bad. Know a few of the girls. You met Louise –"
"Only just!"
"Did she rush off? Can't remember. That would be just like her. It doesn't mean anything if she did. Does it to everyone. Did I say – Louise lives round here? A few streets away. That's how come we go there – it's our local."
"It's my local too! You and me are neighbours, too – and Louise as well, of course."
"And that's why you did it? Gave me the card? Even so, it truly is amazing. I can hardly believe it."
"You're making fun of me."
"No, really, I am amazed, I promise you, by all this stalking and lying in wait and delivering of Valentine cards. It's like a film or something. Here, have some toast and tell me all about it."
"Well yes, silly really, isn't it? I didn't stalk you, not really, but it's true I have wanted to meet you – er – since I saw you in the street about, oh, three weeks ago, maybe longer. Then, well, you came into the shop, you know, Owen's, the baker's in the high street, on the corner by the traffic lights –"
"So that's where I saw you! Yes, I knew I'd seen you before –" She seemed relieved.
"Oh, you remember! I am surprised. I never even thought of that. I think I'm invisible behind that counter."
"You're not invisible, Faith. You see, you're even memorable."
"What, in my white coat and my hair done up in a bun?"
"You've cut your hair! That's what's different!"
"And no white coat."
"No white coat."
"What did you think when I came up to you last night? Did you think I was a mad woman?"
"I thought, why doesn't Louise push off."
"No! You didn't! Is that why she left?"
"I'm joking. Like I said, she just wanders off. Does it to everyone. Doesn't mean a thing."
"I thought it meant she didn't like me."
"She likes who I like. No problem. Here, have some coffee. Milk? Oh, you haven't finished your bacon. It'll be cold now!"
"Maybe I am a veggie. All of a sudden."
"Stranger things happen."
"It's not that really, of course. It's just that I suddenly wondered what the time is and I realised I must have left my watch in the club last night."
"And that put you off your breakfast, did it? My, you're a sensitive soul. I can see someone's going to have to take you in hand, Faith. Don't worry, your watch is on the side there by the sink. It was in the back pocket of your jeans. Lucky I looked, really – it nearly got washed! I've been in the habit of checking pockets ever since I sent my credit card to the launderette. That was before I got the washing machine, of course. In fact, that was why I got the washing machine!"
"It makes a lot of noise though, doesn't it?"
"This cycle does, I'm afraid. It's a bit old. I got it in that second-hand shop up by the library. But still, it was cheap. Itwashes . It spin dries. What more could I want? Anyway, it's almost noon. Here's your watch to prove it. D'you have to go soon?"
"To be honest, I should have gone home last night. I've been a bit irresponsible."
"Someone expecting you?"
"Well, yes. Carol, my daughter. I'm married, by the way. I suppose I should say."
"You're wearing a wedding ring."
"Oh, sorry. Course I am. Never take it off! Probably can't take it off. Stuck! Oh well! Could I just borrow your phone for a minute? If I could just let her know I'm on my way. It's silly really, it's only round the corner. I should probably leave right away."
"I insist you drink your coffee first. You shouldn't be a slave to kids, Faith. They don't appreciate it! Relax! What's the hurry? Anyway, you need to wait a bit for your clothes to dry. Come on now, you've got your watch, you've got your coffee, you've got a nice new neighbour to chat with, what more could you want? Sugar?"
"Two
"Only just!"
"Did she rush off? Can't remember. That would be just like her. It doesn't mean anything if she did. Does it to everyone. Did I say – Louise lives round here? A few streets away. That's how come we go there – it's our local."
"It's my local too! You and me are neighbours, too – and Louise as well, of course."
"And that's why you did it? Gave me the card? Even so, it truly is amazing. I can hardly believe it."
"You're making fun of me."
"No, really, I am amazed, I promise you, by all this stalking and lying in wait and delivering of Valentine cards. It's like a film or something. Here, have some toast and tell me all about it."
"Well yes, silly really, isn't it? I didn't stalk you, not really, but it's true I have wanted to meet you – er – since I saw you in the street about, oh, three weeks ago, maybe longer. Then, well, you came into the shop, you know, Owen's, the baker's in the high street, on the corner by the traffic lights –"
"So that's where I saw you! Yes, I knew I'd seen you before –" She seemed relieved.
"Oh, you remember! I am surprised. I never even thought of that. I think I'm invisible behind that counter."
"You're not invisible, Faith. You see, you're even memorable."
"What, in my white coat and my hair done up in a bun?"
"You've cut your hair! That's what's different!"
"And no white coat."
"No white coat."
"What did you think when I came up to you last night? Did you think I was a mad woman?"
"I thought, why doesn't Louise push off."
"No! You didn't! Is that why she left?"
"I'm joking. Like I said, she just wanders off. Does it to everyone. Doesn't mean a thing."
"I thought it meant she didn't like me."
"She likes who I like. No problem. Here, have some coffee. Milk? Oh, you haven't finished your bacon. It'll be cold now!"
"Maybe I am a veggie. All of a sudden."
"Stranger things happen."
"It's not that really, of course. It's just that I suddenly wondered what the time is and I realised I must have left my watch in the club last night."
"And that put you off your breakfast, did it? My, you're a sensitive soul. I can see someone's going to have to take you in hand, Faith. Don't worry, your watch is on the side there by the sink. It was in the back pocket of your jeans. Lucky I looked, really – it nearly got washed! I've been in the habit of checking pockets ever since I sent my credit card to the launderette. That was before I got the washing machine, of course. In fact, that was why I got the washing machine!"
"It makes a lot of noise though, doesn't it?"
"This cycle does, I'm afraid. It's a bit old. I got it in that second-hand shop up by the library. But still, it was cheap. Itwashes . It spin dries. What more could I want? Anyway, it's almost noon. Here's your watch to prove it. D'you have to go soon?"
"To be honest, I should have gone home last night. I've been a bit irresponsible."
"Someone expecting you?"
"Well, yes. Carol, my daughter. I'm married, by the way. I suppose I should say."
"You're wearing a wedding ring."
"Oh, sorry. Course I am. Never take it off! Probably can't take it off. Stuck! Oh well! Could I just borrow your phone for a minute? If I could just let her know I'm on my way. It's silly really, it's only round the corner. I should probably leave right away."
"I insist you drink your coffee first. You shouldn't be a slave to kids, Faith. They don't appreciate it! Relax! What's the hurry? Anyway, you need to wait a bit for your clothes to dry. Come on now, you've got your watch, you've got your coffee, you've got a nice new neighbour to chat with, what more could you want? Sugar?"
"Two
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