Chapter 1

Nimrod sat alone at a table in a cafe outside of London. He sipped his coffee and read the paper quietly. He had not notice the woman at the table on the other side of the room. She stared at him intently, hoping for him to notice her, but he never looked up. She had grown tired of just staring so she got up. She slowly glided across the room to Nimrod's table. She pulled up a chair and sat.

"Hello, I'm Pandora. I see you here every week in this same table, but you are always alone. Today I decided to sit with you, if that's alright," she said. She didn't have a British accent, she was from San Francisco, California.

"Oh hello, I'm Nimrod and go head and sit." Nimrod put down the paper and looked over Pandora. She had shoulder length dark blond hair. She wore a blue dress that matched her eyes and she had a large flower clip in her hair. Overall she was very attractive.

"So what brings you to this cafe?" asked Pandora.

"Well it's a quiet place I like to come to by myself. They have great coffee and I can read my morning paper in peace. What brings you?"

"I'm an artist from San Francisco, I've been drawing people in the cafe. I just moved to England and was hoping to scope out some quiet, low-key places for my art." She pulled out a large, black book from her bag and showed it to Nimrod. She opened it and flip through the pages. "Awe here we are," she handed the book over to Nimrod,"There's you. The man in red." Nimrod looked down at the book and he saw a perfectly drawn picture of himself.

"That's amazing, it looks just like me." He said in amazement.

"So Nimrod got a last name?" asked Pandora.

"My name is Nimrod Godwin," he said with a smirk.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Godwin. I'm Miss Pandora Patterson." She said matter-of-fact voice.

"A pleasure to meet you Ms. Patterson. So have you drawn everyone in this cafe?"

"Only the regulars, like you. I must ask why do you always wear a red suit?" Pandora placed a hand under her chin.

"Red is my favorite color and why not? My suit are decent."

"That's true, but why a suit? Why not jeans and a t-shirt? Do you always have to wear suits?"

"No I don't but wearing a suit gives me a dignified look."

"Why do you need to look dignified? You would fine as a normal person."

"I'm really not that normal," said Nimrod in a matter-of-fact voice. He smiled at Pandora, she was interesting.

"Really? Well neither am I. I am far from normal." Pandora looked down and smiled. She had never talked to a man with such interest. Men really never interested her. She was more intrigued with art." Nimrod, if we aren't normal, what are we?"

"Well Pandora, we are eccentric. I think I more than you."

"Oh really, do tell."

"Well I have a fear of babies. They disgust me. I had an one-armed butler and every article of clothing I own is red." Pandora smiled and giggled.

"Ok, one anyone can have a fear of babies and two what's with you and red?"

"What I like red is that a crime?" Nimrod was laughing himself. Never in his life had he met a woman so talented, funny, and fun to be around.

"No, it's just so much. Every week you come in wearing this extremely red suit and everyone turns and looks at the man in red. Doesn't that bother you a little?"

"No, not at all." He said nonchalantly.

"That's amazing."

"When you came in people stared at the lady in bright blue." Nimrod pointed to her vibrant, blue dress she wore.

"Blue brings out my eyes," she said in a exasperated tone. They laughed together and smiled at each other.

"I'm thirsty. What about you Ms. Patterson?"

"I'm thirsty too." Pandora waved to the waiter who was cleaning the table next to them. "Excuse me sir. Could we get some service?" The man walked over and pulled out a pen and pad of paper.

"What would you two like?" His voice was tired and irritated.

"I would like a Mint Oreo Mocha. Nimrod how about you?" asked Pandora.

"Um, I would like some Black Tea and could you get us twp slices of that cake over on the counter." Nimrod point to the deathly chocolate cake on the counter.

"Yea sure, coming right up." The waiter walked towards the kitchen.

"God, that kid sure looks like he needs some coffee." Pandora watched the guy trudge away.

"Yea, you'd think he'd have more energy then us." Pandora looked at him confused.

"What does that mean?"

"Well we are older then him."

"Why? Do I look old to you?" Pandora crossed her arms across her chest.

"Well no but we look the same I say."

"Oh really, how old do you think I am?" She leaned forward like she going lunge at him if he told her she was old.

"I'd 30 or 39." said Nimrod leaning back in his chair just in case she would lunge at him.

"Sadly you're right." She said slouching back in her chair.

"Oh come on. That's not that bad."

"Well how old are you?" Her expression changed from confusion and sadness to intent, interest.

"Oh you don't want to know that." Nimrod looked away not wanting her to see him blush.

"Yes I do."

"I'm old."

"How old."

"I'm very old."

"You can't be older then me."

"I think I've been on this earth longer then you."

"How much longer?"

"Much longer."

"Nimrod is just going to go on and on."

"Look I'm an old man."

"Oh please at the worst you're 50 or 48."

"I'm at least...75," said Nimrod in a hushed voice.

"You're lying."

"I never lie."

"Yea right everyone lies." Pandora giggled.

"I'm serious I don't lie." Nimrod wasn't smiling when he said this. He was dead serious. The tired waiter walked up to their table bringing their coffee, tea, and cake.

"Here you two go." he said placing the drinks and food on the table then walking back to the kitchen.

"So you don't lie." said Pandora not really believing him.

"Yep, I've never ever lied." said Nimrod in a childish voice.

"Really so if I asked you something you'd tell me the truth." Looked at him with hope in her eyes.

"I promise you I will." he said as he took a sip of tea.

"Alright, would you like to go with me to the gallery exhibition in Soho tomorrow night?" She looked at him sipping her Mint Oreo Mocha, hoping he'd say yes.

"Sure why not." he took a bite of chocolate cake.

"Great," said Pandora with happiness clear in her voice. They together for a while eating and talking until they finally parted.