Writing The Green Hat [E]

[Dragon Warrior]

This is a short story I just began writing out of the blue. I had no plot ready, no characters set, and everything in this was put down right as it was spilling out of my head. I hope you enjoy my odd work.

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[center][u]The Green Hat[/u][/center]

?Hello,? said the man in the green hat.

The other man, who was smaller than the man in the green hat and donned a slick red suit, looked up at the man in the green hat and gave a half smile. ?Yes??

?I said, hello,? repeated the man.

?Why, hello,? replied the smaller man in the red suit, who then returned to reading the paper.

The man in the green hat peered around the park and then seated himself on the bench with the smaller man. ?I see you?re reading the paper.?

?That I am,? agreed the red-suited man.

?And what is happening??

?What??

?What is happening in the news??

?Oh, well, um, it appears a lion escaped from the zoo.?

?Odd.?

?Indeed.?

?That only usually happens in the movies.?

?What, the lion escaping??

?Yes.? The man tipped his green hat to block out the sun. It wasn?t a particularly nice hat and it clashed terribly with his suit he wore. ?Of course,? he broke the silence again, ?a lion is quite the ferocious beast.?

?King of the jungle,? said the smaller man, not even looking up from his paper. He appeared bored with the other man.

?My name is Rick.?

The smaller man looked up at the man in the green hat and smiled. ?Dane.? They shook hands and Dane returned to reading. Rick felt rather uncomfortable in the silence. He moved around on the bench like a child who couldn?t sit still in the car.

?You wouldn?t believe who I met today.?

Not entirely interested, Dane looked over at Rick and gave a fake smile. ?Who??

?Bobby Rendale.?

?Who??

?Why, Bobby Rendale, I say! Don?t tell me you don?t know Bobby Rendale.?

?I can?t say I do.?

Rick felt hurt, like Dane just stomped his toe. ?You don?t, hm??

?Should I have??

?Should you have known who he is? Of course you should. He?s quite the guy.?

?I?m terribly sorry. Is he a part of the new pop culture? I?m afraid I don?t keep up with the times anymore.?

?What? No. He?s in his forties, at the least. I mean, he?s an old singer who could really do jazz.?

?Ah, that explains it,? Dane said, folding his paper. ?I don?t listen to jazz,? he spoke matter-of-factly.

?You don?t?? Dane shook his head. ?I?m shocked.?

?Well, don?t be,? Dane muttered. ?Not everyone has your taste. Now if you don?t mind??

?You?re not into the pop culture??

?Pardon??

?Earlier. You said you weren?t up to date with the pop culture these days.?

?And??

?You can?t be that old. You?re, what? thirty??

?Thirty-five.?

?Oh, you don?t look it.?

?Thanks,? Dane said monotonously before reopening his paper to the sports section.

?You like sports, I see.?

?Who doesn?t??

?My friend.?

?Your friend doesn?t like sports??

?That?s what I said. His name is Suzy.?

?Isn?t Suzy a girl?s name??

?She is a girl.?

?But you said ?his name is Suzy.??

?I did not. I said ?her.??

?I?m absolutely positive you said ?his,? my friend.?

?And I?m infinity positive that I said ?her,? my [I]friend[/I].?

?Let?s stop this,? Dane grumbled. ?We?re acting like children.?

?I like children.?

?Well, good. You?d make an excellent father then.?

?You really think so? I always wanted to be a father.?

?Good for you.?

?It seems I?ll never get the chance, though.?

?Oh.? Dane then ruffled his papers slightly and turned to Rick. ?Is it a problem in? bed??

?No, no. I just have no time to find someone to make a family with. My choice of work and all.?

Dane, not entirely interested anymore, went back to staring down his black-and-white printed papers. ?I see.?

?I did just come back from the bank, though. I took out a lot of money.?

?Really. I guess your job pays off then, hm??

?Oh, very much so. I may not get a family, but I?m livin? large for sure.?

?I make minimum wage.?

?What do you do, if you don?t mind my asking??

?Well,? Dane said, pleased that Rick asked permission to ask this time, ?I?m a mailman.?

?Oh. Here??

?This is a park.?

?Oh, right, right. I meant, in this town.?

?Of course. I work the area over yonder.? He pointed to a particular section of town. Rick nodded, though he wasn?t fully sure what section Dane was indicating.

?Nice.? Dane went back to his paper once again and Rick studied his fingers, as if they were the most fascinating things God could create. ?You know, mailmen commit suicide a lot,? Rick stated out of the blue.

?I?m not suicidal,? Dane grumbled.

?I wasn?t saying you were. I?m just going on that mailmen commit suicide a lot. It?s got to be a terribly boring and redundant line of work.?

?It has its moments.?

?Like??

?You meet people. Mailmen are people persons.?

?I meet people too, but meeting the people in our jobs are barely a quarter of what gets the moneys in our wallets.?

?That is true,? Dane agreed. He turned to Rick and finally tossed the paper to the bench. ?But I?m saying that meeting the people are bonuses.?

