Of Life and Times

When you are married you tend to think that you have heard all the stories and experiences of your spouse. After all, you have been talking about each other's lives for years and years. But every now and again a new story surfaces that surprises you. This morning Elaine told me one I had not heard before.

Many years ago, before the current auditorium on campus was remodeled and enlarged, there was an open corridor that passed along the entire back side of the building. it was walled in on both sides, but was open at both ends. It just so happened that in order for Elaine to get to a copy machine from her office she had to leave the building, walk the length of that corridor and down another hall to get to the secretary's office.

You also need to know that Elaine is a very jumpy person. You know how when you are watching fireworks you hear the thmp (that's my own word for it) of the firework being shot off, followed by silence then you see the opening of the blossom above you just before you hear the bang? Well, she jumps at the bang. She knows it is coming, she knows it happens right after the flash in the sky, but it scares her every time. I just stand there and smile with my arm around her. I love watching fireworks with her.

That night on campus a play was in progress. I believe it was a production of Fried Green Tomatoes. At one point in the play they were talking about killing magpies. At this point in the play, about 8:30 p.m., when the whole campus was deserted, except for the play goers, Elaine was walking back from the copy room to her office. As she entered the corridor, which was unlit, so she was walking in the dark, a gunshot suddenly rang through the darkness in the corridor. She let out an involuntary scream of shock and surprise. This was followed by a muffled laughter coming from the theater. I don't think the audience that night anticipated that the intended magpie would have a dying scream to donate to the evening's performance.