Poem: "Proximity Leads to Intimacy"
This poem is spillover from the November 3, 2020 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette. It also fills the "proximity sense" square in my 11-1-20 card for the Sense-Ability Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the Calliope thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
"Proximity Leads to Intimacy"
[Friday, June 6, 2014]
Calliope ignored the bond
as much she could, but it
was always there, nagging
at the back of her mind.
When she hadn't spent
enough time with Vagary,
it turned from a faint tug
into a sullen ache.
She always had
a sense of proximity
or distance now, that
told her about Vagary
moving through the world.
When the two of them met
with their therapist, Mr. Gallagar
encouraged them to talk about it.
"I'll take what I can get," Vagary said.
"I try not to need too much. People
don't like it when I get too clingy."
"The bond needs what it needs,
and so do you," said Mr. Gallagar.
"Calliope's needs are just as valid, so
the challenge lies in balancing them."
"Easier said than done," she muttered.
"We need to spend more time together,
or at least nearby, so that the bond
will settle down more," said Vagary.
"Otherwise we'll just keep tripping over
each other, and that's not what I want.
I don't think it's what you want, either."
"Point," Calliope said. "I just don't
like having to spend so much time
on this utter mess of a situation."
"It's how love works," Vagary said.
"Proximity leads to intimacy, and
intimacy leads to a relationship.
When people spend a lot of time
around each other, then they tend
to get close and end up hooking up."
"Wise words," said Mr. Gallagar.
"All relationships take time"
"We are not in a relationship,"
Calliope said, shaking her head.
"I know, and that's the problem,"
Vagary said. "We need to build
something constructive, not
keep yanking back and forth."
"So you keep harping on how
we need proximity," said Calliope.
"It's funny how much of childhood
is about proximity," said Vagary.
"Like who your best friend is, that
is directly correlated to how close
your houses are; who you sit next
to in music is all about how close
your names are in the alphabet.
It's all such a game of chance."
Calliope thought about the friends
she had grown up with, especially from
the Chickasaw Language Immersion Camps.
"Okay, you have a point there," she said.
"Let's think about ways for you two
to spend more time near each other
without tangling," said Mr. Gallagar.
"Maybe work days or volunteer projects
or something like that," Calliope said.
"It has to be something legal, though."
Vagary gives her a kicked-puppy look.
"I wouldn't ask you to illegal events."
"Gently, please," said Mr. Gallagar.
"We're trying to build connections,
here, not tear each other down."
"Yeah, well, that'd be a lot easier
if I could be around Vagary without
having to be with him," Calliope said.
"I may have an idea for that," Vagary said.
"If it will help settle the bond without
wasting massive amounts of time or
encouraging us to kill each other,
I'd like to hear it," Calliope said.
"I have a campervan," said Vagary.
"Right now it's in Britannia, but I could
get a cargo teleporter to bring it here."
"How does that help?" Calliope said.
"Unless you just need it to get around."
"If I park in your driveway, then we'd
be close but you wouldn't have
to see me much," Vagary said,
staring down at his knees.
Calliope instantly saw
the potential. "Okay, that
could work," she said. "But
what about coming and going,
or if we need to do other things?"
"I'll move my campervan any time
you ask me to," Vagary said. "If you
want me to bug out for a while, I can
check for RV campgrounds nearby."
"I believe that the closest ones are
Lake Carl Blackwell to the west of town
and the Payne County Expo Center to
the east of town," said Mr. Gallagar.
"Thanks for the tip," Vagary said,
making a note on his smartphone.
"I'll check out both locations."
"Bring your campervan to
my place, and we'll see if this
works out," Calliope said.
"Your idea is worth trying."
"Thanks," said Vagary. "I'll
get a lift as soon as I can."
He got it later that day, in fact,
and while Calliope did not condone
his politics, even she had to admire
the efficiency of supervillains.
When she heard the whump!
in the driveway, she came out
to look at the campervan.
It was white with black trim
and it had a sliding door
on the left side as well as
two doors at the back.
"Would you like to see
inside it?" Vagary offered.
"Sure," Calliope said. "I'm
curious about the layout."
She'd seen campervans before,
some better designed than others;
it would be interesting to see
what Vagary had chosen.
He opened the side door
and ushered Calliope inside.
Directly across from the door
was the kitchenette with cabinets
and drawers, a basin, and a stove
with two burners and an oven.
"The minifridge is behind
the cabinet under the basin,"
Vagary said, showing it off.
To the left was the cockpit with
a tiny table between the seats.
Something about it itched at her.
"Why does your dashboard look
funny?" Calliope wondered.
"It's adjustable," Vagary said.
"I can disengage the steering
and push it over to switch sides."
"An impressive feat of engineering,
and convenient for a world traveler,"
Calliope said. "That suits you."
To the right lay the bed, which
had a storage space underneath.
Vagary tapped the padded bench
that stood along the wall by the foot
of the bed. "I have a composting toilet
hidden under here," he explained."
