Awhile ago a friend on flickr posted a series of images with stories attached to them. I asked if i could blog about them, and he kindly agreed. I’ve never been a great story teller but I think his words and works are just beautiful. Below you’ll find my favourite out of this series and at the bottom ill post a link to see more.
Rosie and Matt are in love.
They had met during an economics lecture at ANU last year.
Matt had arrived early to sit in his usual place, 4 rows from the front, and 10 seats in. That was his seat. He could not explain it – he just felt uncomfortable in any other seat; he could not concentrate anywhere else. It was a thing he just did. In all his lectures he found a favourite spot. A place to be alone, to focus, a place that was his. In his accounting lecture, it was 8 rows and 4 seats in; in computer science, 6 rows and the aisle seat.
Rosie was in Matt’s computing and economics classes. She was new in town and a little lonely. Canberra, while small, was much bigger than Coonabarabran. It had been hard to move from the farm to the city to study. Her parents had always been very supportive but they had always been nearby too. The first few months had been difficult.
Rosie first noticed Matt during O-Week. He was tall and handsome, and very quiet. Subsequently, she had noticed him in class. She was intrigued by the way he always had two pens, a pencil and eraser neatly lined up on his desk. She noticed his intense concentration during class. His lips moving slightly as he distilled the professor’s ramblings into meaningful information. Over time, she noted that he always, always sat in the same seat. Cute, she thought to herself. She wanted to get to know him better. So one day, she got in early and sat in Row 4, seat 9.
Matt came in and hesitated. Normally, hardly anyone sat that close to the front unless they were late. He felt put out – uncomfortable. He didn’t look at Rosie as he shuffled past to take his seat. Silently he took out his pens and pencils. Blue pen on the right, 2cm from the edge, followed by red, his pencil and a staedtler eraser. The tips of the pens lined up beautifully. The blue pen perfectly aligned with the table edge. He calmed a little. He got out his notebook and opened it. In immaculate script, he wrote very carefully the date and exact time on the top of the page. Replacing the pen, he stared resolutely forward, ignoring Rosie and waiting for the pearls of wisdom to be delivered from on high.
Rosie was enthralled. She watched Matt’s ritual with fascination. She felt a little light headed. Matt was so gorgeous. She needed to attract his attention. To start a conversation. “H-Hello” she stammered. Shit. He must think I’m an idiot she blushed. Matt half turned, nodded once, then recommenced staring at the empty lectern. Rosie was not going to give up. “I’m Rosie” she said. Matt turned again. This time he looked at her. “Matt”. Then he turned back to the front. This is going well she thought as she rolled her eyes.
The lecture commenced; both Rosie and Matt scrawled copious notes on J-Curves. Eventually, to everyone’s relief the lecturer ran out of things to say. Rosie packed her things hurriedly while Matt slowly and carefully stored his pens. As she got up, Rosie dropped her phone. She nearly ran out of the theatre in an effort to avoid Matt. Matt saw the phone and picked it up. He waved after her, but she was gone. Matt ran through the crowd, catching glimpses of the retreating Rosie. Finally, breathless, he caught up with her near the merry-go-round. “Rosie” he called. She turned. He waved her phone at her. She smiled and gushed a thank you. “Would you like to have a coffee?” she asked. Their hands touched and with that, they fell in love.
See more of this series from algenonQ here
