The Watch

This is more like a short story-poem.

The Watch

Latoya Evans

 

I sit anxiously for my long lost friend to arrive at 2:00 in front of our favorite café, Andy’s. I glance at my watch is was 12:30

 

A child just to the right of me is playing with his new puppy and he is very happy chewing a large wad of bubble gum. Jumping up and down and the dog followed, they were having so much fun.

 

Eight- years old or so I assume I watch as his mother pecks him on the on the cheek. She kisses hubby next to her and says “Honey I’ll be home later this evening”.

 

He says we’ll see you later. Johnny wants to play with his dog a little longer if it rains I don’t think he’d care.  She nodded and turned away he gave her a loving stare.

 

I glanced at my watch it was 12:40. Where was she? I sat there with nothing to read, I drank all my coffee there was nothing to do. She won’t get here until 2.

 

The last time I’d seen her was in high school as I conjured up a memory or two. I heard a yell; I turned to see who the person was talking to.

 

It was the husband - Johnny’s dad, He was asking me if I had the time, I glanced at my watch and it was 12:45. Looking now at the coffee I had and seeing only 5 minutes had passed.

 

He gave me a nod and returned to what he had in his hand. I wonder again, Where is my companion?

 

Fifteen minutes later Johnny asked his “reading” dad what time it was? He responded that it should be 1:00 or closed to he added with a chuckle �" “Why do you have some where to be, something to do”?

 

He glances at me for reassurance and I gazed at my watch

12:46 - is what it read and my heart stopped.

 

Seeing the change in my visage Johnny’s father asked “What’s wrong?

 

I looked up at him then back down at my watch and said “Wait a minute, hold on”?

 

I told him I think my watch has broken, luckily I keep my cell phone in my purse next to my change purse with the coins and tokens.  He looked at my watch and asked was this a joke - Was there something wrong with me? The cell phone screamed read 1:03

 

Absentmindedly, I stared at my watch as the man walked away. Amazingly I watched the hands move from 1:03 to 12:50

 

Johnny was happily playing with his dog when his dad said “Here I almost forgot” and he handed him a bag.

           

Johnny gleeful ran to his dad and opened the bag and said “Wow dad, a watch of my own it’s really nice but, I really wanted a cell phone.

 

“John, what time is it”? His dad asked as Johnny removed the case running in the other direction he yelled back its 1:28.

 

At this time his father glared at me. I looked at my watch - It had just turned 1:13.

 

He frowned at the watch on his sons arm, sensing the alarm the boy ran away wanting to keep his new charm.

 

Dad asked what time I had as tears were falling from my eyes. “I murmured 1:05”.

 

Johnny’s dad called to his little boy and he came reluctantly,

He took the child’s arms gently,

 but aggressively and looked at watch and it read 1:40

 

He told John to sit down and he did as he was told to do

Five minutes had passed yet he asked John what time was it he said, “It is 1:42”.

 

Johnny’s dad finally gave up and let the child play

and called back 3 minutes later the boy yelled out it was 1:58.

 

The bus pulled up and my friend got off. She said I’ve been riding for hours I had to get off this. I stood up speechless and elated like a fly on a donut left behind in an office.

 

The occurrences of my afternoon were answered with a single phrase that I still remember to this very day

 

Girl, I was having a blast let’s have lunch

 “Time sure does fly when you are having fun”.

 

 

 

Reviews

[Jeremy Hiles]

wow, this was a really good poem! It really captured the fact that time can just fly right by and leave you wondering where it went!