- The PeaksVille citizen is natural and unconcerned with the arts as I know them. Yet, I am seeing art in other forms outside paint and brush. I'm beginning to notice relationships in their true colors.
- Sybil's journal
Sybil's days had finally settled into a pattern. They started with Ben rattling down the stairs into the restaurant kitchen after a quick breakfast of sorts. More often than not, Ben had better luck in the finding breakfast in the restaurant kitchen since they hardly stocked their own refrigerator. Sybil would hear Ben search the apartment kitchen, maybe succeed in fixing a cup of coffee, and then give up and head downstairs. It seemed this was the way she awoke most mornings; hearing Ben's noises, the smell of coffee and then silence. After that, she'd get out of bed and unpack a few more boxes in attempt to make the space a home. Around eleven in the morning, she'd finally go downstairs to help Ben for the rest the day, either by waitressing or cleaning up tables and dishes.
Christmas was looming in the near future and it seemed business had picked up as well. When Sybil descended the stairs this morning, she was surprised to see at least five tables in use. Ben could use some help it was obvious, but hadn't called her down early. "Poor, sweet man of mine", she thought as she tied on her waitress apron.
The place looked festive and comfortable this morning because of the pine and lights they had hung around the windows. At some point today, Sybil intended to set up her all white Christmas village for display in the east window. Her creative juices were flowing as she went around refilling cups of coffee, orange juice, and water. She was picturing white jars filled with boxwood on each table and a single tea light next to it, simple yet beautiful.
Sybil's thoughts were interrupted by Doreen Olsen entering the restaurant, big and boisterous as always, Sybil thought wickedly.
Doreen headed straight for the table Claire Hamilton was sharing with an equally classy woman. They had been there for a little while deep in quiet conversation. Sybil assumed the two ladies were old friends around the same age sharing similar interests.
Two bouncy little girls were with Doreen. They squealed with excitement and began jabbering. "Mommy!" Shrieked the youngest, "Nanna says we can come have hot chocwate wiff you!"
"I'm having a latte," the elder sister spoke loftily, "hot chocolate is for babies." Before the girls could get into a full fledged argument, their mother shushed them while making room at the table.
"Dale has got that big ole crane out there on Main Street," Doreen huffed in explanation. " I didn't want the kids to get in the way or get hurt so decided to bring them to you for awhile." Her red hair was extra frizzy today, poking out in a fringe in front because of a green plaid scarf tied securely around her chin.
A crane on Main Street? Sybil wondered if there would ever be a day when things would feel normal in Peaks Ville. So far, the people were colorful, providing plenty of entertainment.
In the kitchen, Sybil related the conversation to Ben. "A what?" Ben asked incredulously, "Why would a crane be on Main Street? What are they doing with it? This I gotta see." Ben winked at Sybil. "You got this?" he asked as he went out the back door. He had been in the middle of chopping vegetables for soup on the lunch menu. Sybil took over, glad to give Ben a little break and curious what he would learn.
Ben was back in the kitchen within five minutes. "It was no big deal." He explained to Sybil, "They were just returning the big iron work gazebo to the top of the building. Someone rented it for a wedding reception and the top of the building is where they keep it stored." Ben went back to stirring the pot of soup looking half bored and disappointed.
Sybil was amazed at her husband's laid back approach to life since relocating to this small western town. He'd had no trouble adjusting. Things that seemed a little crazy to Sybil, Ben took in stride. In a way, he seemed more at home in this hokey town than he had in Chicago.
Sybil, however was feeling desperate and lonely. She was aching to find one person with whom she could relate. She was curious about Donna, Doreen's daughter. Donna didn't seem at all like Doreen. Donna was quiet and refined. How did that happen? How was it possible to have a mother and daughter so opposite of one another? Sybil wondered also about Claire down the street. Claire seemed so classy and wise, yet she lived a simple, uncultured life.
A quiet half hour tucked into one of Claire's chairs with a steaming cup of green tea, had been a balm to Sybil one afternoon. She had been badly in need of a diversion from the apartment and its lack of color. On a whim, she had strolled down Main Street seeking anything besides her four walls and had found herself stopping at The Yarn Shop. She'd stood outside for awhile, gazing at the neat rows of yarn, rows of yarn of all colors. Color. It looked like an artists easel to her. In her mind she began arranging the yarn on different color wheels, first lining up the grays and blues and greens, and then playing with reds and golds and turquoises. She'd been at it for who knew how long when her eyes focused on a hand waving to her from inside the shop. Claire had invited her in and offered her the tea and the chair.
They had talked of color that day. Claire seemed intuitive about not asking Sybil too many personal questions and Sybil had given more information than she normally would have. Claire had a way of drawing things out of a person in her calm and quiet manner. Instead of the normal getting acquainted questions, Claire had asked about the adjustments of living in a new place. She also had admitted that the lack of sunshine was something that got her down each winter, which led to the discussion on color. Sybil had thanked her for the color on her walls and the cup of tea as she left to go back to the apartment.
Sybil thought about this now as she and Ben prepared lunch for the restaurant. She meant to be a little less stand offish very soon now. Ben was often ahead of her in adjusting to change but she was willing to learn from his example. It seemed to be working for him. She also intended to find out more about Donna and Doreen. Now there was color if she was craving it. Things were not always what they appeared on the surface she knew and this relationship seemed full of ups and downs, old angers and new forgivenesses. The artist inside had kicked in and Sybil felt more upbeat as the day progressed.
In a few days, Christmas would be over and the New Year would be upon them with all the usual resolutions. Sybil planned on making a few of her own this year. She was resolved to find out how to be happy in her present circumstances. No more lonely days of trying to figure people out. It was time to make a plan and learn to accept the people of Peaks ville as people of real color; people of whom she could expect to grow in character by getting to know them.
