Writing for Fun
June 2017
Out Of The Mist - Jeanette Rothwell
Henry pushed open the cafe door and entered. The steamy aroma of coffee hit him and he sniffed appreciatively as he made his way to his favourite table by the window. He sat down and drew out his newspaper, proceeding to unfold it. He surreptitiously looked around the cafe until he spotted the lovely Julie, the waitress who always served him. She made her way over to him with her usual welcoming smile and took his order for a cappuccino and muffin. She asked how he was doing and when she delivered his order, wished him a nice day and drifted away. He so wished he could find the courage to ask her out.
He had moved to the big metropolis away from his parents in Devon and found the city a lonely place. His bedsit was cosy enough but making friends was a challenge. It was Friday and a lonely weekend loomed ahead. Often on a Saturday he would visit the local pub and had made a few acquaintances to chat to. This Saturday there were a few more chaps chatting together and one of them welcomed him into the throng. They were discussing a visit to the local swimming pool to see if they could try playing water polo with the aim of forming a team to challenge another local pub. They included Henry in the invitation and he thought, as he had nothing better to do, he would join them.
Sunday morning found him changing into his rather old fashioned swimming shorts and he splashed around with the chaps, not very effectively, and they had a good laugh. It all ended in a free for all and not much water polo was achieved. Getting out of the pool, about to wipe the water from his eyes, he heard ‘Hello,’ in a girls voice, and shaking his head to free himself from the chlorine tasting liquid, he looked up to see the lovely Julie standing there. She had obviously been swimming as her hair was damp but she was now fully dressed and obviously preparing to leave.
Henry explained that he was there with some chaps from the local pub and she returned the compliment by explaining that she and her friends came to the pool every Sunday morning.
She said she recognised him from the coffee shop and Henry joined her at a nearby table and chairs which were set around the pool. They carried on chatting and she said goodbye to her friends as they left one by one, leaving Henry and Julie to carry on their new friendship. At length, Henry gained in confidence and ventured, ‘I don’t suppose you’d like to come out to tea with me this afternoon?’
‘You suppose wrong,’ said Julie, ‘I think that sounds nice, although rather formal.’
Henry was ecstatic. He stood up and asked her if she would wait for him while he changed. She nodded and he ran into one of the nearby public showers. He turned the water full on and scrubbed to rid himself of the smell of chlorine creating an avalanche of water around him. Then he stepped out of the mist only to slip on a discarded life belt. I expect you are hoping that he tumbled into the pool but his luck wasn’t in. Julie had walked towards him to tell him she would see him later and he grabbed her for support and pushed her into the pool instead.
If he was trying to impress, it wasn’t going too well, was it?