By: Lisa Anne Hetu
Disclaimer: Alan Doyle is a member of Great Big Sea, and I used his name as the male
character in this story because he wrote the song. Anne is my middle name, used as the
female character in this story. I'm not making money off this story and the idea is
completely stolen from GBS's song; I'm using the song without permission. Please don't sue.
Petty Harbour is a small town, not far from St. John's. It is a peaceful and friendly
place; everyone who lives there knows just about everyone else. It's easy to get to
know people in Petty Harbour because everything stays securely between the
surrounding mountains. Petty Harbour is a community all to itself. It's a beautiful
place, with many docks and perfect views of the ocean. Waterfronts are especially
pretty; they are a common place for the locals to walk with a loved one. It's in Petty
Harbour that the story of two people came to life...
Two figures walked arm in arm across the rocky waterfront. In the small town
of Petty Harbour everyone knew them well. Anne and Alan had been dating for quite
some time now; every day they'd come out here just to be together. Anne rested her
head on Alan's chest and they stood out on a jetty, staring out at the ocean. Slowly,
Anne lifted her head and smiled up at Alan who smiled back. "I love being out here
with you," she said, "I know we'll always be together."
Alan ran his fingers gently through Anne's soft hair, then kissed her gently on
the forehead. "Of course we will" he replied.
That was two years ago, but oh how things can change over a short period of
time. Now, Anne and Alan went their own ways; slowly they had stopped seeing each
other. Both Anne and Alan often pondered the situation, but neither of them knew
exactly what had happened. They both were still debating their true feelings as well.
Yes, although they saw precious little of each other, they were always thinking of one
another.
Anne walked down the winding street, carrying a small paper bag from the
grocery store in one arm and her purse draped over the opposite shoulder. The
September breeze whisped by; it was calm and cool. The same breeze dashed past
Alan, who was not too far away. Even after Anne had stopped taking walks with him
by the docks, he still walked alone down that street, occasionally walking back to the
jetty where he would sit awhile and remember the past as he stared at the rippling
water. Today, Alan didn't make it to the jetty.
Anne came walking down the street, and Alan from the opposite direction.
Each of them noticed the other in turn and slowed their pace until they were standing
in front of each other. Neither of them knew what to say; they both stood there, staring
at each other, wondering what the other would say. "It's a cold day for September"
Alan said, regretting it immediately.
Anne stared blankly at Alan, and said nothing. Alan waited for Anne to say
something ... anything. Something had changed between them, but they weren't sure
what. It had happened so gradually that both Alan and Anne had been oblivious of the
change.
Alan remembered a time when he and Anne talked about everything, good or
bad; it seemed to him, only days before. Now Alan could only look upon the woman
he thought he once knew. It seemed as if everything possible to be said to her had
already been spoken. Everything he had ever said to her, all of a sudden, seemed
lost; it all seemed to have been left behind in the past.
Anne wondered why Alan had greeted her by commenting on the weather.
Had their relationship been so utterly crushed that he had nothing better to say? Anne
looked away for a split second realizing she herself could find nothing better to say to
him. When her eyes reconnected with his, Anne decided there was only one thing
she could say. "It calls for rain this afternoon" she finally replied.
The two just stood there, looking unto the other, and not knowing what to say.
The silence was complete; not even the wind dared to blow anymore. There seemed
to be no words worth speaking, no matter which of them spoke. Right now, words
were meaningless. It was like everything that had been said and done had been
erased from their past, but remained in their minds.
Anne looked sorrily at Alan as she knew something had to be said to end it all.
She took a breath of fresh air, and said "Alan, there just isn't anything left for us. I
don't know what else there is to say."
Alan looked at the ground. "I guess that's it then" he said sadly, and paused
before adding "I'll see you around some day."
"Take care of yourself" said Anne.
The two just looked into each other's eyes for the last time, then with a
sorrowful expression, continued each on their way.
When Anne got home, she put her groceries and purse on the kitchen table,
and went into her bedroom. Anne gently picked up Alan's picture that stood on her
bedside table, sat on her bed, and looked sadly upon his smiling face. Anne was
sorry for what had happened, but she knew they couldn't hold on forever; they each
had to let go, even if no one was at fault. Anne sighed and placed the photo in a
drawer. "Good-bye Alan" she muttered to herself.
Alan stood on the dock, sad and alone. The wind whisped through his hair.
He looked at his rippling reflection in the water and visualized Anne standing beside
him. No, Anne is gone, he thought. Their relationship was over; the only way to stop
the pain was to move on. Still, Alan was confused; then, a sailor from the dock
happened by. "Whaddya at?" he said, "Say aren't you buddy that used to come here
all the time with wasser-name?"
"Yes, but we're not together anymore" Alan said sadly.
"That's a shame, I'm sorry lad" said the sailor, and he went on his way.
Alan stood on the dock wondering for minutes after the sailor had left. Being
alone, with only the wind to hear his thoughts, Alan said out-loud to himself "Anne...
how did we get from saying 'I love you' to 'I'll see you around someday'?"
THE END
