Melinda
I was enjoying the scenery of LaSalle street and downtown Chicago. My eyes traced the architectural lines of the brick and morter forest around me...illuminated by glints of sunlight that danced off the metal and fiberglass sculptures rocketing by on my left. "The Hawk" came off the lake in a frigid way, gusting and trying to wrest my tie from around my neck. I'd purposefully left my jacket folded in thirds on the corner chair of my office. Nature's icy embrace keeps you sharp. It makes you aware of every muscle in your body. It reminds you of life's contrasts and heightens your awareness. I wasn't about to rob myself of that edge.
She shuffled toward me--a designer peacoat clutched close to her with both hands as if the snow itself had threatened to take it from her. Her little red heels seemed to bounce underneath the wool coat as she moved purposefully down the street. She looked around her with a bit of apprehension, as if she were in the Projects, instead of the financial district.
I watched her intently...curiously. When she was about a hundred yards away, our eyes locked. She stared at me, more defiantly with each step she took in my direction. Her blonde hair was wrapped up carefully behind her head in a very professional manner. One strand had escaped, though. It flapped maniacally against her forehead and made her look dishevelled. Fifty yards, she tried to tame the golden lock...with no success. Twenty yards. She broke my gaze and adjusted her coat again nervously. Ten yards. She glanced up at me from the corner of her eye and moved slightly to her left, giving me more of the sidewalk. Five yards. I slowed and stepped in front of her and held up my hand, indicating that she should stop. She looked up at me, confusion in her eyes.
"Your shoe's untied," I informed her.
She began to blush and looked down at her feet, only to find her expensive crimson heels. She looked at me quizically. "I don't have any shoelaces."
"I know."
"Then why did you say that?" I could see her synapses firing frantically...close to meltdown.
"To see if you knew." I let an almost imperceptible smirk go.
Her lips parted, but she said nothing. She just stared at me like I'd just levitated in front of her. I watched the emotions cross her face one after another.
"Aren't you cold?" She asked, after a moment of silence. Another Gortex-armored pedestrian bumped her as he passed. The starch in my dress shirt was almost frozen.
"Not usually...just don't get on my bad side." I held my arm out for her. Her gloved hand found my elbow and we started walking--this time in the same direction--back from where she came.
"Where are we going?" She looked up at me with those huge, azure eyes.
"We're hungry." I replied, glancing down at her.
She giggled intoxicatingly. "Yes, we are."
She shuffled toward me--a designer peacoat clutched close to her with both hands as if the snow itself had threatened to take it from her. Her little red heels seemed to bounce underneath the wool coat as she moved purposefully down the street. She looked around her with a bit of apprehension, as if she were in the Projects, instead of the financial district.
I watched her intently...curiously. When she was about a hundred yards away, our eyes locked. She stared at me, more defiantly with each step she took in my direction. Her blonde hair was wrapped up carefully behind her head in a very professional manner. One strand had escaped, though. It flapped maniacally against her forehead and made her look dishevelled. Fifty yards, she tried to tame the golden lock...with no success. Twenty yards. She broke my gaze and adjusted her coat again nervously. Ten yards. She glanced up at me from the corner of her eye and moved slightly to her left, giving me more of the sidewalk. Five yards. I slowed and stepped in front of her and held up my hand, indicating that she should stop. She looked up at me, confusion in her eyes.
"Your shoe's untied," I informed her.
She began to blush and looked down at her feet, only to find her expensive crimson heels. She looked at me quizically. "I don't have any shoelaces."
"I know."
"Then why did you say that?" I could see her synapses firing frantically...close to meltdown.
"To see if you knew." I let an almost imperceptible smirk go.
Her lips parted, but she said nothing. She just stared at me like I'd just levitated in front of her. I watched the emotions cross her face one after another.
"Aren't you cold?" She asked, after a moment of silence. Another Gortex-armored pedestrian bumped her as he passed. The starch in my dress shirt was almost frozen.
"Not usually...just don't get on my bad side." I held my arm out for her. Her gloved hand found my elbow and we started walking--this time in the same direction--back from where she came.
"Where are we going?" She looked up at me with those huge, azure eyes.
"We're hungry." I replied, glancing down at her.
She giggled intoxicatingly. "Yes, we are."