Exercise #2: Imperative

Follow the bus that drives into the parking lot in front of the train station. Find the girl with the red purse and shoes who gets off the second car of the train that arrives at 6:15 every weekday evening. Wait until she stops at the newsstand to buy the evening edition of the newspaper and notice how she smiles sweetly at the young man as she gives him the exact change. See her turn slightly and wave to him as she walks toward her little blue car in the parking lot.

As she drives away from the train towards home, look back at the young newsman and watch his eyes strain to see her until she is long gone from sight. Stand back awhile and give his mind some time to come back to earth – back to the newsstand where he sits every day.

Buy a paper from the young man and talk to him about the weather or the story on the front page. Tell him your name and he will tell you his name is Jim. Let him talk about mundane things though you know his mind and heart is not in what he says. Say a few more mundane things to him before you move away to let another man buy a hot rod magazine and some cigarettes.

Ask Jim about the girl with the red purse and shoes. Tell him you’re a reporter for the Tribune doing a story for the style section about the current trends in the fashions worn by working women. Don’t let on that you see his eyes grow wide when you mention her. Don’t let him know you know how he feels about her. Don’t tell him you can see how she feels about him. Let him tell you what he wants to say. Just nod your head and take notes in a small notebook like a real reporter.

Pretend to be interested in what other women are wearing as they get off the train and hurry toward the exit off the platform. Ask Jim questions about them and make comments about what they are wearing. Then look at your watch and say good-bye and thanks for your time.

Wait in the parking lot for the girl with the red purse and shoes tomorrow at 6:15. Follow her little blue car for two miles or until it turns down another road. Watch her until she is out of sight.

The following day you should park your car near the place where her car drove out of sight and pull out a few cars behind her. Follow her as long as you can without being noticed. Drive past her if she stops and watch her through the rear-view mirror. Pull over and let her pass you again when she resumes her journey home.

When you are certain she is at her home, write down the address and call the office with the information. Stay there and watch until back-up arrives.