Settled deeply in large striped chair, I like to look about me . From my spot, outside the window I can see the side of the large cheesecake place, and a silver minivan gliding by on the street. And I can watch the snowflakes travel slowly to the ground below. Second story windows are the best.1
Inside, there are rows of bookshelves, neatly and artistically arranged for your shopping pleasure. I curl my legs beneath me on the big armchair, and watch as a well-dressed, grandmotherly sort of lady makes her way down the aisle. Seeing me, she seems to slow and become hesitant, so I turn my eyes back to the book I'm "reading". Out of the corner of my eye, I see her scan the area again, then mount the second shelf to reach a book at the top. The thought of this lady climbing bookshelves in the Gardening section seems amusing, and I hold down a giggle until she's retrieved her prize and skittered off, quite satisfied that "no one noticed". 2
A short time later, there's another girl. This one teenage and bedecked in clothes that seem to me, overly pink and frilly. She's the "teen queen" sort, with her perfect hair, perfect make-up, perfect figure. She probably has her toenails professionally french manicured. You get the idea; she's the type of girl that will stop at nothing to look impressive, all the time. What you don't notice about these girls is how they are when "no body's around". Quickly, the teen queen in question starts to adjust a bra that seems to have become quite twisted. And once again, I hold my head and laughter down until she's finished her task and scampered off.3
One might ask why I notice these things. I am a Wallflower. An elite watcher with a fascination for what you, the common person, might be doing when you don't think a soul is looking. If listening is better than talking, then watching is at least somewhere between that. Yes, my head is down, but whose to say that a certain pair of eyes aren't turned, scanning you as they crowd at their corners?4
And I see you when you least expect it. Yes, you, Abercrombie model girl, I saw you pick that wedgie in the Study Aides. And you, tall guy in the bright red letterman jacket and sweatpants, I saw you fishing in your nose. Could you not wipe your finger on any books next time?5
Pushing out of my cushy chair, I walk slowly, unseen between the bookshelves. I see the thin, dark-haired lady frowning in the Cookbook section. I see the large, black man smiling nervously as he flips through cheesy romances, for his wife/mother/aunt/sister of course. I see the bedraggled lady with the stringy blonde hair sigh at her two toddlers as they swing to-and-fro on her over-sized tee-shirt. 6
I see you all. The young and the old, the suave and the clumsy. People of all colors, backgrounds, sizes, and walks of life. Next time you're walking about the mall, and you don't think any body's watching, think again.7
Because I'm the Wallflower, and I saw that!8
Author notes
Uh, boredom. Much boredom.
Written on things I actually have seen, while I actually was sitting in "my chair" (yes, mine) at Barnes and Noble. Mayhap it comes from having nothing better to do, but I love watching people. It's amazing what another human will do when they don't know you're watching. Try it sometime 
That said, I dunno how entertaining this is to a reader, so feedback would really be appreciated. And relied to, of course. Thanks for reading,
Amanda
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
-
Haha, I thought I was the only one that did that as well. And, judging by the comments I've gotten, apparently I was very wrong. Thanks for the comment,
Amanda -
hmmm.. very entertaining indeed. I thought it was only me out doing that sort of things
apparently not.
great story,
FallenLeaves
-
lol, yeah, it's kinda like that. Cemetary walking and wallflowering, are we exciting people? Anyways, thanks for that comment there dear, and I"ll be getting those points to you soon. You owe me though
Love ya,
Amanda -
haha manda this was great..especially the warnings to the preppy girls and guys..lol yeah, I've also seen many things that people have not wanted me to.. like, a happy couple walking along, and the girl is so involved in her never-ending part of the conversation that she didn't realize that her boytoy was checking out some other girl's butt. yeah you know who you are... ehh heh... I saw you! lol, yes manda, you and I are both expert wallflowers.. I do think that your boredom produces some great pieces though hon. lylas!
luve,
hilary xoxo -
Haha, well, we all have our reasons for keeping our eyes open I bet. Nice of you to comment, I"m glad you like the story,
Amanda -
That was good. I love to sit in the back where nobody can see me. And plus I can see everybody and see if theyre staring at me because one time some one was sitting behind be in my class and kinda of....with his nose, and my hair....it was nasty. So i get hesitant about that stuff...lol it was great tho.