"That's convenient," said Calliope,
thinking of how it meant he wouldn't
need to borrow her bathroom.
"Yeah, I've stayed in campers
without that, and it's not my idea
of a good time," Vagary said.
Calliope turned in place,
admiring the decorations.
Most of the interior was done
in warm caramel wood, but
the kitchenette and the cabinet
under the bed were soft blue-gray.
"It's beautiful," she said. "It suits you."
There was a square light overhead,
and a smaller spotlight over the bed.
"Can you run electric lights without
draining your battery too much?"
"If I'm frugal about it, yes,"
said Vagary. "It's easier when
I have an outlet available; then I
don't have to be so careful."
"You could run a line," she said.
"The garage has outlets. I don't
mind sharing as long as you
chip in for the power bill."
"Deal," Vagary said,
and they shook on it.
"I'm turning in for the night,"
Calliope said then. "Thanks
for showing me your campervan."
"You're welcome," said Vagary.
"Thanks for letting me park here."
When Calliope made her way
to bed, she felt more relaxed
than she had expected to.
Her proximity sense told her
that Vagary was right outside,
but he was staying put and
thus wouldn't come bother her.
She was surprisingly okay with that.
* * *
Notes:
"How love works: Proximity leads to intimacy, and intimacy leads to a relationship. In other words, people who are around each other a lot, get close, and end up hooking up."
-- Oliver Gaspirtz
"It's funny how much of childhood is about proximity. Like who your best friend is is directly correlated to how close your houses are; who you sit next to in music is all about how close your names are in the alphabet. Such a game of chance."
-- Jenny Han
Vagary drives a white campervan.
The cockpit actually has an adjustable dashboard, so the steering can go on either side. (To shift position: disengage the drive shaft, remove the smooth cover from the current passenger side dashboard, slide over the driver dashboard and steering wheel, engage the drive shaft, and place the smooth cover on the new passenger side.) The floor has a socket to hold a table between the seats. A curtain can separate the seats from the back of the campervan.
When not in use, the table stows on the side of the kitchenette.
The kitchenette includes drawers, cabinets, a basin, and a stove with two burners and an oven. A minifridge is concealed in a cabinet under the basin.
The left side of the campervan has a sliding door opposite the kitchenette on the right. A cabinet above the bed holds small items.
The bed fills the back of the campervan. The padded bench beside the bed conceals a composting toilet. The padded top lifts off. Underneath is the toilet which has a lid, a seat with the separator for liquid waste, and a seat left open for solid waste.
The closest RV parks to Cal's house are Lake Carl Blackwell (west of town) and the Payne County Expo Center (east of town).
See a campground map and the site where Vagary can park.
"Proximity Leads to Intimacy"
[Friday, June 6, 2014]
Calliope ignored the bond
as much she could, but it
was always there, nagging
at the back of her mind.
When she hadn't spent
enough time with Vagary,
it turned from a faint tug
into a sullen ache.
She always had
a sense of proximity
or distance now, that
told her about Vagary
moving through the world.
When the two of them met
with their therapist, Mr. Gallagar
encouraged them to talk about it.
"I'll take what I can get," Vagary said.
"I try not to need too much. People
don't like it when I get too clingy."
"The bond needs what it needs,
and so do you," said Mr. Gallagar.
"Calliope's needs are just as valid, so
the challenge lies in balancing them."
"Easier said than done," she muttered.
"We need to spend more time together,
or at least nearby, so that the bond
will settle down more," said Vagary.
"Otherwise we'll just keep tripping over
each other, and that's not what I want.
I don't think it's what you want, either."
"Point," Calliope said. "I just don't
like having to spend so much time
on this utter mess of a situation."
"It's how love works," Vagary said.
"Proximity leads to intimacy, and
intimacy leads to a relationship.
When people spend a lot of time
around each other, then they tend
to get close and end up hooking up."
"Wise words," said Mr. Gallagar.
"All relationships take time"
"We are not in a relationship,"
Calliope said, shaking her head.
"I know, and that's the problem,"
Vagary said. "We need to build
something constructive, not
keep yanking back and forth."
"So you keep harping on how
we need proximity," said Calliope.
"It's funny how much of childhood
is about proximity," said Vagary.
"Like who your best friend is, that
is directly correlated to how close
your houses are; who you sit next
to in music is all about how close
your names are in the alphabet.
It's all such a game of chance."
Calliope thought about the friends
she had grown up with, especially from
the Chickasaw Language Immersion Camps.
"Okay, you have a point there," she said.
"Let's think about ways for you two
to spend more time near each other
without tangling," said Mr. Gallagar.
"Maybe work days or volunteer projects
or something like that," Calliope said.
"It has to be something legal, though."
Vagary gives her a kicked-puppy look.
"I wouldn't ask you to illegal events."
"Gently, please," said Mr. Gallagar.
"We're trying to build connections,
here, not tear each other down."
"Yeah, well, that'd be a lot easier
if I could be around Vagary without
having to be with him," Calliope said.
"I may have an idea for that," Vagary said.
