intriguing, entertaining, many cute details, yet to me (jet lagged) mystifying,
as if there's a subtext I ought to be sensing but ain't yet.
I expect Patrick to sort me out - probably saying:
Bill, why wear an eye patch and a purple wig?
On 23/10/2013, at 8:14 AM, Bill Wootton wrote:
> Ready
>
> She looks up from the over-clean table,
> throws the cloth on to the bar. Oh, no,
> a customer. Glances toward the door but
>
> he’s well past, already taking a table
> near the front window. He stares out.
> From behind, she notices his overcoat
>
> trailing on the floor where he hasn’t
> taken it off after plonking down. Long
> ginger curls escape from the purple cap
>
> perched on his head like a stray thought.
> She closes the distance. He whirls
> round and holds her with a sharp
>
> glance from his unpatched eye.
> She stops in her tracks, lets
> her hands fall to her sides.
>
> This guy won’t want a full breakfast.
> ‘Short black, no sugar.’ She looks
> like she’s never seen a pirate before.
>
> Probably thinks I'm in a play
> or something. Can’t smell the sea
> salt under my fingernails. Why
>
> has she dropped her arms like that?
> Like she’s given up. She doesn’t
> have to be a waitress. ‘Hey.’
>
> She inclines her head towards
> him but avoids his eyes.
> ‘Wanna go sailing?’
|