-
lol, I can't drive because...I can't. I am however, pretty good at getting rides lol.
-
Yeah, there's one about ten minutes away, but I can't drive yet 'cause I'm a bum lol.
-
Hey, giftcard, free books. Cool. I just got one last night in fact, which means, another trip to the bookstore for me. .
Maybe you'll get out there sometime soon lol. -
Ahhhh, gotcha. I haven't been to Barnes and Noble in ages, which is silly because I have a giftcard from Christmas for it that I need to use.
-
-BlackKnight- Hm, Wallflower how I meant it would be someone who just sort of blended in. Isn't really noticed all that much, stays separate from the crowds, kind of like they're part of the walls. See?
More fellow people-watchers. Like I've said, great way to pass the time. Watching people in groups is fun too, but this time I happened to be off in a far little corner, in "my" chair, and so didn't see much of a group. At any rate, thanks much for the comment, how sweet of you to notice my little story
Amanda -
Touche lol, the Wallflower never said she would mind being noticed. I like your little addition
Ha, B&N is a great place to spend the time. Especially the one I go to, with two stories of madness, and great comfortable chairs. And plenty of odd people of course. Spent hours there the other day. And appparently I'm not the only one that does that.
Thanks for the comment(s),
Amanda -
What exactly is a "Wallflower"? That's about the only real piece of criticism I have for this, 'cause it's hard to criticize writes that come from boredom, but are written such that it looks like the person actually thought about what they were writing. Or something. Anyway, I like people-watching too; it's fun stuff. I don't bother with watching people do stuff when they think nobody's around; I prefer to study a crowd to see just what kinds of nuts may be wandering around, be it people ranging from having huge 'fros to looking or acting just play goofy.
-
What can I say.. I usually spend at least 2 hours roaming in the early hours at B&N. An hour in the foreign music section and another hour reading the preface on every book that catches my attention. I don't think I would notice you because I'm always so intrigued with what I find. Unless-..
TTH contemplates revenge
-Out of the corner of my eye I take quick glances at the people sitting down, sipping on the warm lattes and reading news paper. Carefully studying their moves, catching every glance. And then, ha! There you are! I have found you. The wallfower that looks at people mercylessly! She looks, and looks. Finds the woman that is reading a romantic novel and sheds a tear and sobs, thinking about her love affair she had as a young maiden, then she scratches her head.. Wondering why she didn't stay with that young stud! She's now gained 20 pounds and gravity has taken it's toll on her soft pale skin. Beware the Wallflower..
The girl who looks mercylessly with eyes of wonder,
the daydreamer who cought you picking your nose pre-ty princess. She has, as of today met the most clueless guy, yes, he cries when he reads Nicholas Sparks! The guy that reads even when Barnes & Noble has closed it's doors and glently is escorted out of the store by a clerk who hopes him never to comeback! Beware the Wallflower. To be continued...
Edited on Feb 18, 11:53 p.m. because 'typo'.
-
lmao, it's artistic license. I don't actually go out looking for this stuff. I'm just loserly and blend in, and happen to catch a lot of it.
Besides that, I'll take the creepy thing as a comment. It was supposed to be
And that's exactly it. People do hilarious and embarassing things when they don't know you're looking. If you happen to catch that, it ends up one of those things you love to think on.
Thanks for the comment hon. You're, so far, the only person I know who gets credit for first and second comment gold star for you.
Amanda -
This reminds me of the phrase "a fly on the wall." People seem to think you miss a lot when you slump in a corner and just watch. But that's when you really get to see how people act. When they think they aren't being watched, they act completely different. How many girls will adjust a bra while someone is watching? I think, by not existing, you really get to see how people think and act.
Now that I said the good stuff, I'll say the bad stuff. Amanda, that's really creepy.
-
lol, makes me feel all special.
-
I'll have a comment up later, i just wanted to have the first
Adding your comment:
1 - 18 of 18
