mall
she watched him pick a wooden flute. he raised it to his mouth and blew on it. it made harsh grating sounds that caught the attention of everybody in the store.
"hey you're not supposed to do that..." she said.
"just trying to see if it works," he said.
he seemed like he was having fun. he was flirting with the salesclerks. he promised them he would buy there again and all the ladies were smiling, obviously unconvinced but flattered anyway.
that made her smile a little.
"let's go..." she said.
he walked beside her. she was especially aware where his hand was and she didn't want to get anywhere near it. everything seemed wrong to her. his black sweater. the way he talked, he walked, he breathed. they were all wrong.
"oh, maybe you could give this to your mom too as a gift," he said pointing at the bag of baseball cap he just bought. he laughed at his joke. he thought he was hilarious.
she thought he was a joke.
they were nearing the last of the stalls. she took her phone out and looked at the time. "hey, uhm i think i'll shop for the rest tomorrow. i have to go home. i need to go back before nine," she said.
"sure... do you want to get dinner first?"
"no, sorry i really need to get back."
"okay, maybe next time."
he walked her to her car.
she was trying not to run.
they said goodbye.
she closed the car door and wept her eyes out.
"hey you're not supposed to do that..." she said.
"just trying to see if it works," he said.
he seemed like he was having fun. he was flirting with the salesclerks. he promised them he would buy there again and all the ladies were smiling, obviously unconvinced but flattered anyway.
that made her smile a little.
"let's go..." she said.
he walked beside her. she was especially aware where his hand was and she didn't want to get anywhere near it. everything seemed wrong to her. his black sweater. the way he talked, he walked, he breathed. they were all wrong.
"oh, maybe you could give this to your mom too as a gift," he said pointing at the bag of baseball cap he just bought. he laughed at his joke. he thought he was hilarious.
she thought he was a joke.
they were nearing the last of the stalls. she took her phone out and looked at the time. "hey, uhm i think i'll shop for the rest tomorrow. i have to go home. i need to go back before nine," she said.
"sure... do you want to get dinner first?"
"no, sorry i really need to get back."
"okay, maybe next time."
he walked her to her car.
she was trying not to run.
they said goodbye.
she closed the car door and wept her eyes out.