CAPT Bill Earle Creative Writing Contest 2010
First Place Tie for Prose
Golden Light on a Summer Evening
By Austin A. Fullmer, Class of 2013
The river glowed from the city’s lights; the floating bateaux made wakes in
the water that slapped the canal walls. Accompanied by the rushing of cars, the
sound gave the evening an enchanting appeal. Glimmering lanterns hung from wires
that spanned across the café’s ceiling, and beneath the lights, the room was crowded
with couples speaking animatedly and enjoying the soft summer breeze that came
from the propped open door. This was true for all except for a boy and girl who sat
quietly at a far table. His eyes glanced up and down the menu. She too held a menu,
but her eyes stared through the glass window across the river at the unfamiliar
Eiffel Tower.
“I don’t know what to choose,” the girl whispered.
“I already know.”
“At least you know what to drink,” the boy said.
The girl put the menu down. She picked up her glass, sipping the red wine
slowly.
“Have you noticed the lanterns,” she said. “They look almost golden tonight.”
“Yes, they do,” the boy said. “They are belle. As beautiful as you are.”
The girl blushed and drank more of her wine.
“Will we meet tomorrow?” the girl spoke up.
“We could go to the country side.”
“That sounds alright, but maybe we could go to the Louvre. I haven’t seen it
all yet.”
“Or maybe Versailles?”
“I don’t really care. I just want to be with you.”
The girl blushed again. The resulting silence between the boy and the girl
was only emphasized by the playful sounds coming from the other couples. The girl
drank her wine and looked again at the soft lights.
“I really want to be with you,” the boy spoke.
“The lanterns really are a beautiful shade of gold,” the girl responded.
The boy almost spoke, but the young waitress came over to the table.
“Quel est votre ordre?” the waitress asked.
“We’ll both have the steak frites.”
She went on to another table. The girl drank her wine heavily. The boy put
down his glass.
“I really want this.”
“Is it normal to act this fast?”
“My belle, it is never too fast.”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“I think you are beautiful.”
“But what about the future?”
The waitress set their dinner on the table and filled the girl’s empty wine
glass.
“I’m glad you ordered for me,” the girl spoke. “I’ve never had this before.”
She drank more wine.
“I want us to be closer. I love you,” the boy whispered.
“Well…”
“There is nothing to worry about.”
The girl drank more wine.
“I only want you to be happy.”
“I want you to be happy too,” the girl said.
Her voice was slightly slurred from the wine.
“We’ll both be happier.”
The girl and the boy continued to eat in the light of the city. The waitress
hovered over the table to quickly fill the girl’s glass.
“I will,” the girl suddenly spoke.
The lantern’s golden light flickered.
“We both want this.”
“Okay,” she said.
Her words were strung together with wine.
Silence again rested between the boy and girl. In the crowded café it sounded
like a final plea of self-control. The amber light wavered. The girl’s face was red.
“So you’ll come back across the river with me.”
“Yes.”
As the boy and girl departed, the summer air picked up, and the closest
golden lantern sputtered and went out. The girl didn’t even notice. The boy didn’t
even care.