Choices - Flash Fiction

 


A young woman walked into the room, glanced around at the plethora of books for sale, and then noticed the older man assisting a customer as he stood behind the checkout table. He must be a volunteer, she thought as she began to slowly peruse the titles ready to be purchased and carted off to their new home. She flipped through a box of Fiction titles, only to wander to another box filled with graphic novels. She pulled out several books in a non-committal manner, then walked up to the man and set the books before him. Oliver offered her a smile that spoke - Welcome to the library book sale. So glad to see you here! Can you help me, she asked him, as his smile faltered just a little. I'm not sure which book to purchase, so could you read through them and let me know which ones sound interesting? The man resumed his regular smile as he replied - sure, glad to do it. The two other volunteers watched with careful eyes as he gently flipped through each book and read their dust jackets, while the woman watched with wide and eager eyes. Well, Oliver said, I think I would go for the murder mystery and the book about Queen Elizabeth II. The woman picked up the two books, glanced through them, then set them down as she replied - okay, those sound good, but I'm not really sold on them. She offered a grin with her chapped lips as she added - I'm a picky reader. The man nodded as if he too was just as picky, then pulled the books to the side as she resumed her search. He sat down and watched the other patrons looking through the inventory while his mind wandered. He thought about how it had been over a year since he went on a vacation, and how much he needed one if only to get away from his humdrum of a job that paid exceedingly well. He thought about how he hadn't been on a date for several months, mostly because he was too shy to approach anyone. However, one of his co-workers, a black woman named Miriam, had caught his fancy ever since she walked into their office three months ago. Through various side-handed conversations, he learned that she, too, was single and wasn't looking. Through many lunch hours, he learned that she was a beginner in the world of knitting, loved foreign films, did tai chi at the botanic gardens, and loved making huge turkey sandwiches to eat while engrossed in a thick book. In short, she was perfect for Oliver, yet he was too chicken-hearted to even approach the subject of possibly going out for a coffee or tea. So, he stewed in his misery and waited for the day when he could take a vacation by himself. The woman approached him again with five more books and asked if he could read through those as well. Oliver nodded and thumbed through them, then advised her to choose the book on growing flowers and the literary fiction book that told the story of a Russian writer who visits Paris and decides to stay there. The woman looked into his eyes, and Oliver wondered if she was searching for something else, a connection or a sense that she wanted something more than literary advice from him. However, Oliver decided then and there to put the necessary yet still friendly wall before him. After much hemming and hawing, the young woman chose the murder mystery and the book on growing flowers, then paid quickly and left with a trail of thank yous spilling from her mouth. The other volunteers congratulated him on handling her well and he sighed with gratitude. He put away the books she didn't choose and returned to his seat, only to stand up once more when Miriam walked into the room. His heart beat wildly as she scanned the boxes of books, then looked up to see her co-worker grinning and waving. She immediately rushed toward him and said - Oliver! I didn't know you were a library volunteer! Yeah, he replied, I've been doing this for over a year now. Well, now that I'm here, I hope many of these books will be coming home with me, Miriam replied with an infectious laugh that Oliver loved so much. She turned to begin her search, only to turn around once more and ask Oliver in a low tone - what time are you done with this? Oliver grinned as he felt his legs trembling a little. 2:30 and no plans after that, he replied a little too quickly. Cool, well, would you be up for hangin' with me and some almond croissants? There's a French bakery that I've been meaning to try but not by myself, ya know? Oliver relaxed in his chair, nodded yes, and felt the rays of the sun from the side window warm his hands.  




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