They sing to me.
Only I can hear it, this song of passion, of longing, of hunger. Only I bear witness to this haunting melody… I alone was chosen. Once long ago, on a day much like this, I interrupted the song long enough to ask them why. They stared at me, then one came close and stroked my cheek as it whispered, “Because, my dear child, you alone listen.” And the song started once more.
I’m not afraid. Most of you would be, I know. Most of you would refuse to listen, perhaps convince yourselves it was a dream, but not me. I embrace the song, revel in it… don’t you see, I heed the lure of the song because they need me… they need me. Nobody has ever needed me this way, so desperately, so… hungrily.
Now the song grows louder. The time is drawing closer where I must do as the song commands. Hundreds of voices raised in terrible beauty, and I am helpless against it.
I am abruptly drawn out of my reverie. An old lady wearing a red dress stands at the front of the room and smiles around at the sea of people. “Let the speed dating begin!” She rings a little bell, and I sit and face my first speed date, a bitter looking brunette who smells of cigarette smoke and cats. We introduce ourselves and talk about random things, and two minutes later the bell rings frantically and I stand to make my way to the next table, the next woman. And then I meet her.
“Hi, I’m Robin,” she says, holding out a slender white hand. I take her hand and at the contact, I feel as though I’ve known her my whole life. “Hello Robin, I’m Tony.” And then she asks the question.
“What do you like to do in your spare time?”
I look her in the eyes. “I breed tarantulas.” And for the first time this evening, I see a smile at this announcement. “Oh, Tony, I love tarantulas. I have several myself!” But the two minutes with Robin is gone in an instant, and I am forced to stand, to move to the next table. But my gaze still comes back to rest on Robin, and hers on me, through the rest of the evening.
The speed dating comes to a close an hour later, with the bell once again ringing cheerily throughout the room. “Okay, all you handsome men! You met every one of these lovely ladies, and now it’s time to mingle and find the woman who is perfect for you!” She smiles happily. My eyes meet Robin’s. I want to go to her. She wants it too. But then we both give each other a bittersweet smile and turn away. I scan the crowd, and my eyes land on Shirley, the bitter cat lady. I walk to her. “Hi, Shirley, I was hoping we could talk more?” I smile at her, and I can tell she’s surprised, that she expected no one to come up to her. “Um, sure, okay,” she replies, and gives me a nervous smile.
We walk to the bar, and I order her a drink, then another, then another. She’s giggling now, almost pretty with a flush on her cheeks, telling me about her many cats, her job as a file room secretary. I respond at all the right places, laugh at the right times, and pretty soon I know she’s mine.
“Maybe we should get out of here,” I say, gesturing to the crowded room. She giggles again, “Maybe we could… go back to my place?”
I grin. “I have a better idea. How about we go to mine, so we’re not interrupted by curious onlookers?” I despise cats. But when she looks at me, I wink, and she giggles once more. “That sounds perfect.”
At the door we meet Robin and her date, and he holds the door open for the rest of us, then looks at me curiously. “What are you humming? I could swear Robin was just humming that same song.” I laugh and wind my arm around Shirley, but Robin answers. “It’s just a song I’ve had in my head for ages.” I look at her in sudden realization. “Me too.”
Then she’s gone, off with her date, and I’m alone with Shirley. She looks up at me. “Are we still going to your apartment?”
I smile down at her with affection. “Oh, yes, we are.” The song now pounding through my head, I guide her to my home.
It’s them, you see. The tarantulas are singing. And I know Robin hears it too. But I can’t think of her now. Right now I must think about Shirley.
After all, it’s feeding time.