Keisha Runs Him Down

Keisha was beginning to believe John was avoiding her. Little Timor’s not that big and on the main street people are going to run into each other. Maeve told her at the coffee shop diner that he was in every morning for coffee but for some reason he was either there before or after she left. She suspected she knew the reason but to set his mind at ease she was going to have to talk to him.

He had to make his rounds every morning, how had she missed him?  She stood in the doorway to her shop and watched for him.

John stopped to talk to some tourists explaining where they might get a good breakfast and continued on down the street. He heard the wind chimes and deliberately crossed the street to avoid Keisha’s shop. Keisha saw his manoeuvre and stepped out on the sidewalk. Surely if he saw her he would speak.

He saw her reflection in the glass of the storefront he was in front of. “Come on John be a big boy go ahead and take what’s coming to you.” He told himself. He knew she was watching him so he adjusted his sunglasses and walked across the street.

Stepping up on the sidewalk, “Hi Keisha.”

“I need to talk to you,” she said motioning for him to follow her inside where it was cooler.

John dipped his head and followed her.

“Now I know this is a small town and in a week’s time I’m bound to run into you somewhere, why are you avoiding me?  I know you are and if it’s because you don’t want to see me again, that’s fine but at least say hello now and again.”

John let out a breath, “to be honest with you I didn’t think you’d want to see me again.”

“Now what gave you that idea? I’ve been hoping you’d call.”

“I’m sorry Keisha; I guess I’ve been busy.”

“No you haven’t, no more than you were last week or the week before so what is it?”

He was embarrassed, “I figured I was a washout the other night and you wouldn’t want to see me again.”

“That is not true, not true at all I’d very much like to see you again. Mori and I will be on the beach after five thirty today if you’d like to join us.”

“Thanks, I might just do that.”

“I’ll be looking for you.” Keisha smiled and managed to get a little smile back from him behind his sunglasses. 

John walked out and down the street feeling a little better now that he knew she wasn’t upset with him. He’s missed their little morning chats when he made his rounds, in fact he missed her.