"If it will help settle the bond without
wasting massive amounts of time or
encouraging us to kill each other,
I'd like to hear it," Calliope said.
"I have a campervan," said Vagary.
"Right now it's in Britannia, but I could
get a cargo teleporter to bring it here."
"How does that help?" Calliope said.
"Unless you just need it to get around."
"If I park in your driveway, then we'd
be close but you wouldn't have
to see me much," Vagary said,
staring down at his knees.
Calliope instantly saw
the potential. "Okay, that
could work," she said. "But
what about coming and going,
or if we need to do other things?"
"I'll move my campervan any time
you ask me to," Vagary said. "If you
want me to bug out for a while, I can
check for RV campgrounds nearby."
"I believe that the closest ones are
Lake Carl Blackwell to the west of town
and the Payne County Expo Center to
the east of town," said Mr. Gallagar.
"Thanks for the tip," Vagary said,
making a note on his smartphone.
"I'll check out both locations."
"Bring your campervan to
my place, and we'll see if this
works out," Calliope said.
"Your idea is worth trying."
"Thanks," said Vagary. "I'll
get a lift as soon as I can."
He got it later that day, in fact,
and while Calliope did not condone
his politics, even she had to admire
the efficiency of supervillains.
When she heard the whump!
in the driveway, she came out
to look at the campervan.
It was white with black trim
and it had a sliding door
on the left side as well as
two doors at the back.
"Would you like to see
inside it?" Vagary offered.
"Sure," Calliope said. "I'm
curious about the layout."
She'd seen campervans before,
some better designed than others;
it would be interesting to see
what Vagary had chosen.
He opened the side door
and ushered Calliope inside.
Directly across from the door
was the kitchenette with cabinets
and drawers, a basin, and a stove
with two burners and an oven.
"The minifridge is behind
the cabinet under the basin,"
Vagary said, showing it off.
To the left was the cockpit with
a tiny table between the seats.
Something about it itched at her.
"Why does your dashboard look
funny?" Calliope wondered.
"It's adjustable," Vagary said.
"I can disengage the steering
and push it over to switch sides."
"An impressive feat of engineering,
and convenient for a world traveler,"
Calliope said. "That suits you."
To the right lay the bed, which
had a storage space underneath.
Vagary tapped the padded bench
that stood along the wall by the foot
of the bed. "I have a composting toilet
hidden under here," he explained."
"That's convenient," said Calliope,
thinking of how it meant he wouldn't
need to borrow her bathroom.
"Yeah, I've stayed in campers
without that, and it's not my idea
of a good time," Vagary said.
Calliope turned in place,
admiring the decorations.
Most of the interior was done
in warm caramel wood, but
the kitchenette and the cabinet
under the bed were soft blue-gray.
"It's beautiful," she said. "It suits you."
There was a square light overhead,
and a smaller spotlight over the bed.
"Can you run electric lights without
draining your battery too much?"
"If I'm frugal about it, yes,"
said Vagary. "It's easier when
I have an outlet available; then I
don't have to be so careful."
"You could run a line," she said.
"The garage has outlets. I don't
mind sharing as long as you
chip in for the power bill."
"Deal," Vagary said,
and they shook on it.
"I'm turning in for the night,"
Calliope said then. "Thanks
for showing me your campervan."
"You're welcome," said Vagary.
"Thanks for letting me park here."
When Calliope made her way
to bed, she felt more relaxed
than she had expected to.
Her proximity sense told her
that Vagary was right outside,
but he was staying put and
thus wouldn't come bother her.
She was surprisingly okay with that.
* * *
Notes:
"How love works: Proximity leads to intimacy, and intimacy leads to a relationship. In other words, people who are around each other a lot, get close, and end up hooking up."
-- Oliver Gaspirtz
"It's funny how much of childhood is about proximity. Like who your best friend is is directly correlated to how close your houses are; who you sit next to in music is all about how close your names are in the alphabet. Such a game of chance."
-- Jenny Han
Vagary drives a white campervan.
The cockpit actually has an adjustable dashboard, so the steering can go on either side. (To shift position: disengage the drive shaft, remove the smooth cover from the current passenger side dashboard, slide over the driver dashboard and steering wheel, engage the drive shaft, and place the smooth cover on the new passenger side.) The floor has a socket to hold a table between the seats. A curtain can separate the seats from the back of the campervan.
When not in use, the table stows on the side of the kitchenette.
The kitchenette includes drawers, cabinets, a basin, and a stove with two burners and an oven. A minifridge is concealed in a cabinet under the basin.
The left side of the campervan has a sliding door opposite the kitchenette on the right. A cabinet above the bed holds small items.
The bed fills the back of the campervan. The padded bench beside the bed conceals a composting toilet. The padded top lifts off. Underneath is the toilet which has a lid, a seat with the separator for liquid waste, and a seat left open for solid waste.
The closest RV parks to Cal's house are Lake Carl Blackwell (west of town) and the Payne County Expo Center (east of town).
See a campground map and the site where Vagary can park.