Friday 5 September 2008

The most beautiful woman I've ever seen

It was evening and the soft lamps which lines the large windows of The Wanderer were glowing softly in the evening light. It was that special time in a scottish summer night when the sun glows apricots, salmon pink and gold on the North Sea, streaking the cold water with glitter. There was a soft chatter coming from a few customers who sat in the coffee shop enjoying the evening light and Lilith's coffee, among them was Tulip who was nuzzled into the corner of the big sofa with her crime novel and soya latte. Everything was becoming routine and Lilith was smiling softly and looking out at the long black shadows cast by the evening sun on the little lane. A girl appeared outside the shop and swung her long plait over her shoulders as she swung the shop door open.

TING.

Lilith snapped out of her stupor and looked up at the tall girl's face. The girl smiled at Lil, confidently, with excitable almond shaped eyes set in a small face with a heart shaped mouth and buttery smooth skin, luminous like cocoa butter. She also wore a bright orange t-shirt which fitted loosley and carried an expensive looking handbag over her right shoulder.

Hello, a small capuccino please. The girl said in a soft american accent.
Sure, Lilith said, in a small voice, trying to sound in control of her post.
Excuse me, do you have semi-skimmed milk, or skimmed? She asked politely, as she saw the full fat milk carton in Lilith's hand.
Sure, Lilith said, and she reached into the fridge for the skimmed version.

Luckily, the coffee machine purred and behaved, producing a creamy capuccino for the girl. She handed Lilith the £1.60 between beautifully manicured finger nails, painted a pale shade of expensive pink. Her hands were smooth and her fingers long. Lilith then looked at her own hands for the first time that day and felt they were short and stubby in comparison.

Thank you, the girl said with another soft twang. She cocked her head slightly...
Do you go to school here?
No, I'm just working at the moment.
Oh, you've finished then?
High school? Yeah...
[The american laughed]. In America, we call "school" what you guys call Univeristy. Sorry, that's what I meant. I forget that sometimes.
Oh, Lilith said laughing and trying not to stare too long at the girl's perfect face.
Do you? Lili managed.
Yeah, I study bio informatics at the Uni here.
Oh cool, Lil said, raising her eyebrows and nodding.
Yeah, I studied at Princeton in the USA and now I'm here. I've actually only been here about six months though. I get coffee here a lot, I've never seen you. Is Paulie away?
Yeah, he hired me and then took off pretty quickly. He'll be back in the next few days though, she added quickly.
Great. The american took a deep swing from the coffee and Lilith watched her gulp down the hot liquid that she'd just made.
Have you done any travelling?
No, I grew up in Glasgow and this is pretty much my first stop. I'm here for the summer... I'd like to though.
You definately should, it's the next best thing to Uni.
Have you been lots of places?
God, yeah [she drank again]... I've been all over Europe with friends, France, Spain, Milan, Switzerland... I'm actually half Italian.
Oh, Lilith smiled and looked again at the unblinking almond eyes. You look sort of Italian. She said with a smile.
Thank you, she said, her face lighting up. She seemed to relax a little, letting a little of the confident sheen disperse into normality. She swung back her head and drank the rest of the capuccino, a rosy glow on her cheeks as the blood rushed into her face from the caffeine.
I love the coffee here, I'll definately be back.
Great, said Lilith earnestly.
The American handed Lil back the coffee cup and swung her handbag back over her shoulder. Lilith caught the gleam of a Gucci 'G' on the front. It was made of soft camel coloured leather and looked great against the orange top. The girl slid on a large pair of sunglasses and waved a quick goodbye before setting off briskly down the increasingly dark street towards the Uni. Lilith stood still in the coffee shop, looking around at the other customers to see if they too had been watching this Unicorn rider. Nobody appeared too. Lilith ran her finger over the smudge of pink gloss on the side of the cup and it smelt like strawberries. She smiled and blushed to herself as she put the cup in the dishwasher and sat down again as the summer evening came to a close.

Wednesday 3 September 2008

Phonecall to Dave Macdonald, Dad.

BRING BRING

Lilith's mobile phone rang underneath the desk.

Hello?
Lilith, it's me.
Hi Dad.
How're you getting on?
Fine, just fine. I've got a job.
Not in a bar?
No, a coffee shop.
Oh, good.
I don't have anywhere to live yet, though, cousin is still letting me stay in the hotel.
You should look for somewhere.
Will you come over and help me?
I can't, I'm taking Pippa to Tenerife.
Oh, I thought you went a way in January...
It's just a short trip, only ten days, um, but when I get back I'd love to help you.
What about Tim?
He's staying with your Mum [pause] it's not that we didn't want to take you or Tim, darling, we just can't afford four people. It's just not do-able, don;t get upset.
Yeah, whatever, I have to go, I'm at work just now.
Oh right, well I'm glad you're getting on well. Don't let me keep you.
[muttered]Don't let me keep you.
Look after yourself.
I am, have a nice time in Tenerife. Send me a postcard.
I will.
You don't have my address...
I'll get it off your mum.
Bye Dad.
Love you sweetheart. See you when I get back.

DIALING TONE.

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Mark and David

TING

It was around 10AM and two men carrying briefcases walked briskly into the coffee shop. They were talking loudly about the situation in Burma and arguining over a delicate political matter. One of the men leant over the wooden desk and took off his glasses rubing the ridge in the top of his nose.
'...but Mark, I'm afraid you're missing the point. These people are completely unpresented. It is bullying, it is tyranny and we are completely unable to tackle it without the backup of the USA.' Lil looked at them calmly from the otherside of the desk. She was staring a little closely so that the man who had been talking interrupted himself and looked round at her, as if coming out of a transe.
'Hello, good morning, I've not seen you here before.'
'Morning,' she said smiling.
'Excellent,' he said, flicking his eyes over her and staightening up.
'I would like a strong capuccino with one shot, not two, and...Mark?'
'An americano please, with a little cold milk.' Lilith turned round to the coffee machine and with a little more ease, banged out the coffee grind and sent more puffs of acrid smoke into the air and seemed to fuel the debate again which she could hear going on again enthusiastically behind her.
'It is surely a question of human rights, screw the hierarchies, it's about liberty. They've got no fucking freedom of speech, for God's sake.'
'I quite agree... I just feel the press could be doing more, I mean, what's on the front of the paper this morning? Fearne Britton loses ten pounds? Who gives a flying flock when people are so utterly repressed that it makes one sick.'
'I know, I know.' Said the other man as Lilith carefully placed two very full cups of coffee infront of them. The froth on the capuccino was certainly better but she knew it was still not up to scratch. She avoided both men's eyes, convinced she was wearing the guilty look of an utter coffee novice.
'Right, right,' said the brisk man, whom she gathered was called Dave as the very next second:
'Dave, Mark! How are you both?' It was Tulip calling over from the sofa and putting down her crime novel.
'Tulip, how are you?' Said Mark in a gentle voice. Both men took their briefcases over and seemed to abandon their political talk infront of the woman, in favour of hushed whispers and glances over to the desk where Lilith stood, trying to look occupied.

Walnut cookies are TASTY

Recipe: 115g butter/ margarine
175g Caster Sugar
115g Plain Flour
2tsps Vanilla Essence
115g Chopped Walnuts

1) preheat oven to 150/ Gas mrk 2. Grease 2 baking sheets.
2)Cream butter till soft and add 50g of sugar. Beat till fluffy.
3) stir in the flour, vanilla essense and walnuts.
4) Drop teaspoonfuls of batter 1-2 inch apart onto baking sheet.
5) Bake for 25 mins
4) Sprinkle remaining sugar over cooked biscuits.