REALITY
By SANDEFUR
Joan Girardi took a refreshing sip of coffee and turned the page on the day calendar. December 24, 2008 and it was the longest, busiest day of the year at Sky Light Books (everyone's last moment gift idea always seemed to be a book). No matter, she was looking forward too much to tomorrow to care about today's shopping frenzy. The two Sammys were by the door, counting down the last few minutes before opening for that day's business. They were a reassuring source of stability in Joan's life. Sammy I, still snippy and dressed like a college freshman despite the fact he ran an upscale bookstore. His partner, Sammy II, nattily dressed and as fussy as ever. (Briefly she wondered why she could never remember their last names, even after all these years).
So much had changed in the last few years, and this Christmas was the holiday where the entire family would finally be together after a long time. Kevin and his wife were now in New York City where he was an anchorman, and they were expecting their first child. Kevin's recovery from his injuries was nearly complete, and he now only needed a cane to get around.
Luke and Grace were now living in Massachusetts with their two year old, Annie. Luke had zipped through his bachelor's degree in only two years, and he worked as a T.A. while studying for his master's. Grace was working for a literary magazine with a radical bent, and was beginning to develop a following for her poetry.
Will Girardi, no longer a cop, was now the mayor of Arcadia. When the state had restored the city's charter, Will had been the acclaimed choice of both political parties. No one had dared run against the hero who had cleaned up the city. Also, Helen no longer taught since her art career had taken off, and her paintings were in such demand, people were bidding on them before the paint dried.
No, the only one whose life was virtually unchanged was Joan's. She was still a student, a pre-law junior at Arcadia College. She still lived at home—primarily to save her parents living costs during her college years. And, she was still a virgin at 21.
Now there was a consistency. The only guys who ever seemed interested in her were psychos, creeps and weirdoes. All of them were God projects that she was supposed to befriend and help fix their messed-up lives. Her Adam Rove experience had taught her not to get romantically involved with these "clients."
The bell over the door dinged and a small crowd of customers rushed in and spread out amongst the book stacks. Only one customer went directly to the counter where Joan was. The former Cute-Boy, who had allowed himself to appear to age, and who Joan now thought of as Cute-Guy God.
"Good Morning Joan. Looking forward to your holiday tomorrow?"
"You know I am. I haven't been this excited about Christmas since I was a little kid. The only thing we need is a little snow. How about it?"
"Sorry Joan, I don't interfere that way."
"Aww, c'mon, we've never had snow in all the years I've been in Arcadia. I mean look at it…" (she points out the window) "the trees still have green leaves on them, except for those weird little trees that always have brown ones." (She noticed the wind had picked up while a familiar looking man across the street stared at her…) "So, ah, as a favor, just a couple on inches of snow?"
"It wouldn't matter Joan. You won't be here to enjoy it."
"What? An out of town assignment on Christmas? Unfair!"
"No Joan, it's time to go back."
A look of horror appeared on Joan's face. "Oh please… no. Not again. I'm finally happy here."
But her plea was ignored. All that was around her faded away and suddenly she was back at Arcadia High in September of 2003. Cute-Boy God was before her, yammering on about her family, her favorite color, salt on cantaloupes and so forth.
With a scream of despair, Joan woke up in her bed at the sanitarium.
TBC