Out of Place

 

Against the far wall was a large wooden wheel.  It had spokes, but it wasn’t a wagon wheel.  It looked good against the paint color of the wall.  There stood, at the edge of the carpet, a marble statue of a crow.  Aside from being way too large for a crow, it was white.  It felt off.  Immediately you could tell there was something off, but it took a second to realize it was the color.  I think, had it been black, as crows are, it would have been much more impressive, even imposing.

Books and trinkets sat around but didn’t appear staged.  The room felt used, not simply for show and the music sounded like it was off in the distance somewhere.  It was quite pleasant.  I felt almost at ease in there, even knowing I didn’t belong.  I was a visitor, and uncomfortable enough that I hadn’t sat down yet, for fear of wrinkling the cushions or leaving some tell-tale imprint.  This was a magazine quality room and so far the only thing out of place was me. 

A crystal candy dish was on the long coffee table in front of the couch.  I didn’t recognize the candy.  Maybe it was foreign, and I wanted to just reach out and take one, but if I didn’t like it, what then?  This was not a room for wastebaskets.  I would forever have this candy in my mouth, and as guests entered, I would be expected to make small talk.  That wouldn’t go well with candy rolling around between my words.  And come to think of it, why was I the only one here so far.  I didn’t think I had arrived early.  Surely, I couldn’t be the only guest. And where was our host?  I began to wonder if this was some kind of experiment.  Was I being watched?  That would be one boring film, me standing around deciding if I should take a piece of candy or not.

I took another, slower look around the room, checking for cameras.  That large wooden wheel did now seem a tad odd.  It didn’t really go with the rest of the décor.  I wondered how long I should wait for the host.  Maybe something had happened.  Maybe she ate one of those candies.  It’s probably a good thing I didn’t try one.

Then I noticed a sculpture I apparently missed seeing initially. It was a black, iron tree with sparce branches and few leaves.  Whoever made it paid great attention to detail.  The more I studied it the more realistic the surface looked like wood and some of the branches seemed quite fragile.  This piece alone must have cost a fortune, even though it looked simplistic.

The cover of the book next to the candy dish said, Patiently Waiting.  “Okay, now I know I’m being set up.

Hello?  I’m taking one of your candies.”