Only A Matter of Time
It’s a humid autumn evening in Memphis, Tennessee. The raw feel of live music escorted the cigarette smoke and conversations onto Beale Street. It was a Saturday night not unlike countless others with pleasure seekers and partiers ambling from one bar to the next. Inside a half filled bar, a cell phone, wallet, and watch recline on a shelf underneath the cash register. All three belong to one of the bartenders on duty.
They sat and watched tiny bits of ice scatter as their owner quickly pulled another bottle of beer from the cooler built into the bar. The lid to the cooler falls shut with a deep thud as bits of ice fall away from the bottle.
The wallet perks up a bit. “Ooo, nice one! I counted seven bits of ice that time how about you?”
“Shut up Joe.” The analogue watch rudely responded. “Nobody wants to play your stupid game.”
The wallet slumped and didn’t say another word.
“Hey dude, don’t be so harsh!” The cell phone, a cutting edge personality named Kyle, was never shy about speaking. “Joe has nothing better to do. Why don’t you just go get wound?”
“For the last time Kyle, I am not a wind up! If I were, that would make me an heirloom! As it is, I’m already on my fourth battery and man, do I feel it.”
Kyle edged toward the watch. “Hey Francis you know what? I can tell time too. Maybe you haven’t noticed but how often does Master even look at you anymore? He usually just flips my sleek silver exterior open and looks.”
“Don’t kid yourself.” Frances replied with a grunt. “I remember when digital watches came along and after that the calculator watch. Neither could replace me and neither will you.”
“Yea, but those were still other watches. I’m something totally different. I’ve got a camera, memory for music and photos, day planner, and calling ability. Oh yea, I can be a digital or analogue clock depending on my setting. All I need is a jackknife coming out of my side and a credit card coming from the other and there isn’t anything I cannot do.”
Joe looked worried.
“Look dag-nabit! I’m on his left wrist anything he goes anywhere!”
“And when am I not in his right hand…and our owner’s right handed!” Kyle beeped strongly.
But the watch wasn’t finished, “Let’s not forget, I’m also an accessory. I’m an small expression of the owner’s personal style.”
“You’re kidding me right?” Kyle sang the master’s favorite song before flipping open displaying a photo of the master’s family. “Oh, and maybe you haven’t seen the miniature flame decals I’ve got on my sides.”
The bartender heard his phone go off. He reached under the cash register and pulled it out.
Francis flexed his band and said, “Well, Joe that kid doesn’t know what he’s talking about! I tell you, the next time I see my pals cassette tape, and Polaroid camera …”
“Shut up Francis.”
October 24th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Interesting Matt…. : )
October 27th, 2008 at 9:41 am
makes me wonder what my accsessories are saying abot me…