As the Victrola Played (Unabridged)

FIG = Fill in the gaps Maurice & Simone: They'd met so very long ago. When they both were young. They had been staying with their families during the summer, grandmothers to be exact. Their grandmothers had been childhood friends. One day, while playing hide and seek in the house, they found an old record player in her grandmother's attic. They put the record on. Growing bored of listening to the music, they engaged in a game of tag. Which they would do for many years to come. --- YEARS PASS...FIG --- Simone was shy, Maurice was reserved. It seemed to be a perfect match. Hormones racing alongside the shared love that was their friendship would bring truths to light. They would pursue each other But sometimes she'd pull away Unsure or maybe scared Yet he still waited patiently One day, while they were both at work, he tired of the game of cat and mouse. He walked up to her, grabbed her hands and began to dance. She blushed. "You're dancing with me?" "Yes". She smiled at his act of spontaneity. She danced with him. He stopped, letting go of her hands as he smiled at her and walked away. There had been no music playing. Except for the music in his head. The following week, at work he had went to the backroom. Simone was coming out of the cooler. "Simone, give me your hand". She removed the gloves she was wearing. He wrapped his hand around hers, she reciprocated. "My hands, they're so little". "No they're not". They stood, gazing into each other's eyes, smiling. "Did you ever?" "No." "Did you think that I?" "No." "Then...what is this?" "I don't know". "So a nurse, huh?" "Yeah. A better future." "Im so proud of you". "You know what everyone here said? We wouldn't even notice if you weren't here". "They said that?" "Yeah." He gazed upon her, longing. "I would". Her eyes began to tear. "I'm tired. I wanted to do it on my own. I gotta try". He just looked at her lovingly as she continued. "I need more. Another life. It's out there somewhere". He grabbed her hands. "Remember my grandmother's record? That'll be our song". He sang the song to her as they danced. "My sweetheart I give you the moon So the light it shines Reflects upon your smile And if only for just awhile Have you swept me off my feet Know that when you are near My heart's complete" She sang the song to him. "My sweet love I give you the sea So it may reflect your eyes Just like the moon And then when someday soon You give of your heart to me We can be dancing together Cheek to cheek" She looked into his eyes as he focused on her smile. "So, where you going from here?" "Always born to be a writer. Sure, I'm doing small time articles for the newspaper, but I always wanted to write books". "Going off to be a big shot Author?" "I'll build a map to you". "This was lovely, but it was just in the moment. We'll forgive each other as time passes". "Nah. I'm not ever going to forget you". She walked away, sadly saying "Bye". "I wish you all the best, sweetheart". ---- YEARS PASS...FIG ---- An old man walked through the door of the diner. A waitress turned to him, not fully paying attention as she was looking down at her notepad. "What'll it be?" "Coffee. Black. And your address, sweetheart." "Look mister, I don't need nobody gettin fresh up in here. So if you want to order-" She paused as she had looked up from her notepad. The old man was smiling at her. There was a light in his eyes. She recognized those eyes. She smiled. "Hey". "Hey". "There it is. The smile that always outshown the moon." "What are you doing here?" "Heard you might be here. Thought you were going to be a nurse?" "It didn't pan out, ended up here. What brings you to town Mr. Big shot author?" He speaks "She rose from the pool Dark hair streaming Sunlit scattered water droplets A halo flowing free Her upturned angelic face-" She interjects "-Her shoulders thrown back In careless abandon The incarnation of loveliness Imprinted through the years And always bringing tears". He stood before her in awe. He continued "Haunted by Your Memory And how that you so cleverly Stole my heart Though I've tried to shut it out-" She continued "There's never been a doubt of my love for you Louise Sweet Louise, my sweet Louise" She smiled. "I always read your writing". "Didn't you know? I wrote for you. Always for you". "I knew".  I never stopped looking. I used the books to my advantage and built a map. I dedicated myself to helping others like you by using my words. But I was always building a map to you. It took some time, but I finally found you again." The smile she presented was that of a cheshire cat. "So you found me. Now what are you going to do about it?" "We could....dance." "There's no music". "We have our song". Her eyes lit up. "Do you remember our song, my love?" "I never forgot. Shall we?" He extended his hand and she placed hers upon it. Although the years had passed, their love for one another had grown. Their arms embracing each other, the two danced cheek to cheek, humming its tune. He started to stagger. He clutched his chest as he fell to the floor. Laying there, he reached out for her and she held his hand. As they looked into each others eyes and smiled, they spoke. "The moon". "The sea". They shared one last kiss...as the Victrola played. --- We are inside of an antique shop. A woman is sitting, slunk down in a chair. Uniforms are gathered around. The officer speaks. "You say she walked past the shop for the past few days?" Shopkeeper "She came in this morning. Asked about the record player in the window. I told her we don't sell records no more. That's why it's on sale. Nobody's got them anymore. They're outdated. She said that was okay, she brought a record with her". "She brought one with her?" "Yeah. She asked if she could sit and have one last memory. Then I found her like this. She looked like she was flashing back to an earlier part of her life. I wonder what she was remembering as that Victrola played?" END