the human element

 Hey Friends. 

I’m writing a story. 

I’d like to share it here, in fragments, as a kind of serial novella. 

I tend to be monkish in my writing, spending most of the work time inside of my own head and heart. 

I’d like this to be a community project and spend some time inside of your head and heart, too. 

You can help me become a better storyteller and writer. 

¡Gracias!

Story

The Greyhound bus squeaked to a stop at the downtown station. 

The old woman next to him fell asleep on the trip up from the low country and rested her head on his shoulder. 

Her face was wrinkled like the bark on an ancient magnolia tree, and colored the same beautiful brown as it’s trunk and branches. 

She breathed in, and the air made a soft, whistling sound through her nose.

She breathed out, and it made a gentle, flapping sound through her lips. 

“Life is a symphony,” he chuckled to himself, “Of whistles and kazoos.”

“Ma’am,” he whispered. 

She didn’t move.

 She kept right on snoring. 

“Ma’am,” he said a bit louder. 

Still only whistles and kazoos. 

“Ma’am,” he said a little louder still. 

He reached out and touched her weathered hand. 

She opened her tired, brown eyes.

She smiled a small smile at him.

“Thanks for a lettin’ me use yo shoulda as my pilla,” she whispered in a gravelly voice. “First time I woked up beside a man in a long time. Hope my snorin’ didn’t bother you none,” she giggled.

“No ma’am,” he said with a giggle of his own. 

“It was music to my ears.”

His knees and back snapped and popped as he stood up slowly and smoothed out the wrinkles in his pants and shirt. 

“My goodness,” said the old woman, “You makin’ music, too.” 

He placed his hand gently on her bony shoulder. 

“We could start a band called The Human Element,” he laughed. 

“People would come from all over to hear us whistle, flap, snap and pop. 

What’cha think?”

“Yep, they’d pay a bundle to hear that!”

He pulled on his jacket and waved to her. 

“Bye, my friend,” he said. 

“Thanks for the song.”

She waved back. 

“Thank you,” she said. 

“And do me a favor. Lean on down here and let me tell you somethin’.”

He leaned down.

She kissed his forehead with a light, tender kiss. 

“That’s the kiss of a guardian angel,” she whispered. 

“Listen to life and do not be afraid.”