Charms

I woke up at around half past two pm today and headed to Philcoa for a late lunch, afterwhich I lingered on a few hours more at McDonalds for dinner.

While waiting, I was reading The Charm School by Nelson DeMille. The girl occupying the table before mine kept glancing back at me trying to catch my eye. Sheez, I’m really that good looking, huh? I was wearing an old shirt and had not bothered to shave and someone was trying to flirt with me. After a few minutes of acting nonchalantly I decided to give her back the stare when,

“Hi, is that a DeMille?”, she asked.

“A what??”

“That book you’re holding. DeMille?” shucks, and I thought it was my drop-dead looks.

“Oh this,” I flipped the cover, “yup, I guess it is. Just picked it up from Booksale for fifty bucks.”

“Good read. I have all of his books.”

“You do? This is my first of his…him…his.” I stuttered. I always get tongue-tied when speaking to someone who speaks straight English. “How many books has he got?” I asked trying to regain control.

“hmm..about eight I think.”

“yeah?”

“yeah.”

…silence…

“The General’s Daughter, he wrote that,” she added.
“He did?”
“yeah.”

…silence…

“well have a good read”

“thanks.” Oh don’t leave, please don’t leave. Tell me more! Let’s have coffee. Tell me about DeMille. Tell me about you. I’ll listen, promise.

"Bye.”
“Bye, thanks.” shucks.

***
On second thought, yeah, maybe it was my good looks. Bummer.