Observational Compulsion Disorder

[Ron. Lavalette]

He notices that half of the ceiling fans at Subway are spinning clockwise and the other three are counter.  He tries to note the upward or downward angle of their blades, but four are spinning too quickly; the slower fans, however, certainly appear to be working at cross purposes.

He wonders if this is intentional, wonders if anyone else ever noticed and—if the direction were reversible—if anyone would even bother. He considers discussing this with one of the drones doling out the foot-longs, but has learned (from bitter experience) that he’d only receive a polite smile and a blank stare to his face and a smirk and an impolite gesture once his back was turned.

He knows that they have no idea what life is like for him, and is certain they'd never trade places.  He, on the other hand, would give his left nut for the chance to make the same six sandwiches over and over again, all day long.

[Bob Clay]

I've always believed that everybody, to some degree, has some sort of compulsion disorder (although I'm not sure the world 'disorder' is accurate.)  I think it might have come down from some survival instinct, I don't know, but I'd give my left nut to figure it out. (I'm right nutted.)

[Teresa]

I've wondered the same thing about the ceiling fans, got dizzy staring at the blades.  But I think I'd go nuts making the same six sandwiches all day long, and I'm sure they'd seldom be the same since so many people define any sort of dining experience, even fast-ish food, as an opportunity to complain about any damn thing at all and insist on some exact obscure thing (like the guy who wanted ketchup on his Subway sandwich and started a big fight, police involvement and all).  I say I couldn't make the same six sandwiches, yet I x-rayed tits all day, every day, for twenty-two years, and when I say "tits", I mean typical tits, which are anything from mosquito bites to heavy floppy flesh hats.  Not pretty.  In fact, they're sweaty and have yeast growing underneath and, well, that sandwich job is sounding much better.  Great six.

[Jamie Hogan]

It is your gift that you took something that is considered (and in this case, titled) a disorder and made it a thing to which we can all relate. Order from a disorder. Understanding from frustration. You got that, Ron, and it is a fine and rare talent indeed.

[Gita]

An explication of ceiling fans. If the blades turn one way they may be forcing warm air downward and if they turn the opposite they may be drawing cool air up. So what you might have is a convection system within the Subway room to keep heat circulating up-down-up-down. That would be my guess. Oh, wait: that was a rhetorical exercise, right? No answer was called for. Never mind.

One wonders why the man has learned (from bitter experience) that the sandwich jockeys make an impolite gesture: is there something in his appearance or sandwich request that aggravates them? Has he perhaps demanded TOASTING too late in the process so that his order has to go back down the line and disrupt their assembly order?

[Brittany]

I have to fave this for so many reasons. The stellar writing is one of them. 

[Bill Floyd]

A lot of implications here: Is it good to notice everything? Is the opposite of obliviousness hyper-awareness? Is OCD the far trembling edge of the distraction we all seem to seek so relentlessly nowadays? Is mundane repetition actually a good thing for some? (@ Bill L.: Wallace's last, unfinished novel, The Pale King, is a lengthier explication of this subject.) That last sentence makes me feel sad for the narrator, and yet I can identify: my favorite work, when I'm not writing, tends to be the kind where I can simply set my hands on 'repeat' and let my mind wander...

[Other]

Ha.  Metaphoric fans.  And I like the zen of sarcasm in the final sentence.  The intense reserve of your character has been tweaked, somehow.  Nice 6.

[Sandra Davies]

It is your 'observational compulsion'  which drive and makes so vivid and compelling your writing.   I think, have been told 'too much', but never to such ends as you create.

[Mike Handley]

Outstanding arc, Ron. Why is it always the left nut? Such sayings are my ceiling fans.

[Joey Delgado]

I concur. Your characters are people I've met, people I've judged, people I've envied, your characters are often me. Such a wonderful gift, Ron.