Gypsy Woman

A (probably short) story I might write. I was inspired by Fergie's character in the musical Nine.

 Each day the boys eagerly awaited a glimpse of the gypsy woman.  Hardly a day would go by when she wouldn’t emerge, thick rouge smeared around her eyes, her hair a tangled mess.  The other women in the town thought her a disgrace.  Obscene, they would say to their sons.  In private, they used more coarse words.  She was not, and never would be, one of them.  She was too vulgar, too different.  She would never fit in the proper world.

            Money in hand, running his fingers up and down the coins, feeling the ridges, Patrick yearned for just one look.  He’d heard the tales the other boys spun.  Some were so fantastic; he thought they must be exaggeration.  Had any of them really seen her or was she pure fantasy, a figment of adolescent imagination?  Perhaps today will be the day, he thought, the day I see for myself whether she is real or a puff of smoke.  Up until now she had merely danced in his dreams.  Perhaps today his fantasy would become reality.

***

            Everyone sees what they want to see, she thought.  When I look at them, I see wealth, privilege, comfort.  When they look at me, they see filth.  I’m nothing to them; worthless, a discarded piece of trash on the road.  Something everyone sees but pretends not to.  They don’t know what I used to be, where I come from.  They know nothing about me.  All they see is what I am today.  Short-sighted fools.  Go along in your fancy cars, your wool coats and your false lives.  When I look at you, I see unhappiness.  Appearances lie.  On the outside, so glamorous, so beautiful, while the inside reveals the truth - I can see it in your eyes; your souls have disappeared.  Nothing is left of that person you dreamed of being; you may have your money, but your dreams are gone.  I’ve known true happiness.  Not the happiness you think you own, but real, blissful, delirious happiness.  It is not something you possess, it’s something you become.   

 

Author's Note

The title is a working title - I just wrote this spur of the moment (I love when inspiration strikes randomly!). Hopefully the inspiration will stay for a bit so I can actually finish a story for once!

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the story. The two character see the world in a different light. Boy see a erotic woman who dance in his dreams. Woman feel out of place and wishing for better days.I like this story. Could expand to a grand tale of the Gypsy woman life and the boy imagination may come to life. A very good beginning.
Coyote