Unwritten: Diary of a Lean Green Plumber

Steel to Sewers

19 March 1983

Brooklyn, New York

Dear Diary,

It's with a heavy heart that I write these words—Mario and Pauline broke up today. My bro was so broken when he told me the news, and my first impulse was to fix him a bowl of his favorite pasta. Neither of us know what happened. Maybe it's because he inadvertently got a vengeful ape on her tail. Maybe it's because she's constantly reminded of her ordeal. She'd just decided that the relationship wasn't working anymore. But they'd still be friends. That's one thing he could take away from this.

Right now, I'm giving Mario some space. He'll talk to me when he's ready. But Pauline was his first real love. It's gonna be hard recovering from that.

"Don't you just wish life played out like those fairy tales?" he asked me.

"Yup," I said.

Fairy tales are so clean cut. True love wins the day, and everyone lives happily ever after. But there's no happily ever after in the real world. The spark could burn out, the luster could dull, and the hero and his fair lady could decide that they're better off friends, just like Pauline and Mario. It's sad, but it's a harsh truth. Around me, he puts on a brave face, but I can feel his pain. No doubt, he's probably in his room, wondering where things went wrong.

Life isn't a fairy tale, but it isn't entirely miserable, either. We face down hardship, overcome it, grow strong from it. The real world brought Mario down, but he's not out. He will rise up, heal his heart, and one day—one day—he'll find the princess he's been looking for.

Perhaps a princess will come my way, too.

Luigi

15 April 1983

Brooklyn, New York

Dear Diary,

There's a new movie out today, Flashdance. Boy am I glad I decided to see it. It speaks to people like me. Yes, the music's great, but the story was what really drew me in. To put it simple, a welder wants to dance at a prestigious conservatory, but her anxieties and fear weigh her down until her boss, of all people, convinces her to give it a shot. Just an average girl with a dream to "have it all". Who can't relate to that?

As of today, I finally have a muse, and her name is Alex Owens. We have so much in common. She works at a steel mill in Pittsburgh; I work at a steel works company in Brooklyn. She's bolstered by a former ballet dancer and her boss; I'm bolstered by Mario, Mr. Lanser, Josh and my coworkers. We're both interested in dance, but for me, it's simply a hobby and a release. And we're both a little bit nervous of how things will turn out, but we ultimately resolve to take the plunge. I don't want to give the movie away, but I can tell you that I'm glad Alex takes the plunge in the end.

Mario's still recovering from his split from Pauline, but he's handling it better than most. He's not trying to win her back like they do on TV. He respects her decision and appreciates his role in her life as a good friend. But then come the memories of their first date, their first kiss, their first—coupling. I pass by his apartment and hear him crying. I feel slight pangs in my heart from time to time—whatever pain he feels affects me, as well. Whenever I'm with him, I try to send him all the love I can. He's started visiting me at work when he's on his breaks, and sometimes I wander over to watch his construction project. Romantic love can sometimes fizzle, but familial love will never die.