The Interval of Love

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

The next week Christopher went off to the market, this time he went with his dog Jackie, an hour before he had gone last week.

"This time I could see her and maybe speak to her," he thought.

He wandered for some minutes before he saw them, they had come again, father and daughter. It had to be, he wondered if her mother was part of her life, where she lived, what she did when she was alone, what school she attended so many questions but no answers to them. He stood the and watch as she walked past him but didn't notice him.

"Jane" he called out, she looked back then smiled it seemed for a moment like she was about to move towards him but she did not. She turned back and then continued to walk just behind the man.

"That is an improvement," he thought

He walked out of the market avoiding contact with people because it was already becoming crowded. He walked slowly imagining what his life would be like if she were to be in it. He would like to tell her everything about himself and know everything about her. He would introduce her to his family, she could meet his dog, Jackie was always shy and reserved so he hoped she would like Jane. He would invite her under the tree in the evenings so he would listen to her and just take in all her beauty, he would walk her back home at the end of the night and she could hold Jackie.

"Hey!, watch where you are going" someone shouted. He had almost walked into a ditch, he looked up so he could continue dreaming good thing he was awake, he couldn't wake up from this dream. The streets were mostly clear this was because both buyers and sellers went to the market to get things to buy or sell. He saw three boys fighting for a toy, it was already broken into three but they still didn't want to share. He wondered if he would have children with Jane and what they would be like. He knew he just met Jane and hardly knew her but the heart wants what it wants there was no denying that. He walked passed them trying to mind his business, getting home he went straight to meet his sisters.

" There's this girl I met and I like but I don't know what to do"

"What's her name?" She asked teasing him

"Jane"

"You can buy her flowers or chocolates, depends on what she likes"

"Okay, thank you"

He wondered if she would like for him to give her a gift.

"Do you need money for it?" his sister called to his attention.

"No, it is fine,” he thought of what he would buy but he had no idea, their fifteen minutes conversation didn't give a hint. Even if he got to buy a gift, how will he give it to her? Why was she never alone? He was determined to make this work he just didn't know how. He left to his room to get his wallet and take Jackie with him, he straightened out of his bed, and on his way out he shouted;

" On my way to the market, please tell mum when she gets back. I might belong" He walked slowly using this time to think about what she would like. Jane has seemed a little bit reserved to him, what do reserved people like? She also had her nails in her mouth most of their conversation but she didn't chew, he wondered if she was just nervous or if it was a habit. She had also used a hairpin on her hair, it was dark and he remembered thinking it went with the color of her pin, almost invisible. She had rolled her eyes on two occasions at the beginning of their conversation. When he first asked for her name and when he suggested that it was nice she didn't have to go to school that day. He noticed she had quite unusual hair on her skin like she was hairy, but in a good way. It was curled up like a baby's hair he had been tempted to stare but had resisted the urge and above all, she didn't say much, she looked like she wanted to but she did not and it was not because she wasn't interested, she was not there yet, he wanted to know what she had thought about that day so maybe he would get her a notebook. Jackie barked and when he looked up he saw another dog staring at them.

"Shoo, not this dog," he said

The dog walked away but still kept turning to look at them as if he was trying to confirm something. By the time he got to the market he had greeted probably ten people he knew and they had asked about his sisters and mother. He had replied to them smiling too to give them a welcoming feel. It was going normal routine, sometimes he wished he could just walk the streets like nobody was there but that would be considered rude. When he entered the first store, a clothing store he noticed, it was a little bit crowded he usually went to the market with his mother or sisters so he never really minded how busy the stalls were until now, the attendants were few so you had to attend to yourself and even if you got their attention you would not have it for long. He looked around and saw the section for shirts, they would look nice on him. He saw dresses lined up but was sure he didn't want that he decided he was in the wrong place" As he was leaving the attendant called him back.