?You do meet a lot of interesting folk, huh??

?You?re not too usual yourself.?

?Thanks.? He thought on this comment for a moment and said dryly, ?I think.?

?I like my work. I?m fine.?

Rick looked off at some children playing Frisbee and he smirked. ?You have a family??

?Yeah. My wife and two children.?

?Oh, that?s nice. Boys? Any girls??

?A girl and a boy.?

?Really. I always wanted a boy. You know, to throw the ole pigskin around the yard. Man, that?d be incredible.?

?Yeah. I can?t wait to do that. My son is only five. Too young to do any dangerous playing like football.?

?You serious??

?About??

?I was throwing the ole pigskin when I was two.?

?Well?? Dane didn?t really have much to reply to, but Rick continued anyways.

?And I?d have my son throwing it at one. I?d love my kids. Did I mention I like children??

?Yeah. I commented that you?d be a great father, remember??

?Oh, yeah.?

?I think I resent saying that.?

?What?s that??

?I said, I think I meant saying that.?

?Work is hard, you know??

?Hm, sometimes.?

?Yeah, I think it is. My line of work, you never get a break in it. It?s one of those jobs you just keep on moving across the nation.?

?You?re a real travelin? man, then, huh??

?You betcha. I?ve seen all of the USA and some of South America.?

?How?s it down there in ole Mexico??

?Hot. Kinda hot.?

?Oh??

?Yeah. And there?s a constant smell looming around the people.?

?Nasty.?

?I thought so too. But I wouldn?t say it out loud. I?m not the kind of guy to just speak my mind.?

?I don?t know about that.?

?Pardon??

?I said, I hear you on that.? Dane sat uneasy in his chair. It was as if he was ready for Rick to leave. Of course, he never really wanted the man in the green hat to be there in the first place. Their conversation was running dry in any case, anyways.

?Yeah, work is hard.?

?What do you do?? Dane asked anxiously.

?Well,? Rick said, then thought for a moment. That?s when the two of them spotted a chubby man drop litter next to the trashcan. He then waltzed away, leaving Rick to get red in the face and pick it up. After placing it in the trash, he returned to the bench. ?I hate it when people litter next to trashcans.?

?Yeah, I definitely hate that,? Dane agreed.

?And when they cough right in your face.?

?Exactly.?

?It?s like, I don?t want your sickness. Just because you have it doesn?t mean I want it.?

?I know!? Dane began to get excited. He was actually having a conversation with the man in the green hat he could relate to. ?And what about when they waste so much food??

?Oh, I know. They get a large platter of nachos or something and right after they buy it, they don?t want it anymore. They just throw it away.?

?There are people in Ethiopia that are starving to death.?

?Exactly. How terrible are we? Us New Yorkers.? Rick then took off his green hat and brushed his brown hair with his hand.

?We?re bad. Real bad.?

?I also like dogs.?

?Oh, definitely. Good friends.?

?Yeah, if you like dogs, you?re a friend of mine.?

?Then we?re friends, I guess.?

?Yeah. Friends.?

?Indeed.?

?I even made up a word for someone I?m friends with.?

?What?s that??

?Frodilope.?

?That?s an unusual word.?

?I?m an unusual guy.?

?I agree on that.? Dane crossed his leg over his other leg.

?Oh, don?t do that.?

?Don?t do what??

?Don?t cross your legs.?

?Why can?t I cross my legs??

?It?s too? preppish.?

?Preppish??

?Preppy.?

?Like high school preppy? You?ve gotta be kidding me.?

?I?m not. It?s very preppy.?

?There?s nothing wrong with crossing your legs. It?s very gentlemanly.?

?That?s all the worse. You?re a mailman, not the King of England.?

?Even so, a mailman can cross his legs.?

?I doubt it looks effective.?

?Hm, perhaps.? Dane uncrossed his legs and cleared his throat, as if crossing his legs really was inappropriate for a mailman.

?I think I?ll go now.?

?Very well,? Dane said. ?Go ahead.?

?Or maybe not.?

?What??

?I don?t think I?ll leave yet.?

?You?re an odd one.?

?I think the world needs a little difference.?

?Not the amount you contain,? Dane countered.

?Hm, for a mailman, you really are slightly elegant.?

?Thank you.? Dane then crossed his legs.

?Not elegant enough for that, though.?

Dane uncrossed his legs and sighed. ?Maybe I really am unhappy with my life.?

?Why do you say that??

?You said mailmen are suicidal.?

?Well, I don?t believe you are. Not all mailmen are.?

?I?m not suicidal, but very displeased with how my life turned out.?

?You?re thirty-five. You can find another job. You?re still young? ish.?

?I know, I know, but my work isn?t my problem. I just need some kind of adventure in my life.?

?Hm, I?m not sure what you could do.?

Dane began to ponder with his hands holding up his thin chin. ?I?m not sure either.?

?My life is plenty exciting. Maybe you should go someplace. Visiting new places is always a pleasure.?

?Really??

?Oh, God, yes! And the women are divine in Texas.?

