What Watch?

I’m not quoting Casablanca, although that little conversation is one of my favorite bits. Actually, just about any bit of Casablanca is my favorite bit. The bit I’m not quoting, though, is this bit, wherein two characters practicing their English discuss the time:

-Sweetnessheart, what watch?

-Ten watch.

-Such much?

A week ago, I misplaced my watch and don’t know where to find it. It doesn’t have a tail, so leaving it alone hasn’t worked, either.

So yesterday, Jane and I had lunch in Louisville at Shiraz, and I took the opportunity to go to Sister Dragonfly to buy a watch. Which I did.

It isn’t something you can just up and do, you know. There’s an Ideal Watch you try to find, or at least approach. The one I lost was perfect, but the one I bought yesterday was close enough.

An ideal watch must:

be a cuff watch – Straps get scruffy and break, stretchy ones pinch, and bracelet ones dangle. Ugh!
not be digital – My grandmother spent many long hours teaching me how to tell time; I’m not about to waste her effort by using a digital watch
have all its numbers – Because obviously.
have numbers large enough to READ – again, obvs.
not cost much – Because I’m the one buying it.
not be some weird color or combination of colors that will call attention to itself – It’s a WATCH, not a LOOK AT ME.

So yesterday, I got a silver cuff watch with a fake mother-pearl face and big black numbers (all 12 of them), and I am content. I know that’s a big load off your mind.

In case you haven’t seen Casablanca, either, here’s a clip of the bit about the watch.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: How does your main character tell the time?

MA