Winter Fall
An 11-page satirical drama
by Laurie Lamson
About the Story
"Winter Fall" was written in reaction to a foreign film called "Autumn Spring." The audience's delight with the protagonist a so-called charming fun-lover whose shrewish wife was trying to cramp his style mystified me. I guess I just saw it differently. This was my take on the wife's point of view.
Excerpt follows:
I'm not young anymore and I was never very pretty. All young women long to be, and it still stings when I think too much of my girlhood. What use is a girl who isn't pretty? It just ain't done if you can possibly help it. But not all of us are what we're expected to be, no matter how hard we try.
I remember the first time Joe spoke to me. I was honored by his attention. It was at a dinner at my aunt's house. He actually turned to me, asked my name. By then I was twenty-five - already an old maid in those days. He was such a jolly, handsome young man, an actor, at ease with everyone in the room, while I sat quietly staring at my plate. I was even more surprised when he kept up the conversation. And I was stunned when he began courting me. Needless to say it was a brief courtship - what was I waiting around for? There wasn't going to be another chance like this. Joy touched me for the first time in my life. I felt the thrill of being welcomed into an exclusive club I had long since given up hope of ever joining.
It wasn't until later that I figured out why he chose me. We were married for a few years when it dawned on me. He was lazy. Too lazy to woo a prettier girl. Too lazy to have one for a wife and have to worry about losing her. He knew I was so grateful I would do anything for him. And I did. Even more so when I figured it out, because I realized he never loved me. Those were words that did not apply to me, only other women. I overheard him saying it on the phone once, "I love you", and there was honey in his voice. It sounded completely different on the few occasions he said it to me.
END EXCERPT
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