A Man In A Bowler Hat Makes Time

[Steve Wayne]

A gentleman with pepper curls under a brown bowler derby strolled past a woman as if she were not a woman at all, but rather an ethereal cloud of dust and cinders blown just so, a hunched woman in a natty shawl with a basket of lilies, who cowered underneath the portico of an abandoned building.  It was only when she sneezed that the gentleman broke stride and skirted her with a startled side step. 

He stopped on shined heels and turned toward her, bushy brows asunder, and said, “Madame, it would be fiendlishy kind of you to cover your mouth, what with all the influenza around and all.”

The woman sniffled against the back of her glove and raised a young face, scrubbed and glowing from under the dinge of her winter dregs, to look directly at the man with eyes as achingly blue as a fresh robin’s egg. 

“Well, I say, young lady, you must be chilled to the bone, dreadfully chilled; let me take you for coffee and a biscuit, McMullin’s, around the corner.”

She remained perfectly silent and looked straight down again and after a long moment the man turned and continued on his way down the avenue. 

 

[Steve Wayne]

I appreciate your comments and input, Joe, Bolton, Grey and Teresa.  You are among the most respected writers on 6S, so your comments are appreciated.  

 

[Teresa]

Interpretation, choices, selfishness - all here.  First two sentences were my favorites and as I enjoyed the words I thought, This is why he likes to read fiction.

[Angela]

This is an interesting glimpse into something more, I think.

[bolton carley]

the visible vs. invisible - those that choose it and those that don't.  it's hard to know how to handle things sometimes.

[Joe Gensle]

This resonates. Mighty vivid, touching and telling.