Chapter 40
December 2nd 1996
Busy, busy, busy. Shift after shift at the shop of gadgets and not much else happening UNTIL TODAY!!!
Have been incessantly surrounded by Christmas and not particularly excited about it UNTIL TODAY!!!!
Eat, sleep, work, repeat UNTIL TODAY!!!
I arrived at work as normal, dishevelled and rushed. I went straight to the kettle to make my essential second cup of tea of the day and slammed face to chest with him. Mr Coombes, resplendent even at 9am. I had no words but had no need for words as my out of control body language was making it very obvious how I was feeling. It felt like I stood there, crimson, for about ten minutes before I finally mumbled a “Sorry”. Understandably he made a sharp exit.
I had to drink the whole cup before I had half way composed myself. How can a random beautiful stranger have such a physical effect? As I finally managed to calm myself down it suddenly dawned on me that I would be working beside him all day. ALL DAY. I am not entirely sure how I survived, but I did and I am here to tell the tale.
And it just gets better……
The shop floor was non-stop, no time to think and thankfully no time to make an idiot out of myself. I did manage the odd, sly glance though just to check that he wasn’t a figment of my imagination. He certainly was there and I was all aflutter. I didn’t even know his name.
When I returned with my sandwich at lunchtime the gods must have been smiling on me because who did I get to share the grubby staff kitchen with but Mr Beautiful himself. As I fumbled over the various tasks involved in making a cup of tea, I silently yet sternly ordered myself to get a grip. Just bloody talk to him. Maybe my prawn sandwich had given me some inner strength as I turned to him as calmly as possible, looked into those fantastic brown eyes and asked him if he wanted a tea.
He did. The rest of our lunch hour was spent getting on together brilliantly. We had everything in common and made a thousand clichés come true. This Will as I now know his name to be, is making me feel really strange. Really strange. I really like him. After one day, one cup of tea, one brief half an hour with him my life is great again.
Good God, I need to calm down. I have just spent the evening boring Alan and Harry over my new obsession.
He is working tomorrow again, so am planning on an early night and an earlier than usual morning start so I can get myself looking as fine as possible for before 8am.
Also, just to add two cherries to the trifle of wonder that has been today I made two hugely important purchases.
1. Today is the release date of the Super Furry Animal’s new single. The Man Don’t Give a F**k and it is so brilliant. I’ve bought it on every format and am playing it on loop until sleep comes. Apologies again to my poor housemates.
2. Two tickets to see Shed Seven and Catatonia in Newport anyone? Mine, all mine. Don’t know who’s coming with me yet.
Could I actually be brave enough to ask Will?
Gwen Love 