Chapter 1

A Familiar Sight

            The television screen was a blur of white. Two danced in the middle of the floor while white flower pedals hovered over them like a halo. Others watched and danced around them to the soft piano tune that would sooth the mind of even the most troubled person. Everything in the room seemed to be so classic, so original and incomputable. The room was very large and lustrous with blue marble walls and aboriginal plants around the lit windows. The only contradistinction between the bride and the other women was of course the emanating dress. It sparkled like a crystal clear lake reflecting the sunlight dying on the horizon.

            The song became slow as well as the dancing and they all harmoniously moved in motion. The newlywed swirled in a sea of people and all became a blur again as the tape went fuzzy. Then the screen returned to the wedding but now everyone was eating at tables and listening to jazz being played on a moonlit marble veranda. The sound played softly and pleasantly with the chatter of the guests. Then someone tapped gently on a wine glass and everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to the man in a neat tuxedo standing in front of the band. A light beamed down on him from the ceiling above indicating his attention.

            “I hope everyone is having a good time tonight because I know I definitely am not. I picked the steak instead of the fish so…” Everyone chuckled and the man smiled generously. “But in all seriousness, Bial…good choice. I never would have pictured it another way then to see you with Tamara. And now you’re married,” he said seeming hesitant. His eyes glistened with the hint of a tear and he rubbed his face. The camera whizzed around the room and pointed on Bial and Tamara sitting in the middle of the crowd of people. Bial wore straight black glasses and had a somewhat chubby but characterized face. He had his arm over Tamara’s shoulder and they were both smiling at the man giving the speech. But before he could continue, the picture went fuzzy again and did not return.

            Bial took the tape out of the dusty VCR and put it back in its case. The room was cluttered with boxes and lamps and drawers with silverware and old suitcases and clothes stuffed to the top. Bial threw the tape into a random box beside him and took it out to the moving truck. Two of the movers filed passed him with a large table between their shoulders. A car drove up the long gravel driveway and a man stepped out similar to the one giving a toast in the wedding video. He looked older, however. His hair was dimly grey instead of the rugged brown it was. Bial looked grim and discontent to see him but he tried to seem happy as he walked up to the back of the truck. He looked in the nearest box and smiled as he pulled out a miniature wooden bat.

            “Mom used to hate this thing,” he said admiring the bat. “I guess not even she would approve of us hitting those lake rocks in the Haley’s place. Never were nice people.” He laughed to himself but Bial barely responded.