was her name?
He pondered then thought I think her name is Kathy. She does not wear a wedding ring, so she must be single. She always acted friendly towards him. Could she be flirting? He thought not, probably part of her store persona. Regardless she was cute and he enjoyed the her attention. After all, there was little to do in this small coastal town. Actually the town was a small island connected to the mainland by an old wooden rickety bridge. From end to end the bridge was probably 100 yards long. The road that led to and from the bridge was just plain marl. With the constant rain during the winter months he traveled the road sparingly. The road would turn to marl and mud.
Thinking back to the first time he had come to the “island” it seemed like years ago. But in reality it was only two years ago. He had first come to the island to get settings for his paintings. As a starving artist in New York city, he yearned to find a “utopia” outside the city in which to pursue his craft. Deft in landscapes, he now yearned to add to his repertoire. He painted ships at sea, children playing in the surf mothers yelling at them to stay close to shore.
Occasionally he would see a “perfect” model for his work, Young bikini clad girls frequently sunned themselves, many times without their tops. Now that was worth painting. He wondered if “Kathy” ever sunned herself here. He never saw her outside the grocery store, but he rarely ventured around the village. Maybe he would ask her if she wanted to go on a “date” sometime!
During the winter months with all the rain his days of free models at the beach sunning themselves were nonexistent. Damn most of his work had to be taken from the depths of his mind. He preferred live models, because his imagination seemed limited. But in reality he had a very vivid imagination.
His “Bay Window” faced the shoreline, which was a real blessing in the winter. The rain, rain and rain sent him into darker and darker moods. He toyed around by painting self-portraits using a large “mirror” that was in the cabaña when he leased it.
Occasionally he would awaken during the rain soaked nights to a rustling noise. Once it was loud enough to frighten him, and he arose to investigate. Saw nothing, but a shadow of himself in the “mirror”. He went back to bed, forced himself to slumber and slept soundly the rest of the night.
Sun shone through the large bay window. Ah! Brian thought I’ll be getting a break from this damn rain. While wondering how he would spend his day, he started to cook himself a meager breakfast. Usually he ate a piece of fruit, but today as the sun lifted his spirits he decided to cook eggs and grits. Grits were a new item to Brian. Being a “Yankee” he had never tasted or even heard of grits before he came to the island. He had to admit grits were pretty tasty, but in true Yankee style he preferred his sprinkled with sugar. Brian wondered if that girl Kathy could make grits “southern style”.
Bet she could do a lot of things. Maybe he should find out. He had to go to the grocery store today, maybe I will ask her out for a date.
After breakfast, Brian washed the few dishes he had used and left them in the rack to air-dry. He walked out of the cabana and glanced towards the beach. Too early now for his “Subjects” to be sunbathing. Maybe in the afternoon they will be here. He mused “guess I shall go shopping for food this morning”.
Brian rode a bicycle around the Island, saved gas and besides it was good exercise. Physically Brian was in excellent shape! He limited his alcohol intake to a glass or two of wine every two or three weeks. His lungs thanked him daily by providing fresh clean air to breath. Brian quit smoking when he first came to the Island. It had not been too difficult he thought. Always hated the damn things anyway, filthy habit.
Brian mounted his bike and pointed it towards the grocery store. On the way he noticed a small movie theater. Funny I hadn’t noticed it before maybe it is trying to tell me to ask that girl Kathy for a date to a movie this Friday. Brian stopped and looked at the marquee, looks like a good love story would be showing Friday night. How appropriate he thought. Maybe it is time to ask her for a date. Brian tried to pump himself up. His love life almost non-existent, his shyness always in the past had reared it’s ugly head. Brian would back away.
Brian always liked girls although he knew virtually nothing about them. The boys at school had made fun of girls then they had what the boys called a monthly “curse”. Brian was intelligent enough to figure out what that meant.
Brian had few close personal friends so when he left New York City, only his close family knew he was leaving the city . Destination was some godforsaken mosquito ridden island off the coast of a state called North Carolina.
The store had very few shoppers in it at this time of day. The early hour plus the rare sunny weather would be bad for business today. Maybe this was another sign that he should ask the girl out. At least he could confirm her name and tell her his. After picking out the essential items that he had come to get Brian got to the checkout. Good the girl’s line had no customers. “Hello my name is Brian!, what may I call you”, she softly responded “please call me Kathy”. Kathy sweetly smiled “I’ve seen you around the island many times. Always seem to be in a hurry. Most “Islanders” know each other. I was born and raised right here on “Kilby Island”. “Where do you hail from”?, Brian smiled “New York City”, Kathy responded “it must be quite a culture shock for you”, “yes but in an enjoyable way”. Brian thought she is friendly enough. He sheepishly asked “Kathy although we just formally met would you care to join me for a movie Friday evening” She responded “thought you would never ask”. They both laughed. As he was leaving the store he looked back at Kathy, “7:00 pm be OK?” Kathy responded ” 7:00 pm will be fine and I will meet you at the corner”.
Brian was smiling as he peddled back to his cabana, he had finally done it. Not only did he introduce himself to her, but had made a date for this Friday evening. Brian put his groceries away and the grabbed his paintbrush. He walked outside and scanned the beach. Quite a few people were on the beach now. Mostly children with their mothers. Several bikini-clad girls were sunning themselves. He unfolded his rusty old chair, sat and started to sketch some of the children playing. He didn’t feel like straining his mind to paint the girls today. He just felt good and lazy today. Sun felt so good and warm, and relaxing. Actually too good to be working so he sketched for entrainment. After a couple of hours Brian retired to his cabana to rest for his upcoming date tomorrow.
The sun was receding quietly now being replaced with orange-bluish horizen. Night would soon fall. Brian frequently burned candles at night. Not only did it save on the electric, it provided him with an inner warmth.
Brian sat in his lounge chair reading the latest video magazine. Amazing how good he felt since he was not mesmerized by videos day and night. He frequently was consumed by the video games. So much so he frequently would play them from dusk to dawn. Fortunately those days were now in the “rear-view mirror of his life”. He still enjoyed keeping up with the latest news in the world of video games.
The sandman was near as his “lids” grew heavy. Tonight was Thursday and tomorrow was the big day.