CAFE CONVERSATION

CHAPTER 1

I had an hour before I needed to be at work, so I decided to pop into the corner cafe for a quick bite to eat. Wow, the place was busy for this time of day.  Thankfully there was one table left open so I grabbed it.  I was so glad to have a few minutes to think before work. I was just getting inside my head, when I was startled to hear the voice of a woman standing in front of me.  She was asking if she could share my table. Before I knew it, she sat down and started talking.  Ugh, I really was not in the mood for small talk.

She started to rattle on about some guy that she thought she was in love with but was just now figuring out that he is a jerk.  I was barely listening but then she said something that shook me out of my head. The more she talked about this guy the more I had the feeling that I knew him.  I started to ask some questions to try and figure out who this guy was.  Then she mentioned where he worked and I knew in an instant that she was talking about my boss.

I had the utmost respect for my boss.  I liked him.  I respected him.  How could he be the jerk that she was describing? She went into embarrassing details about their relationship.  I did not want to hear this.  I couldn’t take it any more so I excused myself and left for work.  As I walked to my job I did not know how I was supposed to work and not have everything she said affect what I thought about my boss.  I got more nervous with each step. Maybe I should just call in sick.

ITALIAN KISSES

I awaken to something subtly tickling my arm. It has to be his breath on my skin.

 After all these years, I can sense when he is near without even opening my eyes. 

I take a deep breath and let the warmth of the sun awaken me fully. I open my 

eyes and am surprised to see that I’m outside on the veranda, alone. My eyes 

focus on the distant hills of pale green and the lush dark green valley below. 

I am overwhelmed by a feeling of calm for a moment then my mind starts to make

sense of it all. Where is he? He should be with me here in this moment, but he is not.

I close my eyes and try to remember his face but it blurs. I try to remember his 

voice but it is distant and I can’t make out what he is saying. I try to reach out 

and touch him but I can’t quite reach him. Then I remember his kisses. 

Oh those kisses! That is one thing about him I will never forget. So soft and 

gentle but passionate at the same time. Oh those kisses!

Before I allow the sadness to over take me, I look again out at the beautiful 

rolling hills and the green valley with the wide stream running through it. 

I remember the walks and the talks, the laughs and the tears, the future and the fears. 

But mostly I choose to remember the kisses. Oh those kisses!