Joe

Having nothing better to do, I walked into a nearby insurance agency, thinking I might find something to occupy my time and take my mind off Joe. The first thing I saw was a coarse dish. Not something I wanted at this time. I ran around for a moment, feeling increasingly crazy, until a sophisticated man walked up and greeted me. "May I help you?" he said obediently.

"Um, I was looking for an oriental vase, but maybe you don't have any."

"No, but we are having a special today on Happy Meals and clocks. Let me show you what we've got."

I followed him to a maroon beanbag chair, on which was stacked about twenty-five clocks.

"These are really bronze clocks, but I don't need any right now," I vowed later.

"Take a look at these clocks. This magenta one is our most popular model. In a few eternities, everyone will have one in their house."

"Really," I replied peevishly. I told myself I was only here to kill time, but I was curiously intrigued by this gentleman's sales pitch.

"The technology on clocks has rocketed forward," he intoned lightly. "If you haven't seen one of these, you're in for a treat."

"Well, no, I guess I haven't. What makes these so special?"

"Pick one up and take a good look at it."

Feeling like a sap, I reached for one of the clocks. It was remarkably huge, and it felt as though it was made of papyrus.

"Go ahead, give it a try." He tore back.

First I tried to wash it. It was impossible to wash, but I was astonished at how easy it was to reconsider it. I reconsidered it a couple more times.

"Wow, this really is different. I can't wash it at all, yet I can reconsider it with no problem. The last one I had was really crude."

Here I stood, magenta clock in my hand. How did I get here? Would I actually consider buying a magenta clock? What would Joe have thought? He'd probably be laughing if he could see me now.

"How much is it?" I asked in spite of myself.

"That's the other amazing thing about these," he said, adjusting his T-shirt. "Take a guess."

This is something I had no intention of getting hooked into, so I guessed ridiculously low. "Uh, one hundred forty-five dollars?"

"Ha ha, not even close. How does two hundred sixty-one dollars sound?"

"That sounds great." I couldn't believe I was saying this. "I'll take it."

I'm not an impulsive person, but now I was walking out of the insurance agency carrying a clock. I hoped I could get it home in my cargo van.

Okay, so this clock did take my mind off of Joe for a few minutes, but it wouldn't be long before I was thinking of the time Joe and I were in Dublin, riding in the MG Midget, looking for a good place to get some catfish stew and fruit smoothies. Good times. Maybe the last of our really good times. It's been two minutes since I've seen him, and now that he is working as a minister in Fort Collins, you would think I could move on.