"What do you need?" He asked

"Sorry, wrong place" he made his way out trying to avoid any possible persuasion which was very common, you could see traders tugging at your shirt to get your attention. Like for heaven's sake, I can see what you are selling I'm just not interested. Growing up his sister gave him a broom sick before entering the market and asked him to poke anyone that tried to hold him, he never got to pie anybody because he thought it was unnecessary drama. The next store had a big banner on it, it was a bookstore he went in and walked freely in the store, there were fewer people there. He made his way to the attendant and asked for the notebook aisle.

" It's just two rows from your left" Christopher nodded and walked away. At the aisle, he scanned the shelves trying to pick a notebook that will say something meaningful or at least have a relatable situation to his suit his current need. He saw one with a bunny on it and thought it was cute, another with a pencil but that seemed too plain and direct. Like it was saying:

" Here's a pencil, write" well he was not giving her that. Finally, he found a book, which was the color of blueberries, and had two monkeys handing on their tails to a tree. He smiled picked it from the shelf then walked to the counter to pay for it and have it wrapped too. When he left the bookstore he felt like he had accomplished a great task. He had always loved gifts as a child he didn't care how expensive they were, he had always thought that it was the thought that came with the gift that mattered and he hoped Jane would think so too. Getting home he went straight to his room to his reading table and kept it in his drawer, he would compose a note alongside the book something a friend or someone that cared would write. He picked up his notebook and cut out a piece of paper using his lips and tongue to fold it into a rectangle he tried again and again but could not think of anything appropriate to write so he put his name

'From Christopher to you Miss Jane' then he drew a smiley face at the end of it. For the first time in several weeks he thought of his dad, he would be the right person to ask for help with this but too bad he wasn't there. He would probably go to the market again and hopefully, he would get an opportunity to see her. The next day he was to pick up a message at a*****e in the city after that he would go to the market just in case. He took his bicycle because it was somewhat far, he got to a turn by the fence of a school it was a crossroad so he could not see the road by his right because of the fence and he was supposed to ring his bell but it was not working. When he took the turn he was met by another boy with a bicycle he impulsively turned to his right into the fence. He lay for some seconds before getting up to apologize but the boy just nodded and left, when he touched his head and looked at his hand, he could see that he was bleeding on his head he got on his bicycle and just continued.

At the store, he went to the counter to ask for his package, he was met by Mr. Paul who asked about his head and advised him to be more careful. He handed him a package and asked him to send his regards to his mother. He was about to leave when he decided to get bandages before leaving the store. Then he saw her, this time without the man. She was wearing a red gown that fitted, her hair packed to the back into a ponytail. She was standing on her toes which were in flats and picking pads from the shelves, too many pads he noticed but when he looked in her cart there was too many of everything. They probably didn't come here often that would explain the number of items on her cart. She was just beautiful.

"Jane?"

" Christopher" she smiled

" You are hard to find," he said moving closer to her, she laughed

"I see you everywhere, in the market and now here. I am starting to think you are following me"

"The first time was a coincidence, the second was intentional but this is fate"

"What happened to your head?"

He reached to touch it like he didn't know it was already there.

"I ran into a pole, I was just going to get bandages"

" Well, I came to shop with my dad, we live far so most things from here we buy in bulk"

"Where do you live?"

"Wolf Creek, I doubt if you know it, it's a not well-known place"

"That explains why I couldn't find you"

"So you've been looking for me" it was almost as if she was shy.

"Is that a good thing?" She just smiled but didn't reply

"Where is your dad?"

"He went to get gas, I am to pick out the things on my list before he gets here" she flashed the list at him

"The gas station is not close by"

" That's why I am taking my time to talk to a stranger" she teased.

" This stranger will keep you company for as long as he can" he offered to take the cart and continued to push as she made her way through the list.

" So what's your last name? I realized I didn't know it"

"David"

"Jane David from Wolf Creek"

"Yes, Christopher....." She looked at him slightly bending her head to look at him.

