LOVE AND LOVERS
by
TOD HOWARD HAWKS
Chapter 1
Jon walked down Broadway Thursday toward Tom’s to eat breakfast. He had taken this stroll hundreds of times after being at Columbia for five years during which he had eaten breakfast at all possible alternatives and found Tom’s to be categorically the best in Morningside Heights. It was a beautiful Fall morning. Monday he would begin the second and last school year at Columbia and in the Spring he would receive his MFA from the School of the Arts.
When Jon entered Tom’s, he was stunned. Sitting three down in aisle 3 on the right side in a booth by herself was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. After standing still for a few moments, Jon slowly walked toward this woman and stopped, then spoke.
“Hi, I’m Jon Witherston. May I join you?”
The young woman responded, “Sure.” Jon sat down.
“I’m Bian Ly. It’s nice to meet you,” she said.
“I’m assuming you’re a student at Columbia,” said Jon.
“Yes, I’m a senior at the College. Are you also a student?” asked Bian.
“Yes, I am. In fact, I graduated from Columbia College a year ago. Next Spring, I’ll be receiving my MFA from the School of the Arts. I’m a poet,” said Jon.
“A poet! How wonderful!,” exclaimed Bian.
“Thank you, Bian. What’s your major?” asked Jon.
“I'm majoring in Human Rights,” replied Bian.
“The world needs to major in Human Rights!” said Jon.
Bian smiled.
At that point, the waitress came over and took their orders. Both wanted breakfast.
“That is a beautiful ring you are wearing on your little finger,” said Bian.
“That a Nacoms ring,” said Jon. “Nacoms is a senior society at the College. I was selected to be a member,” said Jon. “I was Head of NSOP. Where are you from, Bian?
“I’m from Hanoi,” said Bian.
“Hanoi is a long way from Topeka, Kansas where I grew up, but I did come East to attend Andover,” said Jon.
“I also attended boarding school, but in Hanoi, not Massachusetts. I graduated from Hanoi International School,” said Bian.
“It seems we have a lot in common,” said Jon.
The waitress brought their breakfasts, which they started eating.
After finishing their meals, the two chatted for about twenty minutes, then Jon said, “Bian, before I bid you a good rest of your day, I’d like to ask you if you might like to join me to visit the Guggenheim Museum to see a showing of Vasily Kandinsky’s paintings this Saturday afternoon then be my guest for dinner at your favorite Italian restaurant in Morningside Heights.”
“I’d love to,” replied Bian.
“I’ll pick you up about 2 p.m. Where do you live?” asked Jon.
“I live in Harley Hall,” said Bian.
“Hartley Hall–that’s where I lived all four years during my undergraduate days,” remarked Jon. “ You’ve got a couple of days to pick out your favorite Italian restaurant,” added Jon. “I’ll wait in the lobby for you.”
Bian smiled again and got out of the booth.
“See you this Saturday at 2,” Jon said as he waited for Bian to leave first. Then he just sat in the booth for a while and smiled, too.
Jon arrived at Hartley Hall a bit early Saturday afternoon. He sat in the lobby on a soft leather sofa. Hartley Hall. Columbia. Four years. It had been an amazing time. Chad Willington, a fellow Andover graduate from Richmond, Virginia, was his roommate all four years. A tremendous swimmer, Chad had been elected captain of the team both his junior and senior years. He was now working at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street. Jon’s most cherished honor while he was at the College was being elected by his 1,400 classmates to be one of 15 Class Marshals to lead the Commencement Procession.
Bian came into the lounge. She looked beautiful.
“How are you, Bian? Are you ready to go see Kandinsky?” asked Jon.
“Indeed, I am,” said Bian.
“Let’s go, then,” said Jon.
The two walked across campus on College Walk to Broadway where Jon hailed a cab.
“Please take us to the Guggenheim Museum,” Jon told the cabbie. The cab cut through Central Park to upper 5th Avenue.
“We’re here,” said Jon and paid and tipped the cabbie.
The Guggenheim itself was a spectacular piece of architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that spiraled into the blue sky. Jon paid for the admission tickets, then both entered the museum and took the elevator to the top of the building. Then began the slow descent to the bottom on the long, spiraling walkway, pausing when they wanted to the see a Kandinsky painting closely and talking with each other about it.
Vasily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and theorist, becoming prominent in
the early decades of the 20th Century. Having moved first from Russia to Germany, he then went to France. Kandinsky was a pioneer of abstraction in Western art. He was keenly interested in spiritual expression: “inner necessity” is what he called it.
It took quite a while to make their way down the spiraling ramp, stopping at almost every painting to share their views. Finally, Bian and Jon reached the bottom.
“Well, that was most interesting,” said Bian.
“I agree,” said Jon. “Have you decided which is your favorite Italian restaurant in Morningside Heights, Bian?” asked Jon.
“Pisticci,” said Bian.
“Let's go!,” said Jon.
They took a cab to Pisticci. The waiter brought them menus, which they began to peruse.
“You first,” Jon said to Bian.
“I would like the Insalata Pisticci (bed of baby spinach tossed with potatoes and pancetta with balsamic reduction). Then Suppe Minestrone (with a clear tomato base and al dente vegetables). Finally, I would like the Fettuccine Al Fungi (handmade fettuccine tossed with a trio of warm, earthy mushrooms and truffle oil),” concluded Bian.
Jon followed. “I would also like the Insalata Pisticci, then the Suppe Minestrone, followed by the Pappardelle Bolognesse, then the Burrata Caprese. Thank you.”
Bian and Jon ate their meals in candlelight.
“Tell me about growing up in Hanoi,” Jon asked Bian.
“I am an only child, Jon. My father is Minh Ly and my mother is Lieu. My father was the youngest General in the war; nevertheless, he rose to second in command. He has been a businessman now for a long time.
“My childhood was like those of most children. As I grew older, I loved playing volleyball. I read a lot. I began learning English at an early age. I had lots of friends. I love my father and mother very much.”
“Why did you come to Columbia,” asked Jon.
“Columbia, as you know, is one of the greatest universities in the world, and it’s in New York City,” said Bian.
“Why did you choose to major in Human Rights, Bian,” asked Jon.
“The world, and the people and all other living creations on it, need kindness and love to heal. All have been sick for millennia. I would like to help heal Earth,” said Bian.
Jon was struck by Bian’s words. He felt the same as Bian.
The two continued to share more with each other. Finally, it was time to go.
They took a cab back to campus and Jon escorted Bian back to Hartley Hall.
“I’d like to exchange phone numbers with you. Is that OK with you?” Jon asked.
“Of course,” said Bian.
“Thank you for a wonderful day, Bian,” said Jon.
“And you the same, Jon,” said Bian.
