Flash Fiction Friday: Yank at a London Cafe

Shifted Flash Fiction Friday to this blog due to the theme. Feel free to comment below.

—-

He looked over the sea of tables at the edge of the River Thames, coffee in hand, guitar strapped to his back.  The open air cafe  was perfect this fine Saturday afternoon. The sun graced the fine August day. Thin strips of white flirted with the master of the sky. Millie scratched behind her ear with one paw. She hated her new haircut. But he had enough of brushing for the summer. Besides, the spaniel’s hair would grow back so fast that in a month nobody would know the difference.

I think that possibly
Maybe I’ve fallen for you
Yes there’s a chance
That I’ve fallen quite hard over you

A sappy love song played in his ear. He drank deeply from the Styrofoam cup.  Guitar in hand he played practiced the tune in his ear. His mind wondered over the events of the last year.

I’ve seen the paths that your eyes wander down
I wanna come too-

From unpublished writer to a celebrity in a foreign land. His show was a hit even if is producer pronounced the idea “daft”on his first phone call.  Sight unseen he crossed the Atlantic and set up shop in London.  Success followed. Money, fame, and a three pets, two cats and Millie the cocker spaniel at his side.  She was the only blond, or brunette or redhead that stuck around.

I think that possibly
Maybe I’ve fallen for you

No one understands me
Quite like you do
Through all of the shadowy corners of me

One thing was missing, someone to share it with.

Pathetic, he thought.

Now if the raven hair barrista behind the counter would notice him. She was friendly enough and he had thing about not messing with people while their work.

I never knew just what it was
About the same coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew-

I never knew just what it was
About this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew-

Someone not pining for is approval. Someone who could see through about his television persona on screen or didn’t mind the tabloid cyclopean eyes. Not a actress or model who’s job was to fake it twenty-four-seven.

I’ve seen the waters that make your eyes shine
Now I’m shining too-

Because, oh because
I’ve fallen quite hard over you

Of course he tried a bit of friendly banter, to leverage enough of his celebrity status to compensate for his lack of good looks. He even took to playing the guitar again, by ear, of course. No singing. No need to drive the people around him mad with his keening.

Then the boyfriend showed up. He leaned over the counter to kiss her, she smiled back.  So much for that dream.

If I didn’t know you, I’d rather not know
If I couldn’t have you, I’d rather be alone

I never knew just what it was
About the same coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew-

Millie bark pierce through the song in his head.  Her eyes chased the mallards drifting downstream.

“Down girl!”

“Is she your dog?” asked someone from the corner of his eye. He pulled the earbuds off. The newcomer vermilion hair fell around her shoulders in long tresses. Her piercing green eyes fixed on Millie.

“Is she bothering you?”

“Oh no. She is beautiful. Wait aren’t you?”

For a split second he thought about saying no, pretend he was somebody else. Her emerald eyes dissuaded him from that plan of action. “Yes, yes I am. Please take a seat.”

Millie welcomed the newcomer with much tail waging and wet kisses.

Fame has its privileges after all.

However fleeting they may be.

I never knew just what it was
About this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew-

All of the while
All of the while, it was you
You-
You-
You-

—-