It started on a Tuesday Morning. The weather was dark and gray and that's the way I felt. It was such a cliche, but it was true. There's nothing worse than a true cliche. I wondered aimlessly amongst the shops hoping that I could change my mood through consumeritsic pursuits. I bought: a Book, a CD, a sandwich and a newspaper.

The sandwich remained uneaten.

The CD remained unplayed.

The newspaper remained unread.

I felt undone.

The book, however, was read the very next morning. I sat in a small, empty cafe and ordered a coffee and then another, and yet another as I made my way quickly through the pages of this tiny book. It was a very slim volume but it spoke loudly and clearly and by the time I finished it my mood had been raised. I sat and pawed at the cover, looking and feeling to see if the volume would give up any more clues.

"Another coffee?" the waitress asked

"Oh, umm, yeah, great..." I stumbled, startled by her intervention. "Thanks" I added sheepishly. She smiled and then turned and filled another coffee cup. My gaze lingered a moment. Those eyes, that nose, the way her brown hair fell about her face and shoulders. I looked away as she turned around to step out from behind the counter and bring my coffee to me. I pretended to be surprised by the movement and looked around at her as she placed the coffee cup on the table. "Oh, thanks......umm, busy then?" I ventured. She smiled knowingly at me and returned to the counter. I looked outside to the street, not really taking in what was before my eyes but consumed in a simple thought 'she must think I'm an idiot'. I was surprised to hear a light 'ching' as china met with table. I looked across the table to find the waitress sitting opposite me.

"Very busy" she said. "As you can see I am run off my feet. This place..." she said, looking around the cafe "is really so successful that the owners are thinking of opening another five just like it in this parade of shops" She gazed straight into my eyes. My stomach did a small, eloquent flip. Then I remembered to smile. "So, what are you reading" She asked, grabbing my book before I had a chance to offer a reply. She studied the cover momenteraly. "Oh, it's quite good this, a bit seventies, do you think?"

"How do you mean?" I asked, confused

"A bit hippy" She clarified

"Oh, I see, yeah, I suppose so, but in a good way"

She nodded in agreement as she took a sip from her coffee "Been out shopping then?" she enquired

"No, I did that yesterday, can't afford to do that two days in a row!"

"Did you buy anything?" she asked as she pulled out a box of cigarettes from the top pocket of her blouse. She flipped the lid of the box open and pulled out a gas lighter and a cigarette as I answered.

"A book, that book actually, A CD, a paper, you know, this and that"

"Did it work?" She looked at me, expectantly, and sat, elbows on table, arms apart, cigerrette in one hand and lighter in the other, arms swaying back and forth a little.

"What do you mean?"

"Did it cheer you up...the stuff you bought?"

"Ah, no, ('How did she know?' I thought) it was all a waste of money except..." I motioned towards the book "...that"

She lit her cigarette. I thought I'd try and be clever.

"A triumph for consumerism or for art?" I asked her

"I don't know. What are you asking me for? If you think I can give you answers then your sorely mistaken. All I can do is run franticly around the edges and try and not get too blurry hoping I might be able to stumble across the odd insight..." She smiled, and then seeing my confusion at her diatribe continued "Clueless is a word I sometimes associate with myself. Hopelessly romantic and therefore always bound to fail. Or is that too cynical? See what I mean? I can't even judge myself, let alone help you uncover your deep mysteries." She smiled sweetly again. I wasn't sure what to say or think. Should I take her seriously or was she just pulling my tail? She was enjoying this. Possibly because I was so easy to mislead and confuse. I was the slow, gentle giant, she the nimble, playful hare that ran dazzling and enchanting circles a round me. I grimaced, confused. Her smile grew to a full blown grin and then she let out a little laugh that was warm and pleased with itself all at once. "What's your name?" She asked, still smiling.

"Tim"

"Oh, how unfortunate" she remarked. "Mine's Adele, pleased to meet you, Tim" She stretched out a delicate hand and offered it to me and I grasped it for one moment before letting go.

"How do you do" I said, in mock formality.

"I finish at two-thirty this afternoon, would you like to meet me?" she asked.

"Oh, yep, OK, that would be nice" I said, surprised, eyes wide open.

To be continued...