Merle

Sebine

I felt ready, as I sat kind of laughing at myself but also seriously thinking about what scares me most. My bottle of Markham Vineyards Merlot, soothes my wet throat with her dryness. She is a wine that thinks highly of herself, I thought, chuckling a bit. My cigarette burned as I thought to myself again, about blackbirds this time. Not a new subject for me, they peak my interest. The male and female blackbird are likely to both attack if threatened by a presence. I live in a world where that means the male is to be praised. He’s been trained and he listens, a lonely female can be a very troublesome thing. I take a sip of my wine, granted, like I deserved it. I had taken this sip down with poise. Me being so clever and all, I scroll down my feed.

“Okay, that’s hilarious” I say for the pretty wind to hear.

I come across a beautiful chocolate man. The whole room fills with what feels like a starry night. My simple emotions grow to complex feelings. It appeared that he might just suit me. Truly heightening my curiosity because, he answered all my questions. Questions I didn’t ask that is, leaving me, a female blackbird ready to mate. I sit with myself and prepare to send him a private message. I think back to my thoughts about how male blackbirds listen to their female companions. I lay myself down for a nap under the moonlight sky, I’m so ready, so clever too.

Anthony

One breath two breaths, I hear a ding on my phone. I get up and struggle to put on my pants. I am really not ready for this, I think to myself. My thoughts are loud today, I am also thinking about the wine and how much money I should bring. I remind myself that this lovely woman has allowed me to notice her. I imagined her pretty face being lit up by the sunset. First dates are supposed to be sweet and I’m aiming to insure that that is what we get. Before I can think of everything that can go wrong, I give her a call.

“Hey, are you dressed? I was hoping if you weren’t maybe I could wait outside. Is that okay with you?” I say, attempting to hide my nerves.

“Yes, that is fine with me. I am bringing the wine, it’s my favorite” She says sounding very approachable.

As I try to relax a bit I practically spit out that it’s good that she bought us wine. Okay, good I had said, I then hung up after thanking her. In attempts to not prolong the time, I grab my wheel. I wish I could escape my thoughts and get out of my head a bit. However, driving only forces more of my thinking. I was excited to see her, more so, I was anxious to meet her perception of me. In whatever way that me manifested, that is. I watched as some black birds went by and glanced as long as I could in awe. When I came upon a red light, I googled what it could mean when blackbirds gather. I am a male blackbird, I thought again.

Getting to her was easy, I watch her walk out and stunning as ever ask me to wait a bit longer.

Elizabeth

I think it’s funny how men always forget the cleverness of a woman. I knew Anthony would’ve forgotten the wine had I not taken it upon myself. I also knew Anthony wasn’t my type but, I was impressed by him.

I sit next to him and I can’t help but notice how wonderful he smells. He is so handsome, as well.

I perk up and ask “do you like, Merlot? This is Markham Vineyards” I show him the not so expensive bottle.

He responds, “yes actually I do, thank you. I appreciate the subtle tones of espresso and vanilla oak”

Anthony

I feel the sand beneath my tired feet. This date happened to be right after a work shift. I came anyways, I wanted to be here. As I played with the sand inbetween my toes, I reminded myself of that. I look up and watch her hair as it flirts with the wind. I’m no longer anxious, not at all.

“You know Merlot has many great health benefits” I say. Remembering that it’s her favorite wine.

“Oh yeah, I heard that too” she says dryly.

She seemed unsure, like she didn’t know the wine as much as she first appeared to. I think to myself that I might just be nitpicking.

Elizabeth

Merlot is rich in antioxidants, the wine reduces the risk of cancer, and also keeps your memory sharp. My memory is well enough to remember how weird his man sandals were before he took them off. My thinking gets cut short as I rummage through my picnic basket. Realizing I had forgotten the other wine glass, I quickly turn to my date.

“Oh gosh!” I start to speak fast and lose myself. “I’m so sorry, Anthony. You must excuse me, I have forgotten a wine glass for myself. A friend of mine lives in one of these beach houses, please don’t trouble yourself. I’ll go grab another glass”

I get up and walk away fast enough to catch the sense that left. This date sucks, this guy sucks. As I’m cursing the day in my head, I note. That I, Elizabeth, am not like the female blackbird.

I can feel my feet burning as the hot sand marries with my skin. I approach my friends lonely beach house.

Sebine

I pause my movie, wondering why I’m left so shaken. Seeing as tires do not kill and that alone should’ve been reassuring. I text my friend, who I know is on a date. My goal is to fill my day with more conversation about blackbirds. I figure she’ll make the time, I think deviously. I will have also successfully captured single and all the while more astute.

I hear a knock on my door as I am brazenly devouring homemade pizza.

“Give you what?” I ask Elizabeth who ran away from her date.

“Another glass of wine” she says laughing at herself.

“You’re full of it” I spit out, giggling to her. I let her in and jump to inquire about her date. Before I ask, I’m left wondering to myself about the guy I private messaged, the night before. He begins to cross my mind. I think about all the dates I’d demand to have with him.

“So what’s he like?” I ask

“Man sandals but like owns it” she said then, smiles big to herself.

While listening, I watched her leave the whole day behind and spend some time with herself instead. She continued to think of what she could say about her date. She couldn’t think of anything to say, anything nice, that is.

She turns to me with pizza in her mouth.

“He isn’t my pillow and I really want a guy who’s like my pillow”

My days are always very fun-ish but when a movie about a murderous tire is your highlight. It is safe to say you are free to pick things up a bit. I let my hair down and put on a pretty dress. I watched the waves crash and thought more about my favorite birds. In a dream they could represent lust but, they are experts at monogamy.

“How sweet” I said aloud, with only the wind to reply.

I held the wine glass tighter in my hand causing my palm to sweat. I got that starry night feeling again. Almost like an entire decorated night sky fell upon me. The waves kept punching against the shore and my stomach turned into knots. I raise my hand and move it with the water in mind. There wasn’t much to register but his beautiful chocolate skin.

Anthony

Wow- My glazing at the sun gets interrupted. It was my phone, the text reads “Family emergency!”. Still all I can think is wow, pigeons are no where near as annoying as the beaming sun.

Sebine

I remembered my lines and opened my mouth to properly deliver them.

“Hello, my name is Sebine. You’re Anthony, right?” Before he could answer, I continue. “Elizabeth asked me to come in her place. She had a family emergency to attend to and didn’t want you to sit alone.” Still speaking so quickly, my mouth opens again. “A glass of Merlot by the beach, as per your date plans, is this okay with you?” I quickly hand him the empty wine glass and attempt to pour the Markham Vineyards Merlot, as gracefully as possible.

Anthony

I’m finding that my mind is quiet. I search myself for more random facts about Merlot. All I can muster is “yes, thank you. I’d love a glass of wine with you”

That’s good, Anthony. Keep smiling too, you’re fine. As I grin ear to ear at this site to see, she speaks again.

Sebine

“Do- I mean did you know Merle, the French word for The Blackbird. Is something of a cousin word for Merlot?”