PASSING FOR NORMAL

The Good, The bad and The Utterly Divine...

.... Scene: His Eyes
Spring 1995, Beirut, AUB.









She saw his eyes in the rear view mirror. Only his eyes, the most enchanting eyes she had ever seen. He was speeding down in his convertible. He probably wanted to catch up with her. After all, he saw her eyes too. She stepped down on the gas. Before she knew it, she lost control over the car. She steps on the brake but the car keeps speeding. She is horrified and she looks in the mirror for his eyes. She loses consciousness. She wakes up on the seat next to him.
- What happened?
- Try not to talk and keep your head up. You’re bleeding. I’ll get you to the hospital.
She’s thinking that he’s driving really fast. She’s terrified. She wakes up in the hospital bed. Her hand in her mom’s and she looks up to see his eyes.
- Hi, she smiles, you saved my life
Ten months later, across the room they lock eyes.
- Do you know that woman?
- Yes.
She walks towards them.
- That’s the woman who saved my life.

Scene: Tough Town.
Spring 2006, New York, Manhattan.











(Pic. Manhattan)


Shoe repair store. She could only live in a neighborhood that had a coffee shop, a film rental store, a flower shop and a shoe repair store. He made fun of her for that but he’s gone now.
- Yes sir, can you please make the heels stronger? It broke when I was dancing.
- You dancer? Yes yes I know, dancer. Ballroom?
- No, no dancer. I just dance. Never mind.
Her feet always hurt. Pourquoi tu presses les pas? She's been asked many times. She's always in a hurry.
She goes into the embassy. The first thing that struck her was that list of countries, including hers. Her beloved country. A diagram of a veiled women. Not that she ever cared for veils but what if the veiled woman was a nun, she wondered.
- Madame, j'ai besoin de tous les documents.
She could speak the language but she refuses to.
- I do not understand why this is not sufficient. I have an invitation to your country; otherwise I would not even bother visiting. You are obviously not the most courteous people in the world.
- Madame…

She takes the bus back home. She’s weary and all she can hear is the music coming from her neighbor’s headset… I ain’t sayin’ she’s a goldigga’…she ain't messin' with a brok' brok'.
She fell asleep…Woke up 2 stops after hers…
She’s tired of this town. The fierce steps, the unkind eyes, the lose morals, the fast tracks and the concrete hearts.

Scene: L'Ete Indien.
Summer 1998. Beirut, Saint-Georges









(Pic. City Island)

She has been kicking out that habit. She had worked on it all summer. Far from the eyes, far from the heart. Withdrawal, sweat and tears. Long nights with the girls crying and dreaming. Last she heard he had left for the summer. Things have happened since. She kept busy. A boy approached her, through her friend, glorious as a fresh summer night. She said maybe. She was dragged to a night out for celebrations. A dear old friend hosting an event. The boy came close. God he looks so good. They started dancing. And then she looked away for she knew he was lurking behind her back. Her love was back. He had grown a beard, his skin was kissed by the sun and he was wearing the shirt she liked. She looks at his direction and smiles to him. He spreads his arms into the air. Suddenly, all was gone. She lost track of her dancing partner. She did not hear the music or see the lights. She cut through a crowd of resentful eyes and disapproving glances. She held his hand. He smiled and she smiled back… You are now mine... She caved.

Scene: What Women Talk about....