"You know, James, I could be more than fond of you … if you altered your tranquil ways."
"You could, dear Anthea?"
She was standing behind his work chair, hands on his shoulders.
"Yes, I could even love you, James – love you passionately, if I felt more passion coming from you."
He patted her hands.
"It's good of you to say that, dear. But it also makes it perfectly clear to me that you'd never love me the way I am – for what I am. I could probably try to change my tranquil ways, as you call them. I would do that for you, you know I would. But in the end it would exhaust me. And perhaps –"
"Perhaps?"
"Perhaps you have been barking up the wrong tree."
She furrowed her brow.
"Just what are you telling me?"
"That you might be better off looking for another tree. Or another dog, for that matter. This old dog would never do for you. Don't you think I'm right?"
– Leonard "Tranquil" Blumfeld (© 2011)
Written around alter, fond and tranquil from 3WW.
"You could, dear Anthea?"
She was standing behind his work chair, hands on his shoulders.
"Yes, I could even love you, James – love you passionately, if I felt more passion coming from you."
He patted her hands.
"It's good of you to say that, dear. But it also makes it perfectly clear to me that you'd never love me the way I am – for what I am. I could probably try to change my tranquil ways, as you call them. I would do that for you, you know I would. But in the end it would exhaust me. And perhaps –"
"Perhaps?"
"Perhaps you have been barking up the wrong tree."
She furrowed her brow.
"Just what are you telling me?"
"That you might be better off looking for another tree. Or another dog, for that matter. This old dog would never do for you. Don't you think I'm right?"
– Leonard "Tranquil" Blumfeld (© 2011)
Written around alter, fond and tranquil from 3WW.
So true I dislike the concept that other people are home improvement projects better off finding someone who loves you for you
ReplyDeleteHe is right...
ReplyDeleteeye for an eye
OOOO! Quite a tense conversation of sparring attitudes! Dramatic!
ReplyDeleteAah, it feels like a much repeated conversation..almost reassuringly so..lovely, thoughtful snapshot of two people trying to be together..Jae
ReplyDeleteSo true ... love should accept who you are!
ReplyDeleteGood for him! Glad to see he's not a PUPPY dog!
ReplyDeleteDidn't expect that ending. Great use of the prompt.
ReplyDeleteAh, the old conumdrum: You're perfect, now change. I'm glad he's being true to himself. Excellant use of the words.
ReplyDeleteLove that way he puts this in the story.You can't change people great story.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that how it is at times?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he told her off, calmly and gently, just like the tranquil person he is.
You are perfect for me . . . now, if you would just change . . . .
ReplyDeletePhew, don't you just hate barking up the wrong tree?
ReplyDeleteYou can't change people to suit your needs. Well expressed.
ReplyDeleteOh if only more were as wise as he! I could become quite fond of his tranquil tree, dog and all ;-) Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNice use of the prompt in this wry little exchange.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel much love nor passion in either of them so perhaps best they part...
Great use of dialogue and such a scene-setter.
ReplyDelete