"Philips"

"Christopher Philips from Bellevue"

"Why are malls so quiet and calm but the market busy and so unorganized, I mean the same people visit them"

"I know right, things are cheaper in the market"

"Yeah, that's too expensive here. Just look at this for instance" she said holding a packet of sugar. "We bought this in the market for twenty percent less than this price and it is the same product" she smiled as she dropped it in the cart.

"We might just be paying for the quiet and calm environment, we cannot talk comfortably like this in the market" she continued through her list.

"What is Wolf Creek like?"

"It's quiet most of the time, a lot of people with here in Bellevue and we shop here too. Just small community with very close relationships"

"Your dad too?"

"Yes, my dad too"

"You didn't seem to say much when we first met, I hope I am not prying?"

"No, it's okay"

"Maybe I will come to Wolf Creek to visit" she laughed uncontrollably.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I doubt my mum would like that"

"Not necessarily in your house, just to hang out"

"That will not be feasible in Wolf Creek"

"So, from what I understand, I cannot see you unless you come here?"

"Yes"

"That's only once a week and I might not even get to talk to you"

"Story of my life"

"Wow, you are serious"

"I didn't say once a week but most of the time yeah"

"What do you do for fun in Wolf Creek if you don't have friends come to visit?"

"I have known people over there"

" They are allowed to visit?"

"Yes, if they want to"

"This story is not clear"

"It is what it is"

She was done with her list, it had taken them two trips around the store she had missed some things or probably left them out intentionally. He helped her push it to the counter while she picked a packet of plasters, a bottle of spirit, and cotton wool for him. When they returned to the counter Mr. Paul's sons were the attendants and he greeted them with a smile they packed the items into three bags and she had asked him to pack the plasters in a different bag and she paid for the items using the credit card her dad left for her. They took the bags out and then found a place to sit. Taking out the spirit she put some of it on the cotton and then used it to clean the blood on his bruised head. He shrieked at first making her laugh then he smiled and stayed still until she finally put the plaster on his head.

"Does it make me look badass?" He said making an impression with two fingers of both hands in the air.

"Not at all" she laughed and shook her head simultaneously.

"Ouch, you could not even tell me what I want to hear"

"Christopher, you look badass," he noticed that she snorted when she laughed hard. It was funny and unexpected, he considered it cute. They sat still for a while looking at people walking past on the streets, vehicles especially motorcycles riding carelessly, the road was recently repaired so more vehicles used it this has helped grow the store compared to recent years. The silence became quite odd and long.

"Your dad should be here in a few minutes the road has been busier recently"

"Yeah, that's true that's why he left me to do the shopping, to save time, we have to be home by dinner time"

"Division of labor, we've treated that in school, if I recall correctly"

"I knew you were a geek with your glasses and all" this time he laughed.

"I asked what you did for fun at home you have not answered"

"I write a lot, I read and sleep"

"You have the guys to call me a geek, you pretty much stay to your books all day"

"I do it for fun, not school work, helps me relax. What about you?"

"I watch movies, I play video games, I go to the cinema a lot "

"I have never been"

"Why?" He asked puzzled

"We don't do much of that at my place"

"You mean no cinema there?"

"Yes, not even one"

"I'll take you to one, we'll go see a movie you'll love"

"What kind of movie would we see?"

"I can't tell you, it'll be a surprise"

"I can't wait then"

"What do you write about?"

"I write my thoughts down, I write poems, and sometimes I just pick a topic research on it then write my version of it"

"Can I see any?"

"I have not shown it to anyone and I don't have my book here" He stood up and went to his bicycle to take the notebook tied to his bike, the wrap was a little bit bruised, and he hoped it didn't affect the book too.

"Speaking of books, I got you this" she opened it and saw the blue book with the animals on it.

"This is beautiful," she said still blushing

"I could not think of what to give you but I thought it was okay"

"It's perfect, I like it" she rubbed the edges and surface as if she was marking her territory or connecting to the book.

