She felt as though she couldn’t even hear her own thoughts over the loud rattle and hum of the blasting air conditioner. It made the lone, stark foyer seem even more empty and ominous. She sat waiting, always waiting it seemed. She pulled her jacket up around her shoulders and thought how utterly ridiculous it was to have the air conditioner going in winter. She looked around the foyer for what seemed to be the hundredth time, trying to notice anything new she might have overlooked her first few looks around. She realized how desperate she was to entertain herself when she realized she had found a catsup stain on the rough material of a chair that looked mysteriously like Abraham Lincoln. Either she was desperate or going crazy. Then again didn’t other people see Lincoln in the most bizarre places? After all there were people who actually made money on finding potatoes that are shaped like Lincoln or toast that showed his profile. Maybe she should take a picture and sell it on e-bay.
She checked her watch again, 7:15. She was beginning to doubt as to whether or not she was in the right place. She knew she was a little early, but shouldn’t some people be here by now? She was quickly beginning to regret not eating dinner as her stomach growled also reminding her she had had a very early lunch. She decided that if no one was here in fifteen more minutes she would leave and get herself some Chipotle. A big beef and bean burrito sounded good and she started contemplating if it were worth waiting here any longer.
It was in these trivial wonderings that she allowed herself, in hopes of passing the time. It was because of these wondering she did not hear the footsteps headed in her direction. Or maybe it was the loud rattling of the air conditioner. Either way, she was oblivious to the footsteps that would soon remedy her loneliness.
“Hello.”
Jessica jumped in surprise at the deep voice that had interrupted her thoughts. She turned and looked at the newcomer. She blushed as she realized he has noticed her staring off dumbly into space.
“Hello.” She replied trying to stop the flow of blood from rushing to her cheeks.
“Is this where the reading is?”
“I sure hope so; otherwise I have been sitting here for nothing” she answered as she smoothed away the wrinkles in her shirt that had developed from her casual lounging.
The newcomer extended his hand, “Bret”
“Jessica” she replied as she extended to shake his hand.
You should have gone with Ben Franklin in the texture on the wall ;) By the way, reading this made me cold.
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