Oblivion, Population +1

A short, unfinished story inspired by a friend's remark. Please know though this isn't a blog about YOU my friend - that will come later.

Dear Friend,

I'm sitting here in Oblivion, waiting for you to show up. You're a day late and I imagine there is a reason for that. You probably had to stop and call a past girlfriend's father and wish him health. Maybe you spent extra time listening to a friend's story, the same one they told you yesterday. That's you, putting other people first, making me wait here for you.

There are many different people here in Oblivion. That seems kind of oxymoronic don't you think? I assumed everyone in this town would be the same; kind of spectral-like, nothings, bland. People you wouldn't miss because they were people you didn't notice in the first place.

Oblivion, as a town goes, seems pretty average, maybe a little boring. Oh, there's the grocery store, movie theater, gas station, car dealer, beauty salon, a bar or two, some places of worship; just your typical all-American little town. Don't get me wrong here, people in Oblivion don't lack for any of the amenities of the big city, there are just fewer of them.

Oblivionions get up every day and go to their jobs, swiping groceries to the beep, beep, beep of the electronic check-out, pushing the movie ticket out the glassed in window, ringing up your gas. Texting each other about the slow stop light at 10th and Main, and how they are going to be late to the jello pot luck because of it. Giving you a half wave, by rote saying "have a nice day" each and every time they pass you, even if it's five times a day.

Telling you to have a 'nice day' is just silly. All the days are nice in Oblivion. The weather hovers around 70 degrees, an imperceptible breeze blows just a tiny bit and it only rains enough to keep the grass greener on the other side. Even the 1 day winter season is mild in comparison to other cities.

Some people came to Oblivion by choice. Others were forced here in some dramatic relocation to avoid the fame and notoriety they gained in other cities. The majority though, sort of sunk into Oblivion, cushioned by the dreams they gave up to reside here.

While I sat in the station awaiting your arrival, I watched people who came from California, Indiana, Florida and New York. Each one stepped down and looked wide eyed, then disappointed at the city of Oblivion. Every one of them said the same thing "It's just like Crescent City (like Greensburg), (like Wauchula), (like Malone) - I could have stayed home!"

Some of them just sat in the station, stunned. I approached a few and asked them what they had expected Oblivion to be like. The California mom said she thought it would be darker. The Indiana engineer said he thought it would be more comforting, that it would have made him feel safe. I had to laugh when the Florida teen said she thought it would be "chillaxin', like no pressure man, sort of like floating in the ocean." She was very surprised that Oblivion would require her to finish school and get a job.

The station master asked everyone to check their dreams and, if formerly famous, any little statuettes with the Oblivion's good will ambassador. I had your dream in my purse, and tried to give it to the GWA but she wouldn't take it from me. "Dreams can only be checked by the dreamer," she said. "We do sometimes take the little statuettes from agents because the formerly famous are in denial about being here," then she winked at me. Did she think I was moving to Oblivion? Didn't she know I was just there waiting for you?