Jakeb Brasee

Don't Look Down

            By chance I met a friend of a friend when I walked past the library stairs. In fact, he was seated uncomfortably on them. I noticed that his gaze was fixed upon his own hands, which were clasped together and resting on his knees. Even as I neared him, he did not look up, and I concluded that it would be ridiculously easy to pass him by. So easy, in fact, that the prospect did not interest me at all. Instead I approached, coming to a complete stop when I was within arm’s reach. He became aware of my presence and cast a sidelong glance at my shoes. Of course he was hoping to recognize them, to save himself from the awkward mistake of looking up into a stranger’s face. But I had selected a pair of never-before-seen shoes just that morning, anticipating exactly this sort of situation. Even so, from the direction my feet pointed, he must have concluded that he had my attention. As it so happened, the sun was positioned just above my left shoulder, and he squinted comically when he tried to look me in the eye.

            I obliged him by stepping slowly around to his shadow side, where he could at last see me clearly. He recognized me instantly, and smiled. But the smile was obviously not just a product of recognition. He had a specific reason for being glad to see me, and his face indicated a very real possibility of actual conversation, which was completely unacceptable to me at the time. I panicked and turned away.

            “Dude wait,” he called. I sped up; he dove after me. His hands closed tight around my ankle. I took a step, dragging him along the ground as he strove to pull me down. He tugged on my never-before-seen shoe, and I took it as a personal challenge. I did not look down, just kept shuffling along. In the end, I got away…but I think that he must have come with me. My feet still drag when I walk.