From: psnow@cwis.unomaha.edu (Paul Snow)
Subject: Rosebud, a story pt. 1
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 07:36:26 GMT


	"Another rose bud, how romantic!"

	"What is that, a dozen in the last three weeks?"

	"You must be the luckiest girl in the world!"

	"Who would've guessed it of your fiancee, he doesn't seem the type."

She smiled slyly, thinking to herself, "If they only knew..."

	It was romantic, a single longstem rose bud had mysteriously every 
other morning on her desk for the past 3 1/2 weeks, eleven of them in all.
Everyone assumed that the roses where from her fiancee, John, a wonderful,
quiet man whom she loved very deeply. But no one else saw the notes which 
came on the days when the roses didn't. She was glad the first note came 
before the first rose. She could've never enjoyed the following three weeks
if John had known about it. She felt guilty enough as it was, but excited.

	How could she explain to anyone the feelings which this mysterious
stranger had awoken in her. The fire, the passion which raced through her
heart, unquenchable. At times, she dare not stand up lest the giddiness in 
her head cause her to lose control of her faculties and swoon from the
overwhelming emotion. The flowery script bestowed upon the notes spake 
beauty as strongly as the words which they formed...

	"Hey hon, wake up, your phone's ringin'"

	The voice from the adjoining cubicle brought her back to reality with
a jolt. "Thanks," she faltered, as she fumbled with her headset, not quite
ready to drone the sales script to the faceless customer at the other end
of the line...

...

	"I'm glad this wedding is only two weeks away."

	She looked up startled from the container of strawberry yogurt which
she had been absent-mindedly stirring for most of her short lunch break.
She saw the jovial face of the super peering over her left shoulder.

	"I'd hate to think that my best salesperson was losing it three
weeks before the Christmas season starts. Ah, to be young and in love again.
You'd better enjoy it while it lasts. By next football season, you'll see
how marriage changes members of the male species. The only romance you'll
see is on re-runs of "The Love Boat". "

	Jan was a lovable gal, and a great super, but 20+ years of marriage
to a wonderful, but boring, man had soured her optimism about romance. What
was she thinking? She herself was about to marry a sweet wonderful man who 
didn't have a romantic bone in his entire body! How confusing, she loved
John with all her heart and soul, but this unknown stranger inspired 
feelings in her that she hadn't known she was capable of experiencing.

	She had known for a long time that John was the man she would marry
and spend the rest of her life with. She felt warm and cozy when she was
with him.  She felt more comfortable with him than she had ever felt in
her life. With him, she felt safe and strong, knowing in the depths of her
soul that he would die before he allowed harm to come to her. Guilt rose 
from the pit of her stomach as she thought of the harm she would cause him
if she went through with the plan for this weekend.

	Her secret admirer had suggested that they meet in person, Friday
night by the bench on the south side of the lake at Central Park Mall
under the light of the moon at midnight. He had left a Post Office Box
number to make her reply.  Unless she were to reply in the negative, he
would be there waiting, and would return the following Friday's until she
either accepted his invitation, or turned him down in writing.

	How could she turn him down? She had to at least meet this romantic
soul who had so enlivened her ordinary life. But how could she accept, and
hurt the kindest, sweetest man in the entire universe. She was extremely
grateful that John's work had kept him so busy the last few weeks, so that
he did not notice the guilt she tried to disguise busyness, (o.k., nervous
activity), when she was with him.

	But what if she turned the man down, and spent the rest of her life
wondering... Would she come to resent John for not being someone else? Would
she miss meeting a man even more wonderful than John? The decision tore at
the essence of her being.

	"To go, or not to go, that is the question...", she wondered half
aloud.

	"There's no question about it," Jan's rough voice intruded, breaking
her train of thought. "It's quitting time, and unless you want to waste a
wonderful evening sitting in this madhouse, it's time to GO!"

	She laughed heartedly as the internal debate quickly receeded from
her awareness. "It certainly is," she replied, gathering her purse and the
single rose bud, "It certainly is."

[Comments. suggestions, heckles to:]
	
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|Paul Snow     **HUGS**       email to: psnow@ns.ccsn.edu                    |
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