July 28, 2008
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I seem to have made the guest list. A woman wearing an offensive amount of perfume sat down next to me, and just when I’d decided to leave he brought her coffee over and said to me, “You two would have lots in common.” I looked over at her and said, “He knows nothing about me.” He replied to the woman, who I suspect is a good friend, “Yes, but I can tell she is smart.”
The way he introduced us without being able to remember my name was interesting. ”Is it Fiona?” he guessed. Thinking of SR and flattered, a few seconds went by before I answered, “Prudence.”
I should back up. Yesterday it was too hot in the coffee shop, and I wanted to practice my Spanish aloud, so I sat at one of the two tables outside. I chose the one in the sun. He came out and sat on the other side of the front door, in the shade. I forget what he said but I wanted him closer so I told him to come to my table. That might have seemed aggressive since it was the first time he’d addressed me, outside of what will you have.
He came over and when he asked for my name he seemed quite pleased with it. People either like it or they don’t and want to figure out some nickname. That’s why I have several. Anyway, either I didn’t make much of an impression (doubtful) or he has a poor memory for names (doubtful, as he is a barrista and the owner).
Twenty minutes after the introductions were made she knew everything about me. She had my email and full name with my phone number entered into her address book. She knew my age and most of my interests. She’d invited me to the next gathering with the Thurs night crowd for wine, and before she went any further I stood up to leave. “I hope I didn’t scare you off,” she implored, getting up to follow me when I said I had to go wash my hands.
Comments (9)
Isn’t it interesting that just around the corner sat this lovely meeting place!!!
I rather like scary, honest people. You don’t have to second guess them as much. I’m pretty mild and well-mannered myself, which is probably why I seek bold, boisterous friends. We balance each other. I love your aggression, and I’ve always loved your name, Dear Prudence. You’ll forgive me if I always think of the Beatles song, though.
Friends are everywhere!
You wondered earlier why people like your writing…or why your writing inspires others to write perhaps it was. I think it’s because you throw stuff like this in here and it feels like I opened a novel a third of the way into it and scan a section to see if it intrigues me…and it does. So I want to keep reading and think to myself “Why is she mentioning this or describing him in such detail?” Your writing draws us in; we see various outcomes and possibilities; it’s a tease in the best of that word. It’s enticing, maybe that’s better.
Again you make me want to write…yet I worry about exposure. I find it very hard to share at the level of honesty you do. Perhaps I fear looking the fool later — yet you never do. You just say “Hmmm. here’s where I am NOW even though I was THERE a few days ago.” It’s raw and real and very human.
The proprietor sounds like a man who takes in his surroundings without the outward appearance of having done so. It appears you may have made an impression on him. Did you get the feeling that perhaps he was fumbling with your name to feign disinterest? Thanks for stopping by my Xanga site.
Names are funny aren’t they… I suspect you and I have similar experiences with the name conversation lol.
I love meeting new people. It’s like looking into another world… someone else’s point of view on the universe.
You are so charming. Maybe you are not aware of; your subtle flirtation is very endearing. You make friends so easy. About your comment, I do sound like I scorn the woman but it was not my intention. I just notice misery around me. I often think obesity is a disease, that people unfortunately have something in their bodies that they can’t control. Eating habits may add to it.
A very nice vignette!
I’ve missed a bunch but am caught up now. You made me laugh with this one. “He knows nothing about me.”
Have you got a girl crushing on you? This is also funny but understandable. I wanted to marry you ages ago. But then I remembered the obvious . . .I don’t believe in the institution of marriage.
OK, that was supposed to be funny and it might have been but I would have to have been having a tea with you guys outside for it to be.