Benjamin Barker was a very simple character. He had never desired any of the finer things in life, and was completely content with life as a hard working barber, making an honest living, and waking up every morning happy. His world changed, however, the first day he laid eyes on her.
Mr. Barker was strolling around the market, idling searching for nothing in particular. He glanced towards the bread cart, thinking back to if he needed any bread. Maybe he could by some for Mrs. Lovett? Satisfied with his justification for wandering to the bread cart, he looked through all the loaf's trying to determine which looked more delicious.
Her yellow hair is what caught his attention. Really, it caught the attention of any man within a mile radius of her. She was mindlessly searching through the breads as well, looking somewhat bored. Benjamin held his breath at just the sight of her. She was beautiful, a bright yellow dandelion shinning in the sunlight among the surrounding weeds. A pale blue dress covered her petite body, swaying from side to side as she moved around the bread cart.
Benjamin eyed the lovely beauty from afar, but he didn't dare move closer like some attracted fool and ask her name. His experience with woman barely reached above minimal, and he was both proud and ashamed of that fact. Proud, because he wasn't some womanizer drawing in helpless woman, like some sick spider luring a fly. And he certainly wasn't the type of person who would force himself upon a defenseless woman, which is more than he can say for half the men who come into his barber shop, bragging about their latest conquest. Pigs, the lot of them. What self respecting man would do that?
Then again, Benjamin was a small bit ashamed of the fact that he could count the number of lasses he's ever had on his arm with one hand. Maybe, if he had more experience with this sort of thing, he wouldn't be feeling like some nervous little boy at the thought of going over to talk to her. But it was a bit late to reminisce over his dating days, seeing as he just had to talk to her.
Just a name, Benjamin thought to himself, just her first name. Then, I'll be off on my way, leaving her to her bread business. Just her name. He coughed lightly when he was somewhat behind her. Not in some kind of shadowy stalking stance, mind you. She turned around to face him, her dress whishing softly at the sudden movement. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want to find a loaf here? Its fine, I'll move. Sorry."
Benjamin's arm shot out to catch her arm lightly, not willing to let her runaway from him yet. "Ah, no actually, I was hoping…" he paused to take a large gulp of air, steadying his nerves. Just spit it out, be a man! "I saw you a little farther down from this bread cart, you see, and I was wondering if, perhaps, I could know your name?" He felt ridiculous asking this random gorgeous woman what her name was in a street market, right next to the bread cart. This feeling was increased by the slow smile spreading across her face. Great, she finds me humorous. So much for just a name.
Accepting her response, he began sputtering after himself, as if trying to apologize. "I'm- I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean- I mean, I did- well, if you don't- I mean if I should just-" Benjamin turned his body away, body tense in preparation to flee from the market and hide under a rock for quite some time. She latched onto his arm just before he broke out into his run. He looked at her, a small smile still fixed on her face. "My name is Lucy, and please don't be so nervous around me. I haven't gotten your name either, good sir." She let go of his arm, moving back ever so little incase he got the urge to run for it again.
Benjamin's eyes couldn't have widen much more, least his eyes pop out of his head, at the fact the she had actually told him her name. Lucy, such a fitting name for such a lovely, young woman. "I'm Mr. Benjamin Barker, young miss." He smiled at the light blush that dusted her cheeks towards the compliment. "It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Barker. Do you own an establishment somewhere around these parts? I feel as though I've heard your name somewhere before." She trailed off, her face mask of someone deep in thought.
"I have a barber shop, not far from here. Down on Fleet Street, actually. It's small, but it is cozy. Perhaps that's what you're trying to remember?" Lucy's face immediately relaxed, and she let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, that's it. A close friend of mine, her husband goes to see you every week. His rate of hair growth is rather disturbing."
Benjamin quickly started thinking of anyone he saw regularly every week, but no one came to mind. "Thank you, Mr. Barker." Said man snapped back from his thoughts and looked over at Lucy. "Benjamin, please. And to what are you thanking me for?" Lucy smiled again, wider this time than any other. The entire market seemed so much brighter, so much more alive than it had been when he first arrived. As for Lucy, it seemed as though she were glowing.
"I have a nasty habit of never letting things go, you see. So, had you not told me of your occupation, I would have most likely have slept fitfully these next few nights until I remembered where I knew you from. Thank you for saving my sleep, Benjamin." His heart fluttered ever so slightly at the sound of his name coming off of her lips. "Of course, anything to help. I myself would be distressed at the thought of you losing sleep from a little quarrel about where you've heard of me."
Both of them where smiling like complete fools now and neither cared the least. "Well then, Mr. Benjamin Barker, perhaps I will stop by your small but cozy barber shop sometime. Just to speak with you again though, I don't think I'll be needing a shave." They laughed quietly, and soon afterwards parted ways.
Benjamin waited the entire week for her arrival. Every morning he awoke with an extra bounce in his step, and he waited in his shop like a small lad waiting for his mother to come home with candy. And when the final day of the week was just about out, he could feel his bounce already starting to wear off. She never did specify when she was going to stop by, and she also could have just been being courteous in saying she was going to stop by. Or, maybe she just plain forgot about him.
He sighed, feeling the gloom of his negative thoughts seep through his skin as he closed up his shop. As he was putting his razors away, he heard the bell of his door being opened. "Sorry sir, I'm just closing up." "Oh thank goodness, I didn't want to interrupt you." Benjamin whipped around to see a yellow dandelion at his door step. "Lucy?" She smiled at him, and all the gloom and negativity vanished out of his body. "Of course, you remember my don't you? From the bread cart in the market? I wanted to come in earlier today, but you looked a tad busy doing what you're paid to do, so I was hoping I'd catch you when you were finishing up."
Benjamin was the one smiling now, quickly organizing and putting everything back in its place. "So, Miss Lucy, perhaps we could go for a little dinner while we chat amongst ourselves? Would that be alright with you?" He moved so that he was in front of her, both still had smiles framed on their faces. "Why, I think that's a lovely idea, Mr. Benjamin Barker."
