Watching [23 Sept 08]

He sits down. She glances over, continues to sip coffee, pulls her bookbag closer.

Man
[watching person walk by] Bum bum Da Bum bum [as in the manner of a tuba line]

Woman
glances, smiles

Man
Hi… uh… hello.

Woman
Hi. [pause, sip, write]

Man
[watching another person pass, whistling in the manner of a flute. pause] Do you, uh, coe here often? [pauses, realizes what he just said. sotto voce] Shit.

Woman
[smiles awkwardly] Yeah, I do.

Man
Sorry, that sounded really stupid.

Woman
Yeah. It did.

Man
[moves as if to leave, hesistates, settles]

Woman
[gets up as if to leave]

Man
[blurts] I like watching people.

Woman
What the hell? [preemptive] No. No, don’t bother, just… why would you say that to someone.

Man
I thought you were leaving –

Woman
I am.

Man
and I didn’t want you to go.

Woman
so you said that? “I like to watch people” ?

Man
I know. I’m sorry. Have a nice day.

Woman walks out. Man watches.

Man
Fuck.

Woman
[She walks back on, stands] My name’s Jennifer.

Man
[surprised] O-Okay. [stares] I mean, shit, uh… My name’s David. I thought you were leaving.

Jennifer
So did I.

David
and?

Jennifer
Do you want me to leave.

David
No, no. Okay.

Jennifer
[beat] I do.

David
Hunh?

Jennifer
Come here often. You asked me earlier.

David
Oh… cool. [pause. watches. hums a march]

Jennifer
Why do you do that?

David
Do what?

Jennifer
The noises, the humming, that.

David
I dunno, because it’s funny. [pause] But… Every one of the people walking here is different. That’s what makes them fun to watch, right? And each one has a different rhythm. They all… sound different. In my head. [laughs] I guess I don’t even realize I’m making any noise.

Jennifer
So. You just sit here, and watch, and hum… all day?

David
Sometimes. Sometimes I go to the library, a bookstore, coffee shop. anywhere there are people, really. Even Union Station. But the park is my favorite.