ANNIE
The rain hammered against the coffee shop window, Julie had just managed to miss it, ducking inside to avoid a soaking. She didn't bother to remove her coat, much preferring its warm sanctuary, pulling it ever closer round her as she waited for the waitress to take her order. There was one other customer, sat at a table just to the right of Julie's. The other customer was a girl of about Julie's age, and had smiled as Julie had stumbled through the doors, "Raining cats and dogs out there," the girl had remarked.
Julie was in no mood to be 'nice,' so the added effort of being talkative was out of the question, she deployed her usual tactic to deter conversation, she scowled and grunted in reply, that always worked. The other girl gave a sad smile and turned her eyes once more to the door, Julie cast her eyes to her table top and the paper napkin that she was folding in ever smaller squares. The waitress came over and Julie gave her order,
"Coffee, white."
As the waitress disappeared into the kitchen area a shout of laughter erupted from the other girl as the doors to the shop were flung open and three people burst in. The last turned in the doorway and hurriedly shook out the large umbrella he was carrying. Amidst much giggling the three took off and hung up their dripping wet coats. As they joined the girl at her table Julie could now see the newcomers were two girls and a boy.
As the waitress disappeared into the kitchen area a shout of laughter erupted from the other girl as the doors to the shop were flung open and three people burst in. The last turned in the doorway and hurriedly shook out the large umbrella he was carrying. Amidst much giggling the three took off and hung up their dripping wet coats. As they joined the girl at her table Julie could now see the newcomers were two girls and a boy.
"Annie, how are you, and how on earth did you manage to avoid that lot," one of the girls said nodding toward the window before kissing Annie on both cheeks, the other girl likewise greeted Annie with a familiar ease that comes from true friendship. The boy however kissed Annie on the lips and lingered there a little too long for Julie's comfort, she had been watching them and was finding the whole 'friendy-wendy, huggy, kissy' scene distasteful, her scowl of disapproval deepened. The
waitress brought her coffee over and turned to the four friends, they were obviously 'regulars' from the good natured banter that passed between them and the waitress. For some reason this grated on Julie's nerves, then she got a good look at the boy...........my, he was handsome, Julie would without doubt have spared a smile for him. Yet all the time he had sat next to Annie, his arm resting easily over the back of her chair, his forehead occasionally touching hers when he answered one of her questions, he had not once looked over to where Julie sat. Julie considered herself by far the most beautiful girl in the room, everything about her said class and expense, and she had worked damn hard to make sure it did! Julie surmised that the boy had either extremely poor taste or just felt sorry for Annie, yes, that was it, Julie reasoned, it wasn't affection the boy was showing Annie, it was pity.
Eventually the rain eased and Julie paid for her coffee and left. As the door closed behind her Annie nodded toward it and said to the boy,
waitress brought her coffee over and turned to the four friends, they were obviously 'regulars' from the good natured banter that passed between them and the waitress. For some reason this grated on Julie's nerves, then she got a good look at the boy...........my, he was handsome, Julie would without doubt have spared a smile for him. Yet all the time he had sat next to Annie, his arm resting easily over the back of her chair, his forehead occasionally touching hers when he answered one of her questions, he had not once looked over to where Julie sat. Julie considered herself by far the most beautiful girl in the room, everything about her said class and expense, and she had worked damn hard to make sure it did! Julie surmised that the boy had either extremely poor taste or just felt sorry for Annie, yes, that was it, Julie reasoned, it wasn't affection the boy was showing Annie, it was pity.
Eventually the rain eased and Julie paid for her coffee and left. As the door closed behind her Annie nodded toward it and said to the boy,
"She is very beautiful, but she seems sad, lonely somehow,"
"Oh don't waste your kind heart on her," said the boy, "She works at the same company as I do, she is the rudest, vainest, most intolerant person I have ever met, but you, my darling Annie, now you ARE beautiful."
"Sweet talker," Annie replied gently tweaking his nose, but the softness in her eyes told of the confidence she had in knowing he meant every word.
It was time to leave. Whilst the boy settled the bill Annie allowed one of the girls to wheel her to the 'Ladies.' One of the reasons she liked coming to this particular coffee shop was, besides good access for her wheelchair, the mirrors and wash basins in the rest room were low enough for her to use. She brushed out her long auburn hair, always one of her best features, and re-applied makeup to her deeply scarred face, caused by the same accident that had crushed her legs. Strange, these days she hardly noticed the devastation in the mirror, probably because the people who knew and loved her best didn't either.
