Pearl.
"How much are those little cakes in the window?"
"Which ones? The Eccles cakes are –"
"No, the ones with red hearts on the –"
"The Valentine cakes."
"Right."
"Oh, yes. They're lovely aren't they?" says Pearl. "They're a new line, very romantic. Two forty nine each."
"That's a lot, they're only small. Still, they're nice. I'll take one."
"Which message would you like, 'For My beloved Husband' or –"
"No, the – uh… 'For My Darling' one. That'll do fine."
"Very pretty. Thank you madam, I'll just get your change." Pearl busied herself at the till.
The other woman wasn't blushing, in fact she was as white as a sheet, but Faith detected extreme embarrassment just the same as she quickly took the bulky little paper bag Pearl handed to her, pocketed the change and left the shop. Not having given Faith a glance.
"Were you teasing her Pearl? 'For Your Husband' and all?"
"Of course not. Who am I to judge? Any woman can get married. Not only the beautiful ones."
That's when I knew with blinding clarity that my friend Pearl and myself were cut from quite different cloth; our fundamental worldviews were totally incompatible. You see, to me, that woman who had just left the shop, was an icon of attractiveness, while to Pearl she was almost pitiably plain. Beauty being, as they say, very much in the eye of the beholder. I knew too that Pearl had not the slightest inkling that her most recent customer was a lesbian. That most intriguing fact being completely remote from Pearl's consciousness.
"She probably would have been wearing a ring, Pearl, if she was married, but never mind. Thanks for coming in today, I know it's your day off really. Was your husband all right about it?"
"Well, yes he was, it means more money doesn't it? You know we're saving to go back home for a while. We have to sort out some family matters. I can't do it every week though, you know. Someone must see to the kids."
"Yes, well, it's only till we get some help. Owen is advertising for someone."
"He's not paying enough, Faith, that's what I think."
"You and me both, Pearl, but he won't be told, so we just have to carry on regardless."
"Is he only wanting a Saturday worker?"
"Yes. And we do need one. Believe it or not Pearl, it's usually much busier than this at weekends. I think people aren't coming out today 'cause it's so cold."
"I wouldn't come out if I didn't have to."
"Me neither, Pearl. But anyway, as you're here, maybe you wouldn't mind finishing up for me just this once. I have to get to the shops before they close."
"Tesco's will still be open."
"It's not Tesco's I want. I have to do some special shopping, for Valentine's Day!"
"You celebrate Valentine's Day? I didn't dream you were so romantic."
"Well, not usually, but I thought I would for a change. I don't suppose Don will think of it, but never mind. It'll be fun making the effort."
"I think you were inspired by our romantic customer Faith, but anyway, you go off whenever you like. You know I don't mind. Some day you might do me a favour in return. Why not take one of these little cakes with you? They're really very pretty and we've still got nearly a dozen left."
"I will, just to please you, Pearl, but Don'll have to eat it, they're far too sweet for me. Don't worry, though. Valentine's Day isn't till Monday, so we've still got time to shift the rest. I bet we do, too. You're such a good saleswoman, Pearl, I reckon you could sell them all by yourself! Anyway, I'll get off now and see you next week. Enjoy the rest of the weekend."
"And you. Have a romantic time."
"I won't even see Don till Sunday evening, but still, never mind, look on the bright side. Bye for now."
"Bye. Bye."
~ ~ ~
How thrilling – Valentine's Day on Monday! That
"How much are those little cakes in the window?"
"Which ones? The Eccles cakes are –"
"No, the ones with red hearts on the –"
"The Valentine cakes."
"Right."
"Oh, yes. They're lovely aren't they?" says Pearl. "They're a new line, very romantic. Two forty nine each."
"That's a lot, they're only small. Still, they're nice. I'll take one."
"Which message would you like, 'For My beloved Husband' or –"
"No, the – uh… 'For My Darling' one. That'll do fine."
"Very pretty. Thank you madam, I'll just get your change." Pearl busied herself at the till.
The other woman wasn't blushing, in fact she was as white as a sheet, but Faith detected extreme embarrassment just the same as she quickly took the bulky little paper bag Pearl handed to her, pocketed the change and left the shop. Not having given Faith a glance.
"Were you teasing her Pearl? 'For Your Husband' and all?"
"Of course not. Who am I to judge? Any woman can get married. Not only the beautiful ones."
That's when I knew with blinding clarity that my friend Pearl and myself were cut from quite different cloth; our fundamental worldviews were totally incompatible. You see, to me, that woman who had just left the shop, was an icon of attractiveness, while to Pearl she was almost pitiably plain. Beauty being, as they say, very much in the eye of the beholder. I knew too that Pearl had not the slightest inkling that her most recent customer was a lesbian. That most intriguing fact being completely remote from Pearl's consciousness.
"She probably would have been wearing a ring, Pearl, if she was married, but never mind. Thanks for coming in today, I know it's your day off really. Was your husband all right about it?"
"Well, yes he was, it means more money doesn't it? You know we're saving to go back home for a while. We have to sort out some family matters. I can't do it every week though, you know. Someone must see to the kids."
"Yes, well, it's only till we get some help. Owen is advertising for someone."
"He's not paying enough, Faith, that's what I think."
"You and me both, Pearl, but he won't be told, so we just have to carry on regardless."
"Is he only wanting a Saturday worker?"
"Yes. And we do need one. Believe it or not Pearl, it's usually much busier than this at weekends. I think people aren't coming out today 'cause it's so cold."
"I wouldn't come out if I didn't have to."
"Me neither, Pearl. But anyway, as you're here, maybe you wouldn't mind finishing up for me just this once. I have to get to the shops before they close."
"Tesco's will still be open."
"It's not Tesco's I want. I have to do some special shopping, for Valentine's Day!"
"You celebrate Valentine's Day? I didn't dream you were so romantic."
"Well, not usually, but I thought I would for a change. I don't suppose Don will think of it, but never mind. It'll be fun making the effort."
"I think you were inspired by our romantic customer Faith, but anyway, you go off whenever you like. You know I don't mind. Some day you might do me a favour in return. Why not take one of these little cakes with you? They're really very pretty and we've still got nearly a dozen left."
"I will, just to please you, Pearl, but Don'll have to eat it, they're far too sweet for me. Don't worry, though. Valentine's Day isn't till Monday, so we've still got time to shift the rest. I bet we do, too. You're such a good saleswoman, Pearl, I reckon you could sell them all by yourself! Anyway, I'll get off now and see you next week. Enjoy the rest of the weekend."
"And you. Have a romantic time."
"I won't even see Don till Sunday evening, but still, never mind, look on the bright side. Bye for now."
"Bye. Bye."
~ ~ ~
How thrilling – Valentine's Day on Monday! That
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