Peggy Schuyler was having a good day.
She was walking New York City's streets, sipping a warm cup of coffee infused with a bit of mint. Her hands were in soft wooly mittens handmade by Hercules, her best friend. She wore a lacy blue sweater dress and her hair was in a high ponytail. It swung as she walked, occasionally nipping her cheeks sharply.
Peggy sat down at a small bench next to a park. There were two little girls playing on the swings and a boy doing something with his phone.
She felt the presence of the girl next to her before she saw her.
A lady whose breasts were pushed up by her tight, skinny red dress. She wore red lipstick and her hair was pinned over one eye. Despite her scandalous appearance, Peggy made her out to be quite innocent, as her visible eye shone with a childlike impatience.
"The name is Maria. Maria Lewis-Reynolds."
Peggy raised an eyebrow, but stuck out a mitten-covered hand to shake. Maria took it and her lips curled into a smile.
"Will you go on a date with me? Anywhere you like." Maria asked eagerly.
Peggy immediately recoiled. She was a woman in New York City, and this other girl who she barely knew was asking her out? Peggy was nineteen and not even sure of her own sexuality. She sure as hell wasn't going to date another woman before she even knew if she was interested. She had to swallow a sharp reply before saying, "Thanks, but I'm busy."
Maria smiled, her happiness clearly fading. "Another time then?"
Peggy panicked. "No, I'm busy forever." She gathered her purse and after offering Maria a tight-lipped smile, scurried off to the bus stop.