JULIE
Julie believed that her dinner party had gone well, polite conversation, sophisticated food and well mannered guests. All Julie's dinner parties were like this, owing in part to the fact that her guests were also her employees. Getting tipsy, cracking risque jokes or even flirting was a 'no, no' that could cost them their jobs, and they knew it! Julie prided herself that her dinner parties were a way for herself and her staff to mingle socially, 'a Company that plays together, stays together' was one of her more recent, meaningless, motivational sayings. However her guests, if asked, would have said that the dinner parties were cold, uncomfortable occasions that they were obliged to attend. Their idea of staff socialising was, and as had been the previous evening, the cinema, followed by a quick pint and a fish and chip supper on the way home, the whole evening full of camaraderie and laughter. Needless to say Julie had not been invited, she never was, her cold stony exterior and frequent disapproving scowls indicated that 'mingling' with the staff could only ever be done on her terms.
As Julie shook the last hand and closed the door on the last guest her customary scowl deepened. She was sure she recognised one of the young men, he was a new comer to her firm and she didn't as yet know his name. She had seen him recently outside of work, but where? She gave her head a shake, it was of no true importance and she was tired. The clearing up would be left, as usual, to the cleaner in the morning, so switching out the lights she made her way upstairs. Once out of her clothes and into her bathrobe she sat before the dressing table mirror, brushed out her hair and removed her makeup. She had never needed much, her skin was perfection, and at nearly thirty Julie could have easily have passed as a twenty year old. It amused her when, at times, she was referred to as a mere girl. Girl!! That was it. Now she remembered where she had seen the young man, only at the time she had thought, probably due to his casual attire, he was much younger. It was in the coffee shop she had ducked into to escape the rain. Of course, and the girl he had shown so much affection toward, Annie, that was her name. Julie found it odd that she could not remember her own employee's name, (if she ever knew it in the first place) yet could recall the name of a perfect stranger. Still, the girl was unforgettable, those scars, horrific. Julie looked once more into the mirror, she could not imagine what she would do if her own beautiful face was marred in such a way, she would probably never leave the house.
In the back of Julie's mind she knew it wasn't only Annie's scars that made her stand out in a crowd, it was her overall persona. The ease that Annie had with her friends, her natural bubbly laugh, and the way a smile was never far from her lips. Annie just didn't seem to CARE that she was badly scarred, and her friends, they actually kissed her where the scars ran deepest. Ugh! Julie stood up and let the bathrobe slide off her shoulders revealing her naked body, no, she knew she would never let anyone know about the devastation that reflected back at her, she would rather remain friendless and unloved then reveal what fire can do to human flesh.
It was time to leave. Whilst the boy settled the bill Annie allowed one of the girls to wheel her to the 'Ladies.' One of the reasons she liked coming to this particular coffee shop was, besides good access for her wheelchair, the mirrors and wash basins in the rest room were low enough for her to use. She brushed out her long auburn hair, always one of her best features, and re-applied makeup to her deeply scarred face, caused by the same accident that had crushed her legs. Strange, these days she hardly noticed the devastation in the mirror, probably because the people who knew and loved her best didn't either.
JULIE
As Julie shook the last hand and closed the door on the last guest her customary scowl deepened. She was sure she recognised one of the young men, he was a new comer to her firm and she didn't as yet know his name. She had seen him recently outside of work, but where? She gave her head a shake, it was of no true importance and she was tired. The clearing up would be left, as usual, to the cleaner in the morning, so switching out the lights she made her way upstairs. Once out of her clothes and into her bathrobe she sat before the dressing table mirror, brushed out her hair and removed her makeup. She had never needed much, her skin was perfection, and at nearly thirty Julie could have easily have passed as a twenty year old. It amused her when, at times, she was referred to as a mere girl. Girl!! That was it. Now she remembered where she had seen the young man, only at the time she had thought, probably due to his casual attire, he was much younger. It was in the coffee shop she had ducked into to escape the rain. Of course, and the girl he had shown so much affection toward, Annie, that was her name. Julie found it odd that she could not remember her own employee's name, (if she ever knew it in the first place) yet could recall the name of a perfect stranger. Still, the girl was unforgettable, those scars, horrific. Julie looked once more into the mirror, she could not imagine what she would do if her own beautiful face was marred in such a way, she would probably never leave the house.
In the back of Julie's mind she knew it wasn't only Annie's scars that made her stand out in a crowd, it was her overall persona. The ease that Annie had with her friends, her natural bubbly laugh, and the way a smile was never far from her lips. Annie just didn't seem to CARE that she was badly scarred, and her friends, they actually kissed her where the scars ran deepest. Ugh! Julie stood up and let the bathrobe slide off her shoulders revealing her naked body, no, she knew she would never let anyone know about the devastation that reflected back at her, she would rather remain friendless and unloved then reveal what fire can do to human flesh.
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