The Letter, Part One: Over Coffee
Originally posted on August 25, 2009
*bumps into the table*
Jacie: Oh! I’m so sorry!
Jacie: Thank heavens it didn’t spill on you! Can I get you a replacement?…….. *recognizes Radley* Oh my….. um…. hello there. Mr. Radley, isn’t it?
Radley: Just Radley, please. There’s no need to concern yourself with a replacement; this is only a refill that I was not going to finish.
Jacie: It was so awful clumsy of me. I spied an empty table over by the window, and I was rushing to get to it before it was taken...
Jacie: ….And now it is. I’d best be askin’ for a To-Go cup.
Radley: You are welcome to have a seat here, if you would like.
Jacie: *flustered* I….I would appreciate that, very much.
Jacie: Th-thank you.
Radley: You’re quite welcome.
Jacie: So what brings you to this part of town, Mr….. I mean….Radley?
Radley: A harmless but somewhat compelling addiction – I have discovered that this place brews the best cup of coffee in town. What is it that brings you in? A similar yen for excellent java?
Jacie: Their coffee is good, but I just come in on busy errand days because I enjoy the quiet – although it’s surely not quiet today, is it?
Radley: Not today, no, but generally it is at this time of day. Has your errand-running been successful this morning, Ms. MacOnochie?
Jacie: Yes, it has, but oh, please…. call me Jacie.
Radley: Certainly …. Would you mind if I asked what the initials stand for?
Jacie: *puzzled* Initials? ……………….. Oh! It’s Jacie, my name, that is,…J-A-C-I-E, not Jay Cee.
Radley: My mistake. I misunderstood, and I apologize.
Jacie: Oh, don’t worry about it. Probably you aren’t used to hearin’ all the twangin’ and drawlin’ I tend to do when I get nerv…. when I forget to hide my hillbilly roots.
Radley: Please don’t feel you need to hide anything on my account. And there is no reason to be nervous, I assure you………….. Or is there?
Jacie: I don’t know what you mean…
Radley: Asher mentioned my name the day we were introduced, and your reaction was a bit unusual, to say the least. I wondered why that might be. Have we met before, perhaps?
Jacie: No, never.
Radley: *visibly relieved* Well, then what is it that I am missing?
…to be continued…