The Hat
By CB Celwriter
*Forward, By The Webmaster* - This is a story Cel wrote me as a
birthday present. I really enjoyed it, and she gave me the go ahead to post it
here. It's obviously not a true story, but I'm honored to have the main character
based off, or at least named after me. Enjoy
It was the hat that made Aidan take the long way from the upstairs to
outside. Something intrigued him about it, but he was unsure what. There was
nothing unusual about the charcoal fedora except the air of mystery which
surrounded it.
He wanted to touch it, to try it on, but it was his uncle’s prized
possession. It begged for his attention, demanding further inquiry, but without
touching it, Aidan could learn nothing.
One day, in the middle of an unfair grounding, Aidan couldn’t stand it
anymore; he had to try on the hat. It perched on a stand in the study, right
next to the cherry desk. He reached for it and felt the wool felt between his
fingers. Positioning it on his head, Aidan turned to see his reflection. It wasn’t
there.
A moment of panic built up before a thought brought relief. "I’m
invisible." Excitement replaced anxiety and Aidan decided to visit his
girlfriend, Cecy. He would have gone to see her at the movie theatre while she
was working, but he got grounded. Aidan believed it may be an interesting
surprise to suddenly appear before her. He managed to get past his aunt who sat
facing the front hall, and headed for the cinema.
He arrived shortly before the next showing of a movie Cecy was dying to see.
Sadly, Aidan couldn’t remember the title, but slid through the door just the
same. He approached the counter, but she wasn’t there and no sign of her was
left at the concession stand, either. He shrugged, though no one could see. She
must be cleaning the theatre for the next showing, he thought and headed
towards the only room in cleaning, theatre four.
There was Cecy, but neither cleaning, nor alone. And the guy she was with did
not appear to be just a friend, either, Aidan could tell by the way his arm was
around her waist. He let the door slam in his aversion and removed his hat in
shock. Cecy jumped backwards at the sounds and nearly jumped again when she saw
it was Aidan.
"I…I thought you were grounded," she stumbled.
"I got special permission to see you," Aidan lied. "But it
appears you wished otherwise."
"Who is this guy?" asked the guy she was with.
"Aidan, I can explain," Cecy said.
"Explain it to someone who cares; explain how the last two months meant
nothing to you."
"Wait, you’ve been dating this guy for two months?" asked the
guy. "But what about us?"
"Aidan!" she yelled and ran towards him, but it was too late. He
had already went out the door and put on the hat. She saw nothing in the hall in
either direction.
Aidan fumed. How could this have happened? He wished he had never tried on
the hat, had remained oblivious to Cecy’s unfaithfulness. His thoughts were
interrupted by two words.
"Help! Thief!" cried a girl with short red hair. She was yelling
about a teenager about 17. He was running, carrying a green purse that obviously
wasn’t his. Unknowingly, he was headed right for Aidan, who dodged and stuck
out his foot, removing his hat.
Thankfully, no one had seen him suddenly appear, and he picked up the purse
and carried it over to the girl.
"Thanks, Mr….." she said smiling, her blue eyes momentarily
flashing green.
"Aidan, just call me Aidan."
"Thanks, Aidan." She smiled again. "Ummm, would you like to
see a movie?"
"I’d love to," he replied.
"Cool," she said. "I’m Ellen, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Ellen," Aidan responded, bowing and opening the
door for her.
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