Small talk
So as I was saying. It was a Monday. No wait, a Tuesday. Hang on. I had just come back from the gym, so maybe it was a… Let me think. I really enjoy the gym, you know? Not at first. At first, it was hard, a real stretch of effort. But then after a few months of gruelling effort, you get in the zone. It becomes easier. As long as you keep it up. Stay regular.
Now, where was I? Ah yes. So on this Monday. I had just finished at the gym, and I was walking to get a coffee. Except the cafe was closed because it was a Tuesday. They’re always closed on Tuesdays. I was just turning the corner when this guy bumped into me. Hang on. No, it was a woman. Wait… Oh, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change the story. Anyway, this person bumps right into me when I’m minding my own business off to get coffee at my favourite place because it’s a Wednesday and they’re open today. You know what this woman says to me? I remember it as plain as day, as I never forget a detail. This guy says to me, “Watch out! This is delicate.” And she’s pointing at something in a small box.
So I know I wasn’t really paying any attention to where I was going, to be honest, since it was a Monday and the cafe was closed on Mondays, so I hadn’t had my coffee yet. Wasn’t quite awake yet, you know.
So I step back, look at this guy I bumped into and apologise, but this bag she’s pointing at, well, I’m intrigued. I’m a bit nosey, you know that. So I say as politely as I can.
“Say, if you don’t mind me asking. What’s in there, buddy?”
She looks at me, really harshly. I’ll never forget that face. Those eyes, piercing green. Stare right into my soul. Struck me because they were just like my eyes, pale blue.
Anyway, he pulls the box close to his chest. And I look at it properly for the first time. It’s small, but made of dark wood, maybe like it’s been burnt or something. Then around the metal surface, it’s got these silver strips around it. You know, like a clasp, holding the bag shut.
And his brown eyes are flitting back and forth between me and the box. Weighing me up, assessing me. Seeing if I’m trustworthy, I guess. So she says to me, pointing at the bag.
“What is this little thing? Oh, nothing really, just a family heirloom. So I’m a bit attached to it, and you took me by surprise.”
I nodded. That box looked old, beautiful light wood with golden bands around it. No one makes stuff like that anymore. There was an awkward pause between us.
“You wanna see?” She says.
I nodded.
So this guy, then he slowly starts undoing the red rope around the bag and peeks inside. I guess checking the thing’s still ok. Then she gestured to me to come closer and opened the lid wide, and I leaned over to look.
And you know what? No. Wait. It was definitely a Thursday.
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