A New York Fairy Tale
Suburban Sun
by
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“Vivian, what a nice surprise. You know Mrs. Castello. I think you went to school with her son Henry. I’m sure you’ve met before.”
“Yes, good morning, Mrs. Castello. You know,” I said not to anyone in particular,” Barry's Bakery has the freshest baked goods. I can smell everything they make from my front window.” Mrs. Castello who is a very Italian looking woman was sitting in one of mom’s Henry the VIII armchairs. She had her arms folded about her chest and her hair was pitch black and curly. Her nose was sharp and she had a mole over her left eye. One eyebrow looked as if it was permanently raised and etched on her forehead with black tar.
“You live near my Henry. He lives on East 72nd Street.”
“I have a condo on East 68th. How is Henry?” I asked only to be polite but I knew--
“Married with four angels.”
“My hasn’t he been busy!” I have opened up the gateway. This conversation would only get worse. Mother was still in the kitchen and hadn’t joined in. I knew she wouldn’t miss the opportunity. I waited with baited breath to hear her footsteps in the hall returning with the tea.
“He certainly is busy. What have you been doing with your free time?” The nasty little woman said with a sneer.
“Scoping the scenario.” I purposely set to agitate her. Why should I indulge in the intricacies of my work or my social life? I don’t care what she thinks anyway.
“What?” She had the most puzzling expression on her face. I knew she wouldn’t understand the lingo anymore than she understood me and what I did with my FREE time, as if.
“Yes, Vivian is still looking for Mister Right. She has high expectations you know. I’ve ruined her.” Mother smiled amiably as she walked in carrying a serving tray.
“I’m just not ready and I may never be ready.”
“Ready? What’s there to be ready for?” shouted Mrs. Castello in disbelief. “In the old country, a girl was yanked away from the love of her parents to be with a man she hardly knew. Try to prepare for that!”
“I’m not ready for commitment. I’ve been on my own for a long time. I’m not ready to give up my freedom.” I sounded as if I was pleading.
“Selfish,” she sneers. “Can you tell me Livie, why these kids are so selfish? Wasn’t it enough what we went through with their fathers that they would at least try to make us happy? Don’t you think your mother deserves grand kids?”
I gave her my wide-eyed stare and changed the subject.
“I came over to tell you about a wedding I’ve been invited to in Connecticut. You remember the guy Robert I mentioned? The one I met when I went to meet Bernadette in Mineola four months ago.”
“Oh, your telephone friend. She met him once and hasn’t seen him since,” she tells Mrs. Castello. “What makes you want to go on a date with him now? I thought he was too clingy.”
“Shish!” enunciates Mrs. Castello. “Clingy is a good thing, a good thing! Tell her Olivia. It’s no wonder.” She sat up when she said that then sunk back into the chair.
“I feel that I’m in a rut. At least, I’ll get to meet some nice people and who knows?” I sip my tea that is now cold, thanks to Mrs. Commentator Castello.
“So you use him? Are you going to say anything Livie?” She is sweating from moving too much. Heavy women shouldn’t get so annoyed.
“No, she is twenty-eight. If she wants to remain single in this wicked city, that is her choice. Besides, I want her to be happy. Rushing into something, just because, is not going to make her happy in the long run.”
“What is happy? Isn’t it better not to be alone? I’m glad that Henry finally settled down, even though I think he could have found a better wife. I think he picked the first thing he saw.”
“Well, Janice, he could have gotten someone even worse. So, she’s a little homey looking. She cooks and cleans and takes care of the kids. What more do you want? Besides dear, you don’t have to live with them.”
“I may, one day. Then what?” sighs Mrs. Castello.
“Would you rather be in a home? Why worry about that now?”
I could tell that mom was getting bored with the whole thing so I interjected. “What are you cooking tonight, ma? Mussel coconut corn chowder, herb-crusted Australian lamb, Norwegian smoked-salmon?” My mouth was watering.
“No dear, more like beef stew or tuna casserole. Something simple. I think your father is coming over for dinner, so try to get here at five, if you are coming. Lately, he hasn't been able to digest my gourmet meals. Everything is too spicy or too heavy.”
“I've got to call Robert to find out what time the wedding starts. It might be tonight; I didn't bother to a
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About the Book
Alone in the big city, girl on the rise, Vivian Anderson was making it by herself. She didn’t need a man or a relationship. She had her family and friends convinced that flying solo was her only option because of her demanding career. Of course, she had dates but not one person appealed to her. All of her previous romances left her dead in the water. Was it possible that she had overlooked the man of her dreams? Once Vivian stopped searching, her knight in shining armor fell into her lap (she almost tossed him aside from sheer annoyance). Now what to do? If only life was simple and uncomplicated. Vivian didn’t want to make the same mistakes that her parents made, yet they were the only examples she had. Vivian needed counseling and a role model. Would she be able to salvage her relationship with Robert Taylor or would she run from true love as she had done so many times before? Vivian finds love but she decides to go against the grain. She wants love her way because that is the only way she will agree to it. Will she be successful or fail once again?
About the Author
Melony Williams was raised in Uniondale, NY. She learned to read early in life and never stopped. Her greatest pleasure came from writing short stories, which she commenced to do at the age of eight. Ms. Williams spent a lot of time developing her writing as an art form. She feels that the ability to write is “man’s greatest and most diabolical achievement because of its ability to create and destroy.” Her novel A New York Fairy Tale is a satire on society’s desire to make love and marriage a nice neat fairy tale. Ms. Williams also wrote a collection of short stories called Human Antics, another collection of short stories called Feminine Hues, and Family Secrets. She also wrote The Serpent Beguiled Me and I Did Eat, which is a religious non-fictional work. Ms. Williams attended Northwood Business Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida and later transferred to the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut where she graduated in 1992. Ms. Williams currently lives in North Carolina.