he saw her while he was writinghe was always writing  he lifted his eyes off the pageover the mug of black coffee he sipped and they fell onto her legslegs that went up and up and on and on forever that they caught his attention unnerved him typically he wasnt one to admire a womens legs  boys somewhere along the line find their attraction his was breasts the physical attraction is a lure however if he didnt find her brain attractiveshe was not involved  if she wasnt an excitinginciting tin woman from Oz his interest dissolved Oh look  he recognised her from around hed been called a prick more than once

sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me  he didnt remember when first he learned that little ditty but he took it to heart

someone might disappoint himhe might disappoint someone  he didnt see any point in crude accusations 

he didnt need to be liked or sought to have people like him

his sister called him a prick  You naturally have a way with peoplean inordinate way, what's Maw say, whatyes, youre charming. You are very charming. People are naturally drawn to you, charisma. Charismatic. You are. Yet you don’t care that you are, you can take people or leave them. Sometimes, sometimes, you’re cruel, very cruel.

I like you hed say

I love you. But you’re a prick.

Everyone has shortcomings baby  Everyone

What’s mine?

Id have to think on that  Youre pretty wonderful  I idealise you so I scarcely look for faults in youIm not trying to have sex with you

See?  Prick.

Awright
         If I were to find fault in you Id say youre too compassionatethat you will step aside and enable someone to exceed you  I feel that while one can help another they do not do it to their deficit  There should be no one more important to you than yourself  Selfish  Maybe   But one cant possibly love another if they do not love themselves first

I feel that compassion like respect is earnedis hard won

Is that prickish since you asked

No. I know that about you, your compassion. 

You feel I’m a soft touch.

You are a soft touch  If we were walking down the street together an a homeless person was asking for moneytheyd ask you  their asking you to me is meant like secondary smoke  Im rarely asked directly for money

Eat your dog. 

Yes

his no nonsense preceded him  a supposed homeless person once asked him for money for food  the beggar had a dog  This your dog he asked You feed him  He’s my dog  Then if youre hungry as you say  eat your dog

prick

her legs went on and on  up under a short skirt  pleated  it movedit flattered her legs

he sipped his coffee it cooled substantial since last he sipped it  he was writing

he stood

he walked over to her Seems we keep running into each other My names Joe My coffees gone cold I wondered if I could buy you a cup  I wouldnt be so forwardyes I would  could I buy you a cup of Joe

Joe? Are you usually so clever?

Are you

I am.

Then Legs you should let me buy you a cup of coffee  If you have a little time to talk that would be wonderfulif not Id still like to buy you a cup of coffee

Legs?

Yes  You have great stems

Stems?

Vernacular  I wont spoil it for you  Look it up

Look it up. You won’t get a girl a break?

You dont appear to need  or want a break

Legs. I like it. I used to dance.

Athletic  Your legs reveal that

You think a dancer is an athlete?

Coordination Agility Stamina  Athletic

A man of few words.

And while Im eating  none

Joe, nice to finally meet you. Unfortunately I can't stay, can I have a raincheck?

For the small price of your number

she laughed

she took the pen from behind his ear where absently he always tucked it

she took his hand by the wrist and wrote her number on his palm There. You’ll never wash this hand again, will you? she laughed  her mouth open

Eventually but not before I memorise your number What will you have  Something exotic frothy  a touch of Torani syrup

Black, please.

Espresso

I think not. Espresso works me up too much, at least for the middle of the day.

Ill remember to treat you to an espresso at the end of an evening

Joe. Are you trouble?

I wouldnt say trouble More like a handful

she smiled

she left without sharing her name

evidently Legs appealed to her

 

dream-augmented piece,  0929,  Twosday,  24  4. 18