text: Love and fate, those two intercoursing powers that shape whole lives and destinies, must have been at work when they met. Julian, with his eyes as piercing as a falcon’s, and Judy, as genteel as a flower. They had both been invited to one of those societal parties in which members of the arts are wants to gather and mingle with bourgeois, and vise versa, to give themselves more notoriety, or to distract themselves from their own mediocrity. How was it that it happened? A passing glance? A nervous greeting? Or a chance encounter as the passed by? How mysterious it is for two souls, thrown into the world as it were, to come together, out of all other people. Regardless, after that night, the two of them were inseparable, scarcely being apart from each other for more than an hour in the day. So attached were they that they were seen as a single entity, with arms wrapped around each other’s waists and shoulders, walking in unison. Julian was the taller, and Judy would look up at him, wide-eyed as a doe, smiling. This smile of hers would be enough to send him into all manners of boasts and bravery and he would puff out his chest like a strutting rooster. And this gave Judy the happiness that is singular to a woman, of having a man such as him all to herself. Their nights were spent in a passion, in which their love manifested itself into sculpted physicality. For whole months they lived a lifetime of happiness. Marriage had been discussed and a date set, and in April they were married. This did not encumber their love. On the contrary, their marriage had only tempered their love and made it stronger. They developed almost a new language, one that only they could know and would refer to one another, not by names, but by monikers of love. But after a month of matrimony and lawful passion, a change came over Judy. At first she didn’t know what it was herself, or why it was taking place within her. She grew quieter, and her eyes became sadder. Julian noticed this, and would ask, “What is it, my little love droplet, that has you so crestfallen?” But Judy could only respond, “I do not know, my proud rooster. A gloom has fallen over me.” Judy became less affectionate, more contemplative and melancholic. This both concerned and annoyed Julian. “Come now, darling, you must stop this. Whatever it is I must do, you know I will.” She was hesitant, almost frightened at what she should say. At last she spoke. “Well, perhaps things have become a little too expected. That’s not to say dull, but maybe just a tad humdrum.” “Well, my dear,” Julian said assuringly, “how shall I un-humdrum it then?” “I would like--that is, if you were to agree--to have a picnic in the country.” Julian, taken in by her feminine whims, thought the ideal marvelous, and the next day set about making preparations. He ordered a carriage, a fine carriage, to drive them out of the city and into the surrounding countryside, and had a restaurant prepare for them a nice basket of sandwiches, cakes, and wine. The day was sunny and warm, with a cool breeze. Tufts of white clouds floated gently in the blue sky above. The country was lush with greenery and birds could be heard singing merrily in the trees. The driver of the carriage was up front, controlling the two horses, while Julian and Judy were nestled in a blanket in the back, admiring the scenic view. “Look! A fox,” Judy called out and pointed. There were two foxes, playfully running and chasing each other, pouncing and jumping around. “Where would you like to stop, sir?” asked the driver. “A little ways more,” Julian replied. As they went along they came to a lake where a man and a boy were fishing on a boat. This picturesque sight charmed Judy, but Julian thought it inconvenient that someone else should be so close to them and ordered the driver to keep going. Then a splash was heard, followed by a cry. “Papa! Someone, help!” All three in the carriage, their attention grabbed so, saw that the man had fallen out of the boat and was flailing about in the water. Judy became terrified. “Julian, you must help him!” But Julian only blinked at her. “There is already enough trouble without my being involved.” Judy was appalled by this cowardice. The drive had already dismounted the carriage and was running over to the drowning man’s aid. He jumped into the lake and swam to him. He helped the man out of the water and back into the boat, where he and his son thanked him. “Now, you see? It was all a to do about nothing,” said Julian. The driver, wet from head to toe, walked back to the carriage. Judy offered him their blanket, much to the protests of Julian, who insisted they continue their drive immediately. “No, I don’t think I want to now. I would rather go home,” Judy said. “Are you mad?” Julian nearly shouted. “I have paid good money for this. It was, after all, your ideal!” But Judy was unyielding. Julian ordered the driver to take them back, foregoing the picnic. They didn’t speak a word more to one another the entire time.