Just Plain Corny

Just Plain Corny

Romantic liaisons and Claire had not always been simpatico. Some relationships were absolute non-starters. Others were unpleasant. Some just did not have any staying power. With this relationship, Claire was enjoying herself truly and without guilt. Through all her previous relationships, one person had been with her. Tears, anger, frustration, even the flush of a new love. It hadn’t mattered. Cornell had always been there for her. It was strange that she always turned to him. She had never really liked him. At least that’s what she thought. His hair was too long and unkempt. His long narrow nose and wide-set eyes kept him from being attractive. And the colours and patterns he chose for those horrible bellbottoms that he wore. Right out of the ’70’s!

Because Cornell was so good to Claire, she never said anything about them, keeping her smirks to herself. He wore them with such confidence. Then came a day when she lost that control. She had lost control of her most recent relationship - a particularly disastrous one. She had called Cornell crying, blubbering about what a fool she had been, how could she show her face ever again, who would ever be good enough for her, and on, and on, and on. “I’ll be right over Claire. You put the teakettle on and make us some tea. I’ll stop at Sandies & Snickerdoodles for a big bag of cookies.” Claire blew her red raw nose noisily, grabbed the last tissue from the box and, dabbing at her eyes, went to the kitchen. 

~~~~~

Tea kettle on the boil, Claire chose two mugs from the cupboard. They were a set. Two pottery mugs Cornell had bought for her at a pottery show after the last mess up. Blue and green swirls, the mug’s belly fit warmly in anyone’s hand. Her reverie about pottery was broken by the door bell, followed immediately by a cheery voice “I’m here. Tea ready?” Claire turned from the cupboard, as if coming out of a bad dream. She just about dropped the mugs and burst out laughing. “Those are the most gawdawful pants!” Brilliant orange and day-glo green bellbottoms entered the kitchen before Cornell did. “You don’t like these?” Cornell looked stunned. “I do not like them and don’t know how you can wear them. ……Oh, Cornell, I’m so sorry. You are so good to me and here I am laughing at you and criticizing your slacks.” With that she started crying again, but not for long. In mid nose blow, she stopped, and stared at Cornell. The teakettle was demanding attention. Ignoring the teakettle’s loud scream she stammered. “I think I love you. You are my best friend and always have been - well since we met - oh, never mind. I’m just so upset and those pants…….”. Cornell, calmly, put the bag of cookies on the table, took the mugs from Claire and set them beside the cookies. He guided her to a chair and, sitting her comfortably, handed her another tissue. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear “It's about time.”

“I will be calm. I will be mistress of myself.”

~ Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

**Author’s note: Two parameters for this post, one set by this writer: “Romantic liaisons” and the other set by the Victoria writers group: ‘Claire was enjoying herself truly and without guilt’.