He/She: Lovingly Describing Some Male/Female Differences

In our Writing Workshop, we decided to practice writing a brief narrative from the point of view of an anonymous narrator going into the minds of two characters.

Here is my narrative, exploring the male/female differences in awareness.

He and She

The couple walk into Biaggi’s Restaurant in Madison, WI., and wait to be seated. He is in his mid-40’s, with an athletic build, trim, a closely-shaved head, wearing wire-rimmed glasses. She is in her mid-30’s, slim, with long, black hair, dark eyes, and a pretty face with high cheekbones.

When they are seated, the Host hands them the menus, and he orders a cup of coffee, and she is not sure what she wants.

He quickly scans the menu and selects the Eggplant Parmesan.

She looks around the restaurant, noticing how the cream-colored curtains match the brown napkins and beige tablecloths. 

He sips his coffee and looks at the overhead flat-screen snowing a football game, and he sees that five minutes remain in the third quarter: Packers 14, Bears 10.

She looks at the young couple sitting nearby and admires her hair, and the way her orange earrings match her orange camisole underneath her white blouse. She observes that they are very much into each other.

The waiter returns and asks if they are ready to order, and she says, “I haven’t looked at the menu, yet, but I will have a cup of coffee.” 

He checks his cell phone for messages during commercials.

She notices that an older couple at the table to their left are not having a good time, their faces impassive. They are hardly talking.

Finally, she looks at the menu and tries to make a decision between the Butternut Squash Ravioli and the Quattro Formaggi Tortelloni.

“So, I see the Packers are winning,” she says.

He smiles, nodding his head.

“I think this coffee tastes funny, what do you think?” she asks.

“I didn’t notice,” he said.

It is as if he walked in wearing a headlamp, focusing on one thing at a time; while she walked in holding a candle, softly illuminating the entire room, giving her diffuse awareness.

He looks at her and smiles, recognizing their differences, and says, clicking his cup on hers, “Prost,” remembering this line from a poem by Andy Petro:

When I highlight our Oneness
And celebrate our differences
I experience unconditional love.

She nods her head, smiles, and says, “Namaste.”