Decorous strained herself to keep her head above water, all she could see was the overpowering waves, and all she knew was her lack of ability to swim. She awoke in a cold sweat with a distant memory of a heart-racing dream, and that was the start of her not so amicable day. The cracking of knuckles, stretching of the legs, and reaching of the arms shook most of the frozen feeling that encased her body. This was not the first time she greeted the day feeling as if she had spent the last seven hours on the Titanic. The assiduous dreams only added to the lack of determination throughout the course of her day, and yet, the day’s continued to pass by, second for second, minute for minute, and hour for hour.
As Decorous Lowery made her way out onto the street forty-two minutes later, she was greeted with the typical boorish attitudes of her fellow neighbors. No one in this good for nothing town was ever auspicious, no matter what the current news held for the universe, their attitudes never changed. Where was the transparent half full drink metaphor to help her afternoon slum? Or the simple joys of a small town that were worthy of adulation? All Decorous saw was the lamentations of everyday life, and heard the trains horn as it left the station, taking any leftovers of florid days with it.
Reaching the town square she came to a halt in front of the bulletin board placed across from a few worn out benches, planted flowers with wilting peddles, and the town’s clock that’s gold trim was beginning to fade. The three sheets of paper, taped to the plank of wood, were the same six months ago; as Decorous felt her feet carry her toward her sanctuary only a few blocks away, she was well aware that something was missing.
“I don’t ask for very much,” Decorous said aloud as her mind began to catch up with her feet on her way to the library.
“What was that?” a voice floating through the air asked as it crashed against me.
“Nothing, just my usual seven am conversation with myself.” She said to the slightly plump women currently sitting on one of the faded green bench’s.
“It didn’t sound like nothing to me dear? Anything I can help with?”
“With all due respect Ma’am,” Decorous replied while simultaneously taking a step away from the stranger. Her right hand pressed against her jean pocket, prepared to lash the phone out as her only form of protection.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less of you.” The women said, not allowing Decorous to finish her sentence.
“Excuse me?” The now idiosyncratic women raised one eyebrow at the teenage girl and shuffled around on the two slabs of creaking wood before replying. She folded her hands and placed them ever so delicately within her lap, it was majestic in a way, and her entire essence was peculiar to say the least. Decorous shook her head internally, gaining her own full attention in case the situation calls for her to make a quick escape.
“Well I say, you really have no idea what I speak of, do you?”
“I’m sor—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence; we all know how it ends, after all, you are Decorous, are you not?”
“How do you know my name?” The immediate question shot out of her mouth wrapped in a package in the shade of defensive.
“You practically glow the words proper, well-mannered, and respectable. Have you taken a good clear look at this abhorrent town? You can help end the anachronism of our lifestyles, without losing happiness, I am well aware of your need to please the world, but in my justification, I have a lesson to place before you, if you are willing to accept.”
Unable to form a reaction Decorous continued to stand there dumbfounded by the entire state of affairs placed before her. Luckily, the green sweater blending with the green bench drew up her proposal.
“Don’t be alarmed by the intrepid way’s of life because of what your name represents, I did for many years, and I almost forgot the simple joys I held close to my heart.”
Clearing her throat, Decorous opened her mouth with the sheer hope that words would come out. “I don’t believe I follow?” She answered hesitantly. She was drawn to every word that was said in the cathartic voice of this old woman, but that did not change the strangeness of the situation.
“Many moons ago I looked forward to my cartography, it was the one thing in this world that I could do with a smile, a good hearted smile. Ah, those were the best days of my life, the fact that I could take the eclectic colors, shapes, and many miracles, and add it onto paper astounded me. I had the fortunate pleasure of directing people on how to reach all that beauty.”
“What happened? I mean, are you still drawing the path to everything you speak of?”
“That’s not why I came here today, but yes, in a different sense. I am no longer guiding the world to the earth’s treasures. Instead, my duty is to shine light to help wandering and confused hearts find the simplicity of bliss again. This is why I sit here before you; I needed you to know that you cannot be controlled by peoples censure. I wish you nothing but luck,” and just like that, she was gone.
Decorous stood there, waiting for the poof to designate her departure, or was she waiting for her return, in those few moments, Decorous experienced sincerity.
***
There was no smoke, or magic genie. It was more of a blink of an eye or blowing of the wind. Either way, I couldn’t and still can’t tell if it was real, my imagination, a collusion, or just a crazy old lady.
I am now living in the same town, experiencing a very different lifestyle. I have always believed in a fairytale sort of life, and now I have the extraordinary pleasure of creating all the happy endings, magic sparkle, and honest lessons within my books. My name is Decorous Lowery, and I do not live in a good for nothing town. That passionate old lady was being honest, the second I stopped ignoring my own needs, I began enjoying my walks through town, I saw the strength in this place I call home, and I only have dreams about floating in the reflective water. I do not wish to be anything I am not, and I can be proper, while being the person I believe is me, not what my name tells me to be.
As I woke up many years later, I followed my typical Saturday morning pattern. I went to the kitchen to get some breakfast; I grabbed the latest completed book on my nightstand, and walked to the library. I witnessed the eclectic routine I was living, and realized I was happy. All it took was a little bit of me in my own life, who would have thought? I reached the library thirty minutes later, and as it turns out, the next book I checked out, was one with my name on the bottom front cover. I sat in one of the oversized armchairs, that had two coffee stains on the left armrest and torn fabric across the back, and flipped to the dedication page, May every cartographer have their very own bench to change someone’s life, thank you Genie for changing mine. I began reading, what was truly the realistic fairytale everyone should experience once in their life, discovering the pure beauty of being who you want to be, and nothing else.