?I?m married.?

?Your wife won?t know.?

?And I said you?d be a good father??

?Listen, I know times are tough for you, but if you, your wife, and kids go on a little vacation, or maybe even move someplace else, you?ll be happier.?

Dane thought over this and stood up from the bench. ?You know, you could be on to something.?

?Of course. I was once a psychiatrist.?

?Well, you must?ve been a good one.? Dane looked at Rick, who had the strangest of smiles on his face. ?A bizarre one? but good, nonetheless.?

Rick stood up and patted Dane on the back. ?So go out there and make something of yourself. A new job, a new home, a new life awaits you!?

Dane nodded and grinned widely. ?I see your point now. I?ve been living the lowest choice my life has to offer. I can go places.?

?You can go places!?

?I can go places!? Dane shouted.

Rick calmed down his friend and sat him down on the bench. ?Very good. I?ll be off then.?

?But we?ve so much to discuss!? Dane bobbed up and down.

?I know, but I really should be going. I just wanted a nice chat to pass the time before my train leaves.?

?You?re leaving New York??

?Why, yes. My job made sure of that.?

?But we?ve only just met. We could be great pals!?

?I know. Even if you?re thirty-five and I?m twenty-eight, we could be friends. But I really must be going.?

?Alright,? Dane said glumly. ?But you?ll keep in touch.?

?Perhaps. If I get a chance. Your name is Dane? ??

?Dane Johnson.?

?Rick Roberts.? Rick looked to the taxi that had recently parked near where the two were chatting. He waved and the taxi driver prepared for the trip. Rick walked around the bench and picked up a rather large and heavy suitcase and stepped in front of Dane again. ?I have a feeling we?ll meet again. If I?m ever in New York, I?ll drop a line.?

?I?m glad. Good meeting you, Rick Roberts.?

?Indeed, Dane Johnson.? With that, Rick began walking away.

?Good luck with getting a family!? Dane shouted after Rick.

?And good luck with your new life,? Rick bellowed back. ?If you change your location, make sure I know.?

?You?ve got it.? Dane watched Rick depart until he was in the taxi and was driving away to the train station. He sat back and noticed the green hat of Rick?s on the bench. Dane picked it up and examined it. ?Must?ve forgotten it.? He then put it on and smiled. ?I?ll give it back to him when we meet again.?

Then he heard police cars. He stared out at the streets from his bench and saw a car stop in front of him. The policeman at the wheel got out and walked to him. ?Excuse me, I see you have a green hat.?

?Yes, it?s not mine, though.?

?Whose is it??

?A friend?s.?

?Was this friend?s name Rick Roberto??

?No. It was Rick Roberts.? Then Dane felt a cold chill over his body.

?Uh huh,? said the policeman. ?We might need to take you in for questioning.?

?But wait,? Dane said as he was dragged up from his seat. ?What?s going on with Rick??

?Rick Roberto is an acclaimed bank robber. He?s good at what he does. And that?s his hat. He never goes anywhere without it.?

Dane made the policeman let go of his arm. ?There are a million hats that are green like this, I bet.?

?But it has his symbol on it.? Dane took the hat off and examined the strange marking on the right side.

?I didn?t know.?

?Hm,? mumbled the policeman. ?Do you at least know where he went??

?All I know is he went to the train station. I don?t know where he was going. I just found this hat after he told me this.?

?And he told you nothing else?? the policeman questioned.

Dane shuddered when he recalled all the hints Rick gave him about being a bank robber. ?Nothing. No.?

?Very well.? The policeman turned back to the other cars. ?He?s going to the train station. We can still catch him. Let?s move!? The policemen drove off leaving Dane with the hat. Dane looked down at it and stared at the symbol.

?I?m surprised they didn?t take the hat for evidence,? Dane said to himself out loud. He then looked inside the hat and read one word written sloppily inside the fine material.

Frodilope.

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Please do comment ;^D

[Annie]

[color=darkslategray]Man, if I were in the red suit, I would have left that guy a long time ago. I liked it though, Gav. Very realistic.[/color]

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Heh heh, a little strange Gavynn [no doubt as you intended it to be] but entertaining none-the-less, I have to admit I'd have got up and walked away from Rick long before the conversation ended. Very strange, very realistic, and very entertaining.[/SIZE]

[Sueko02]

That was very different and unique, and also fascinating. The ending was a very excellent twist too... reminds me of a play someone did in my Acting class... It was very realistic too, and not dull and overly discriptive. Actually, it was almost all talk, but that was okay. It was one of those stories that just needed dialog and a bit of what the person's doing, and nothing more. Though in reading the title I was reminded of a leprechaun, which actually has nothing to do with the story, but whatever. I really liked the last thing with the odd word... that was really quite witty.

[Dragon Warrior]

I dunno. I wasn't really going for anything in particular here, but as I got started, I guess I went for a more normal talk between two strangers, which progressed to a more elaborate relationship. And of course, the ending poured out of me after I wrote he took "a lot of money out of the bank." ;)