6. Tea for One (?)
William sat on his couch, still wearing his coat, his chin resting on his fisted hands, going over and over in his mind looking for anything he might have done to cause his not being on the invite list for Marcy's party. He couldn't wrap his mind around the concept that she would exclude him on purpose - they worked so well together, and Marcy depended on him to go the extra mile when she needed it. Unless... Marcy did suggest he stay home on Friday. Did she want him not at work, so he wouldn't hear the announcement and about the party? Even at that, he couldn't form a valid reason for her doing something like that. He just didn't see Marcy as the type who would step on people on the way up the ladder.
William moped around the apartment. He ate a piece of toast, not that he was the least bit hungry, but he thought it might take his mind from this dilemma, at least for the few moments it took to prepare it. He then returned to the couch and looked at his watch. 6:26. He picked the remote up from the table and clicked the TV on. The screen immediately flashed to scenes from The Proud Family. "Stick around - The Proud Family will be back to par-tay with you all night!"
William turned to the online channel guide. Disney was showing a marathon of Proud Family episodes until 3 AM. "Sure...why not?" William sighed at the box. "Everybody else has, today." So much for escaping with his "best girl" for even a half-hour. He turned to a local cable access channel that played mostly music from local bands, laid back on the couch, still wearing his coat, put his arm across his eyes...and fell asleep.
It was well after 10:30 when William awoke. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. On the television, a woman was talking about an upcoming holiday program in the market square. Carolers from an elementary school. :::After the commercial, we'll be talking with Matt and Shaniqua, two fourth-graders who will be singing in the Light of Voices program. Maybe we can even get them to sing a little something for us here!:::
William thought about finally taking off his coat, but couldn't bring himself to find the energy to get up. A commercial came on about car insurance. William stood up and went into the kitchen, putting some water on the stove to make some pekoe tea. He walked back into the living room and slipped off his coat, laying it across the chair next to his bookcase. Another commercial came on.
:::You have fantasies. You have dreams. We can help. At Bound Dreams, we have a wide selection of fiction, science fiction, anime and more. Books, cards, role-playing games...you wish it - we can grant it. Conveniently located downtown, in the Brookings Market Square.::: William looked at the TV, and the familiar logo of the winged unicorn came on the screen. :::Come to Bound Dreams...and give your wishes wings. Open late for insomniacs.:::
William remembered the cashier who gave him the strange look when he picked up the books Wednesday. "Yeah, they cater to dreams, alright," he chuckled to himself.
The teapot started to whimper, then whistle at full song. I guess this is where I curl up with a good book, William thought. He slid "Bueno Nacho" from the shelf, and tossed it onto a cushion of the couch on his way to tend to the screaming teapot. He took a large earthware cup from the mug tree, slipped in a teabag, and poured the water. He laid the plastic lid from a coffee can over the cup. Marcy had once told him that covering the tea while it steeped would retain more of the flavor.
Marcy.
William took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
He slid the sugar tin next to the cup from the back of the counter and opened a drawer, taking a spoon and setting it next to the tin. Four minutes to tea.
William returned to the living room and plopped onto the couch. The book bounced when he landed, and slid off the edge of the cushion onto the floor. William picked the book up by the back cover, and the paper slipped out, open slightly. He picked it up to put it on the arm of the couch while he read. His thumb was on the fold of the paper, and when he brought it up, it was fully open to reveal the image that seemed to have been done so long ago.
Angelica.
William's thoughts raced back to the encounter with the slightly strange woman in front of the bookstore. The uneasiness he first felt that night began to return. He had almost forgotten about her...her voice, her actions, the uncanny warmth of her hand...
William continued to recall the meeting with Angelica as he returned to the kitchen to fix his tea. He dipped the teabag a few times before placing it on the coffee can lid next to the sink. He then added one spoonful of sugar, swirled a few times, and tapped the spoon lightly on the rim of the cup, placing it on the lid next to the teabag.
William took a sip. He wondered if Angelica drank tea. He wondered if she could even get tea, living on the streets like she seemed to. He wondered if Angelica had a family, and if she did, if she kept in touch with that family. He wondered if she had a daughter his age...or perhaps someone she stayed with during inclement weather. Someone she could introduce him to.
William walked back into the living room, setting the cup of tea on the table next to the couch. He stood there for a moment. Most of the time, William was at home in his apartment, with no one to talk to. No one who wasn't inside the box, that is. And most of the time, William liked it that way. Most of the time. Tonight wasn't part of that time. He just needed someone to interact with tonight. He walked over and put on his coat.
William remembered that Angelica asked he bring $20 with him when he met her again. He reached into his pocket - yep. He remembered asking her what night or time he might meet her there, and her answer echoed in his mind..."Don't you worry, William...whatever day or time you make it, I'll be here. Right here at the bookstore, don't you worry." Even just for tonight, he could talk with Angelica. He could invite her back for tea and a warm place to sit for a couple of hours. He could gain more of her trust, so that she might tell him about someone he could spend time with.
He grabbed the knob, and opened the door. Heck, anything is possible, William thought to himself as he took a step out the door.
That step - and that phrase - froze him solid. William then remembered the other thing Angelica asked that he bring with him.
William stepped out the door and walked in the direction of the market square at a brisk pace.
to be continued...