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.
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