Did I hear you right?  

he really liked her face

her eyes were wide spread  broad First People nose 

                                                            a wellshaped mouth

Excuse me

she came up behind him in the kitchen he asked if shed like coffee and she said yes

Did I hear you thank your coffeemaker?

We go way back  Her bottoms a little leaky but whats not to like about that A Proctor Silex straight coffeemaker no bells an whistles She makes coffee an she takes her sweet time about it so yare really wanting it by the time she finishes

But . . you thanked your coffeemaker.

I did

I . ah . . I find that . uh . little . . 

. . Odd

I wouldn’t say od . . 

. . I did Was tryin to help you along

Unusual.

Unusual to thank someone that did something for you

A coffeemaker is a something.

It provided coffee for us

Yes, but . . 

. . No  It provided us cups of coffee That its inanimate doesnt preclude that it favoured us and whenever someonesomething favours me I take care to thank them it because I appreciate their labour 

                                                                                                 Also keeps one in practisereminds them to thank human beings when they favour them or provide them something they wantedasked for like the peach pie from the bakery tonight 

You’ll have to admit it’s a little peculiar.

I don Ive been thankful since I was a boy An let me tell ya when a machine an inanimate object fails us we bitch it out pretty damn good donwe

her eyelashes fluttered again

she had amazing eyes 

he caught her face reflecting off the glass outside a small department store he liked window shopping and this particularly store was known throughout the town for its window dressing par excellence the way the French say it   

then he caught her eyes

she looked into his eyes off the glass

he turned immediately 

                         Good evening

Good evening.

An amazing display isnt it Always is

Yes, like a piece of art.

Im happy you said that because Ive said as much an people look at me crosseyedconfused 

                                                                                               Though as said Beauty art is in the eye of the beholder

Yes, yes it is.

he extended his hand 

                        Names Joe

she fumbled a bit she was holding something in her hands that he didnt pay any attention to it was utterly extraneouscouldnt hold a candle to her presence

whatever it was she tucked into her jacket pocket and took his hand 

                                                                         Avril.

French April  My favourite monthbirth month A pleasure to meet you Avril

A pleasure to meet you, Joe.

You have an appreciation for art 

                                   it wasnt a question 

You’re direct.

I am Times awastin Waste not want not 

                                            But I donwanna beat ya senseless with platitudes prosaic statements  However that said he looked in her eyes the whole while you seem to have more sense an senses in you that I couldnt beat out of you if I had all night 

                                  An all day tomorrow

My. 

      her eyelashes fluttered

they were long he felt secure theyd be good handholds if he began falling deeply into her eyes 

                                                                                                     My

Yes. Someone, not me, might call that a line, however an improbable line.

I don have lines Just say wha one inspires in me An not always pleasant derogatory likewise

Direct, as I said.

I am Could I make you a cup of coffee

Buy me a cup of coffee?

No Make I rent a small bungalow a couple blocks down and up a street on the right Fivetwelve an a half North Fourth It sits at the back of the lot Agnes my landlord owns the house in front 

                                                                           I make a better cup of coffee than most places sell Its the beans

she looked at himassessing him

Its not a make or break proposition Avril I can ask for your telephone number for some other time if youd rather Seems we have a lot to talk about

Another time . . . 

                   she like it hang 

he didnt shift in his shoeshis countenance remained unperturbed he wasnt driving the bus

Another time . . . 

                   then she laughed gaylyshe didnt cover her mouth Why? No time like the present.

Ah Nice uptake yare quick 

I am.

1018,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  14  4. 21