I thought last week was difficult enough with falling behind with my studies, but this week has been even worse! We have been thrown task after task after task!! Below is one such task. It was to envisage a character through dialogue. I quite enjoyed writing it. It just seemed to flow. Hope you enjoy it too? And as always any feedback is most welcome!
She walked over to him, unsure whether he had seen her or not. ‘Would you like a second cup Sir?’ She noticed him start. He looked up into her eyes and to Olivia it looked like he had been found guilty. Guilty of sitting in a coffee shop alone. Guilty of a pupil seeing him outside of school. Guilty of being found reading ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’. ‘My favourite book!’
‘Well I thought I would give it a try since one of my star pupils loves it so much!’ He blushed or she thought she noticed the colour rise to his cheeks.
‘Would you like me to get you another cup?’ He shook his head.
‘I don’t think I’ll be staying much longer.’ He looked at his watch.
‘Are you waiting for someone Sir?’ He smiled his assent.
‘Though I don’t think she’s coming.’
‘Maybe she’s been held up?’
‘Maybe,’ he sighed. ‘Though somehow I think I’ve been blown off.’
‘No Sir, surely not.’
‘Well I have been waiting here for over an hour.’
‘There’ll be a plausible explanation I’m sure.’
‘Please don’t tell your class mates I was stood up. I really don’t want them knowing that I am a sad lonely old teacher.’
‘You’re not old!’ Olivia caught herself.
‘Older than you!’
‘Not by much.’
‘By enough.’
‘I’d date you!’ Olivia not only surprised herself but her teacher sat upright too.
‘Would you now,’ he released a strained laugh, showing he was trying too hard to make light of the matter. ‘Anyway,’ he changed the subject like a click of the fingers. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I work here.’
‘I can see that, but why, you have your studies?’
‘I need the money Sir.’
‘Call me Adam. Sir is so stiff and formal.’ Now it was Olivia’s time to blush. She lowered her gaze. ‘Why do you need the money?’
‘I’m saving to go to Paris,’ she blurted.’ I’ve wanted to go since I can remember!’
‘Paris is a lovely city!’
‘Have you been?’ Olivia couldn’t stop the rising excitement within her. Adam nodded. She desired more than anything else to be able to share her dreams with someone. Adam, her teacher seemed the most qualified than anyone she knew, to be the one she shared them with. She sat down at the table before him. ‘What’s it like?’
‘Olivia!’ a shrill cry broke Adam’s description of music filled streets, the Seine glistening in the moonlight and Art, not just in the galleries but on the buildings that lined the boulevards. Olivia arose from her seat under the glare of her boss.
‘Sorry I have cups to wash.’
‘Perhaps,’ Olivia looked down at Adam with wide eyes. ‘We can continue this conversation at school, Monday.’
‘Yes, maybe.’ She walked away, forgetting Adam’s empty coffee cup on the table.
© Christine Lucas 2014.
Christine Lucas 