An office romance

Their hands brushed against one another's as they reached for the same birthday card. “Sorry, you take it," he said. “I’ll pick another..." " Aah, thank you so much." she replied. She was filled with warmth at this gentlemanly gesture. Paused briefly, as they each gazed into one another's eyes, both slightly startled at the others beauty. 

A booming couch echoed off the post office walls. The sickly spluttering of a man who must smoke about 40 a day did not encroach upon this dreamy encounter. They began to talk; they discovered that coincidentally they were both shopping for their young nieces whose birthdays were rapidly approaching. Discussed possible gifts and exchanged tales of impromptu babysitting and troublesome toddlers.

"Cashier number 5 please." announced the tannoy. The captivated couple stood in an elongated queue. Muddy water was trampled in by dirty trainers, rain soaked umbrellas were inconsiderately shaken and gritty droplets sprinkled over all within range.

A pack of drug addicts argued their case with the teller for money that they had no entitlement to - as the cheque that they intended on cashing bore none of their names or addresses.

“Cashier number 3 please!” the tannoy bellowed once again.
An angry mother hurled abuse at one child and swung for the hide of another as the baby in the pram cried its poor little heart out. Undeterred the fanciful pair continued to learn about one another. 

“Cashier number one please…….. Cashier number one please...” the tannoy called repeatedly.
“That's you,” he said. “You must go first” she insisted as he had let her take the birthday card.
“I’ll wait for you outside...” he said with a smile.
He paid for an alternate choice card and headed for the post office door.

He looked back through the post office window and saw the lovely looking young lady still at the booth.
He decided to nip into the shop next door for a bottle of pure orange juice as he was slightly parched by this noteworthy encounter. 
He returned to the front of the post office but there was no sign of the pretty girl.

Slightly confused, he went back into the post office but she was not in there either. 
He went back outside and looked around and was beginning to feel like his chance had gone. He turned away deflated and began to walk away. 

As he began to cross the road there was a subtle call “where are you going?” He turned around and there she was, stood outside the post office as if she had reappeared from nowhere, “Sorry, I ran to catch the post man he was about leaving with the lunchtime post.” she explained. “Oh, he chuckled; I thought I’d missed you.” He said with relief.

They exchanged numbers before engaging in a warm embrace, he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. She smiled, slightly blushing. Once again the impassioned pair paused in an enchanted gaze within each other’s eyes “Call me...” she said. “I will...” he replied, and then they parted way...

David, TCC