strange shrouds

I sat in restless chairs I breathed stilted air what feeling compares with feeling squandered? I’m not sadfishing, I was bored in a 5-star hotel. I’d swum the Atlantic - in the underground pool and I felt like I was marinating in boredom. It was as if the loudest thing in our suite was the sound of my eyelashes flapping up and down. I wasn’t in solitary confinement, Lisa was there too - and just-as bored. She didn’t complain, 'cause she’s ‘New Yorker’ stoic. So I started complaining for her - for the team. We’d filtered every boutique, sampled every eclectic café, there’s just nothing to do in Geneva. It is an implacable reality. Peter (my bf) was at work all day and we were on vacation. It’s different when he’s around. He walks into the room, and I feel like a phone that’s been placed on its charger - the world lights up and I get - charged. “We should make a list,” I'd announced, “‘the pros and cons of boredom.” “No,” Lisa said, “Let’s name fun things.” “Fruity Pebbles popcorn,” I started. “Girl panda makeup” Lisa offered, “Foot massages and bubblegum” “Cotton candy and sunflowers” “Holidays and sparkly things!” - we went on and on and on and - “kittens” I updogged dreamily, then I switched subjects completely. “We need to go to Paris.” I announced, with a tone of relief. “Oh yeah?” Lisa asked, with a little side head-bob. “Actionable intel,” I whispered, “Grandmère wants to see me.” Lisa gasped, adding, “You’re in TROUBLE,” drawing the last syllable out slowly. “That would be a first,” I laughed. “Kisses!” She exclaimed, resuming the game. I remembered the first time I thought of kissing Peter. The thought was a flash, an emotional Rorschach test and I smiled. It was like a movie kiss, an abstract heaven - not the breathy, erotic kisses of real life. “Where’d you go?” Lisa asked, grinning. Some emotions are too thick for words. . . Songs for this: Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan Disco Boots by Gavin Turek