The Kiss

by Priscilla A. Kipp

When you are just standing there watching two people kiss, you have time to think. When they go on kissing, and on and on, you have more time to think. And notice things, like all the people here in this airport who are also watching them kiss. These kissers are your son and his girlfriend. The people are smiling, laughing, nudging each other. Look, look, young lovers! Of course the kissers don't notice the people, they don't notice you, they don't notice anybody but each other. She is on her toes, her arms around his neck. He is leaning down into her face. Their faces are stuck together. How can they breathe? You were smiling, and smiling some more, but then your smile got tired and the next thing you know, you are sighing, a big sound that you hope no one else heard. What kind of a mother would you be, heaving long sighs like that into the air while your son, your baby, shows you how much he loves this girl?

You keep your eyes on them not so much because you want to watch them kissing, but because you want to catch his eye, so that he will see you standing there waiting, his mother. You have not seen him in a long time either. You want to run and hug him too, but there is no room for that, you can see that. And what kind of mother would you look like, rushing in with the girlfriend? She is young, beautiful, in love with your son. You only gave him life. Now you are getting old and slow, and you couldn't keep up with the girlfriend even if you tried. Why would you try? You have done a good job of raising your son. He is strong and handsome and lovable. You are done. It is her turn. Thank God you are old and can relax. Spend your time doing what you want to do. Like looking at your photographs. There he is as a baby, a little boy, a bigger boy. How did he grow up so fast?

They are still kissing. People now are moving around them, life goes on, no time to stop and watch the kissers. You are still waiting. Where would you go? You came to the airport with the girlfriend to meet his plane. You are there to bring him—excuse me, them—home. You just have to wait until they stop kissing. Until he sees you there waiting. But he can't take his eyes off her. You raise your hand. Hello! Hello! You call to him. He starts to move toward you but then he stops like he has forgotten something. They start kissing again. You laugh out loud, a little laugh, a little louder than your sigh. You know they won't hear you. They have forgotten you are here.

Of course! Your smile comes back. You feel lighter, invisible. You are just one of the people watching. Now you blow the kissers one of your own, a little one from your lips to your fingertips to the air, as you smile and disappear.

© 2008 Night Train and respective authors/email support AT nighttrainmagazine.com