Well, that was a waste of time. Yet another grotty flat - poky, damp and overpriced. Somewhere I wouldn’t want to spend a single night even. But I have to find somewhere soon. My current landlord is selling the building and I need to be out by the end of the month.
It’s bitterly cold as I trudge along the busy street in this unfamiliar part of London. Dark by 4.30 at this time of year, the street lights are reflected in the damp, greasy puddles littering the pavement. There’s an icy wind too, slicing through my coat like a sharp, kitchen knife.
Turning left at the corner, I crash head on into some idiot bloke with a coat collar masking his face and a woolly hat pulled down over his ears. Honestly, why can’t people look where they’re going?
I’ve just crossed the city to view a really horrible apartment, after a lousy day at work and I just want to get home and curl up with a glass of wine and my overweight, ginger puss, George.
I glare at the guy and stomp off down the side street which is weirdly deserted. I’m beginning to think I may be lost. I’d expected to see a tube station but there’s no sign of one. And to top it all, it’s starting to rain.
That’s when I hear someone call after me and my heart starts thumping like a drum solo in a rock band. Next I hear heavy footsteps coming up behind me and I’m really spooked. Why is this street so empty? I’m certainly being followed so I speed up, searching in vain for a shop or anywhere to flee into. Who can it be? Maybe it’s the creepy guy I bumped into on the corner?
Moments later I feel a tap on my shoulder and my panic escalates a gear.
“Hey, I’m sorry to startle you but I think you dropped this.” It is the guy from the corner and he’s holding out my glove. “This is yours isn’t it? I think you dropped it when we collided back there.”
I suddenly feel an idiot. I hadn’t even noticed that my right hand is rapidly succumbing to frostbite.
“Thanks,” I say, looking at him properly for the first time. He’s not really creepy at all, just cold – like me. He’s young, about my age and possibly even good looking. His nose is red it’s true, but his eyes, twinkling now in the glow of a street lamp, are kind and humorous. His smile is appealing too, when it appears from behind the screen of his collar.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. And sorry about knocking you for six. The proverbial bull in a china shop, that’s me.” When he grins, his eyes crinkle and despite the bitter cold there’s a warm glow spreading from somewhere in my chest region. I smile now and thank him again.
Whatever is the matter with me? Am I really so stressed out?
“I’m not usually so jumpy,” I tell him. “It’s been one of those days!”
The rain is fast making rat’s tails of my hair and dripping off the end of my nose. But you know what, I’ve forgotten why I could possibly want to rush home.
“Hey, to make up for scaring you half to death, how about I buy you a coffee? If you have time that is? There’s a little Italian place round the corner there that serves a killer cappuccino.”
Do I have time? You bet I do. He has a gorgeous voice, like warm honey, with the musical lilt of the north east.
“I’d like that,” I say, as we set off down yet another tiny side street.
I didn’t find a flat today. But perhaps I found something better. Could be serendipity, don’t you think?
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For many years Sue worked as a teacher of English to students from around the world.
Some years ago she began writing short stories. Since then she’s written stories, poems and articles and her work has appeared in various publications including The Lady, Fictionette Magazine, Crystal, All Your Poems, All Your Stories, Scribble and The People’s Friend.
She currently lives in Suffolk with her husband, Roger.
A very neat and cheering short story.
This story was easy reading and described how I would have felt in her circumstances and was glad that the chance meeting may end in a romance. Very enjoyable.