"Let me get us something to eat, what would you like?"

"Any milk drink with a doughnut, chocolate please" He stood up and walked back to the store to pick up the items the line on the counter was long and he had to wait for about ten to fifteen minutes on it. When he went back out she was not there again, he dropped what he had gone in to get and walked towards the road to see if she was there, he looked to his left and right but didn't see any sign. of her. He turned and walked back to the store, he concluded she had left and although sad he sat down remembering their conversation smiling as he did. He took the nylon with the doughnut and drinks and walked to his bicycle and there rolled on his handlebar with her ribbon was a piece of paper from the notebook he gave to her. He removed it and the first sentence caught his eyes;

'I like to imagine a day where we would live in the same town,

on the same street'..........

She had very beautiful handwriting he had noticed, he closed it and decided he would get home before reading the rest of it. He rode his bike as fast as he could, racing to get to his bed to see what was in the note. He wondered what it would say, would it be good or bad for him? He didn't know where Wolf Creek was he had never heard of it, if he did and had the courage, he would have ridden his bike all the way there to give her the doughnut and drink he had gotten for her. Her dad must have cone while he went in and she could not say goodbye to him, they were probably behind schedule but today was fun, he got to sit with her and talk at this point, what could be better than that? She had packed her hair into a ponytail and now that she had given him the ribbon, he could imagine her sitting in front with her dad and her hair going where the wind takes it now that it was let down without the support of the ribbon. The ribbon was red as her dress and she had tied it in form of a bow tie just like his sisters did. When he got home, his sisters and mother were already getting ready to serve dinner, he greeted them and handed over the package to his mother.

"What happened to your head?

" I ran into a wall, it's okay and yes it has been checked" he smiled trying to be funny.

"How is Mr. Paul?" His mother asked still setting the table

"Did you see his son?" his sisters asked almost together not letting him answer his mother. He turned to his mother and said;

"He's fine ma, said to greet you" then he turned to his sisters

"Which of them he asked " smiling at both his sisters, he had overheard them once discussing how attractive they thought the boys were. He tried sneaking into his room to read his note and avoid further questions about his day.

"Christopher, clean up and come down for dinner" his mother called out. So much for going to read his note. He cleaned up fast hoping dinner would be half as fast as he was, he could read his letter now but he did not want to rush it, he wanted to read every word and digest its meaning, understand it and reflect on its meaning. Now that he knew she wrote down her thoughts and opinions he knew this meant something and they were not just words written to be read, they were to be felt too. As they are, he tried thinking what the next line would be, what she had written. He ate hurriedly trying to get it over with, he wasn't even hungry.

"Christopher Philips, you would choke if you continue eating like that," his mother said. He cut down the chunk of food he was putting in his mouth, all this while listening to his mother conversing with his sisters, he could not hear the words just muttered sounds. He drank his glass of water and took his plate to the sink to rinse it off.

"Good night, I love you all" he didn't know when he said the last part he must be excited. Nobody said anything but he knew they were thinking it too. When he was finally on his bed, he took the note from underneath his pillow and read it

'

I like to imagine a day when we would live in the same town,

on the same street and you would walk past me each day.

Sometimes I see you, other times I don't,

Then you call out my name and that makes me smile.

You smile back

I keep smiling but for my skin color you could see the red'

"Christopher, are you awake?" His sister called from just outside his room.

"Yes" he replied almost grumbling

"Mum wants to know if you are interested in visiting our cousins tomorrow, so she could make plans for you too"

"Yeah, that's nice"

"Goodnight," she said, her footsteps slowly fading away. He turned back to the note.

"Where was I?" He said out loud.

'I keep smiling but for my skin color you could see the red

You don't look away but you don't come close either

I wonder if I should approach you but I am unsure.

I would walk the streets each day if I could

So I can see your smile,

Your beautiful smile'