- Sybil's journal
Sybil's days had finally settled into a pattern. They started with Ben rattling down the stairs into the restaurant kitchen after a quick breakfast of sorts. More often than not, Ben had better luck in the finding breakfast in the restaurant kitchen since they hardly stocked their own refrigerator. Sybil would hear Ben search the apartment kitchen, maybe succeed in fixing a cup of coffee, and then give up and head downstairs. It seemed this was the way she awoke most mornings; hearing Ben's noises, the smell of coffee and then silence. After that, she'd get out of bed and unpack a few more boxes in attempt to make the space a home. Around eleven in the morning, she'd finally go downstairs to help Ben for the rest the day, either by waitressing or cleaning up tables and dishes.
Christmas was looming in the near future and it seemed business had picked up as well. When Sybil descended the stairs this morning, she was surprised to see at least five tables in use. Ben could use some help it was obvious, but hadn't called her down early. "Poor, sweet man of mine", she thought as she tied on her waitress apron.
The place looked festive and comfortable this morning because of the pine and lights they had hung around the windows. At some point today, Sybil intended to set up her all white Christmas village for display in the east window. Her creative juices were flowing as she went around refilling cups of coffee, orange juice, and water. She was picturing white jars filled with boxwood on each table and a single tea light next to it, simple yet beautiful.
Sybil's thoughts were interrupted by Doreen Olsen entering the restaurant, big and boisterous as always, Sybil thought wickedly.
Doreen headed straight for the table Claire Hamilton was sharing with an equally classy woman. They had been there for a little while deep in quiet conversation. Sybil assumed the two ladies were old friends around the same age sharing similar interests.
Two bouncy little girls were with Doreen. They squealed with excitement and began jabbering. "Mommy!" Shrieked the youngest, "Nanna says we can come have hot chocwate wiff you!"
"I'm having a latte," the elder sister spoke loftily, "hot chocolate is for babies." Before the girls could get into a full fledged argument, their mother shushed them while making room at the table.
"Dale has got that big ole crane out there on Main Street," Doreen huffed in explanation. " I didn't want the kids to get in the way or get hurt so decided to bring them to you for awhile." Her red hair was extra frizzy today, poking out in a fringe in front because of a green plaid scarf tied securely around her chin.
A crane on Main Street? Sybil wondered if there would ever be a day when things would feel normal in Peaks Ville. So far, the people were colorful, providing plenty of entertainment.
In the kitchen, Sybil related the conversation to Ben. "A what?" Ben asked incredulously, "Why would a crane be on Main Street? What are they doing with it? This I gotta see." Ben winked at Sybil. "You got this?" he asked as he went out the back door. He had been in the middle of chopping vegetables for soup on the lunch menu. Sybil took over, glad to give Ben a little break and curious what he would learn.
Ben was back in the kitchen within five minutes. "It was no big deal." He explained to Sybil, "They were just returning the big iron work gazebo to the top of the building. Someone rented it for a wedding reception and the top of the building is where they keep it stored." Ben went back to stirring the pot of soup looking half bored and disappointed.
Sybil was amazed at her husband's laid back approach to life since relocating to this small western town. He'd had no trouble adjusting. Things that seemed a little crazy to Sybil, Ben took in stride. In a way, he seemed more at home in this hokey town than he had in Chicago.
Sybil, however was feeling desperate and lonely. She was aching to find one person with whom she could relate. She was curious about Donna, Doreen's daughter. Donna didn't seem at all like Doreen. Donna was quiet and refined. How did that happen? How was it possible to have a mother and daughter so opposite of one another? Sybil wondered also about Claire down the street. Claire seemed so classy and wise, yet she lived a simple, uncultured life.
A quiet half hour tucked into one of Claire's chairs with a steaming cup of green tea, had been a balm to Sybil one afternoon. She had been badly in need of a diversion from the apartment and its lack of color. On a whim, she had strolled down Main Street seeking anything besides her four walls and had found herself stopping at The Yarn Shop. She'd stood outside for awhile, gazing at the neat rows of yarn, rows of yarn of all colors. Color. It looked like an artists easel to her. In her mind she began arranging the yarn on different color wheels, first lining up the grays and blues and greens, and then playing with reds and golds and turquoises. She'd been at it for who knew how long when her eyes focused on a hand waving to her from inside the shop. Claire had invited her in and offered her the tea and the chair.
They had talked of color that day. Claire seemed intuitive about not asking Sybil too many personal questions and Sybil had given more information than she normally would have. Claire had a way of drawing things out of a person in her calm and quiet manner. Instead of the normal getting acquainted questions, Claire had asked about the adjustments of living in a new place. She also had admitted that the lack of sunshine was something that got her down each winter, which led to the discussion on color. Sybil had thanked her for the color on her walls and the cup of tea as she left to go back to the apartment.
Sybil thought about this now as she and Ben prepared lunch for the restaurant. She meant to be a little less stand offish very soon now. Ben was often ahead of her in adjusting to change but she was willing to learn from his example. It seemed to be working for him. She also intended to find out more about Donna and Doreen. Now there was color if she was craving it. Things were not always what they appeared on the surface she knew and this relationship seemed full of ups and downs, old angers and new forgivenesses. The artist inside had kicked in and Sybil felt more upbeat as the day progressed.
In a few days, Christmas would be over and the New Year would be upon them with all the usual resolutions. Sybil planned on making a few of her own this year. She was resolved to find out how to be happy in her present circumstances. No more lonely days of trying to figure people out. It was time to make a plan and learn to accept the people of Peaks ville as people of real color; people of whom she could expect to grow in character by getting to know them.
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