By EgmontGrigor2021
Micki (Michelle) Baker (28) was tired of the same guy in the coffee shop each weekday, eyeing her. If he hadn't been so brazen about it, she would not have taken him for either a deranged person or a stalker.
Anyway, why was he interested in her?
She wasn't blonde with big boobs and a skinny butt; she didn't sit straight-backed and was never accompanied by anyone into the coffee shop for a light lunch and that lack of company could indicate she was unlikeable.
But still he chewed his pie or whatever, staring at her at intervals.
The previous day, she gave him the fingers with the dirtiest look she could create on her face and the stupid idiot just grinned at her, hugely.
A day later at lunchtime, Micki braced herself to provide greater resolution and decided to march over to thump the table and tell the jerk savagely to stop staring at her.
She took a deep breath, and that pushed her breasts out and flushed because he was now staring at them.
Micki faltered, thinking she should rush to the exit but decided, no way, that she should bore in and end it once and for all. If he didn't yield and apologize, she would slap him hard as there would be no opportunity to boot or knee him in the testicles as he'd be sitting, protected by the table.
She accelerated over and fiercely slammed the top of the table with her palm, held flat to avoid the chance of injury. Her other hand was already on the table to brace herself from hurling nose-first into the sugar bowl.
The rush was designed to catch him by surprise.
Alarmingly, things didn't go according to plan.
It was a wobbly table, making it unbalanced. With her weight pressing down on the side opposite her target, the light metal water jug to top up his coffee, if required, tipped over and hot water splashed on to her left arm.
"Fuck, it's scalding water," she screamed in fright, over-estimating the water temperature.
The guy reacted like lightning.
He grabbed his unused starch napkin and folded it around that arm, pulled the bunch of fresh flowers from a side table vase and poured that water from the heavy vase over the napkin on his arm and draped it around her apparently scalded arm.
He said civilly, making no mention of her abrupt arrival at his table, "I don't think it would have been scalding water; it would have cooled to drinking temp."
"Oh," she smiled weakly, very embarrassed. "Anyway, thanks. You reacted impressively to come to my assistance."
"It was nothing and anyway you are worth it, and much more."
What, he was capable of gentlemanly comment?
Thinking quickly, Micki urged herself to skid out of this totally embarrassing situation.
"I apologize mister. I was fired up ready to give you a piece of my mind when I tripped over my own feet when honing in to thump the table to yell fuck off out of my life, you stalker."
He looked startled and then laughed rather musically.
She recognised that laugh and he mind flew into focus.
Micki said, "Omigod, you're Rick Summers, you have the most amazing laugh of anyone else that I'm familiar with on radio. You are on Radio Volcano from noon weekdays and later conduct the hugely popular 'Driving Home' sessions weekdays from 4.30 to 7.00"
"Miss, lift your arm please."
Micki obliged for the manager of the establishment who was already unwrapping the napkin.
"I'll apply butter to the wound if it looks bad but that water will not have been boiling."
The manager, peering at the arm said, "The splashed area looks fine, just a little pink thanks to the cold water being applied quickly to you Miss...Miss..."
"Micki Baker.
One of the onlookers at a neighbouring table said scornfully, "That certainly was a hell of a fuss about nothing."
Her companion said, "Hush Heather, the young woman is Micki Baker, the amazing yoga trainer over as Harrison's Gym and Fitness Barn. It is near-impossible to get into her classes because of her popularity She's the one pictured in black yoga pants and just a black sports bra in that massive sign above Harrison's."
"It's a body to die for and she never wears a top over that bra at yoga, which led to the Council serving notice on the gym owner to remove the sign after receiving verbal complaints and a petition signed by residents."
"However, gym owner Doug Harrison refused to obey the removal order and won the court case brought by the council on behalf of ninety-three 'disgusted members of the public' who had petitioned the Council to have the alleged offensive sign removed."
Hearing that accolade, Rick chuckled musically, and said to Micki, "Ah, that big sign is why I'd been struggling to place you because I'd recalled seeing you somewhere before and frequently."
Addressing the manager, he said smoothly, "Rene, darling. Could Miss Baker and I be moved over to the window table just being vacated? You will find at the table where she usually sits any of her food unfinished. In any case, a waitress can take her new order at my expense."
The couple sat at the window table and Rick said formally, "Hi, Micki and I confirm that I am Rick Summers alias Richard Summerfield, my given names, but my name is now legally changed to my preferred option."
Micki said, "I bet your mother consented to that name change because you are in the public eye/ear and she adores you as an adult."
Rick eyed her curiously.
"What do you do besides teaching, um lead a couple of yoga classes, Micki?"
"I have four daily classes each weekday for females only. They last from 40 minutes of floor work for beginners while others keep at it for up to ninety minutes max. The first is at 6.30 am for workers; another starts at 9.30 which is favoured by older women and mothers after getting the kids off to school and then one at 4.30 catches senior school leavers, tertiary students and mothers whose children go to gym or after school dancing or music classes.'
"Finally, at the 6.30 late afternoon class, standards are relaxed and we work at our routines and learning new ones with your 'Driving Home Show' playing in the background. But no singing-along is permitted as concentration is already compromised enough by having the broadcast music in our yoga space at which usually the loudest sounds are breathing, my voice and the occasion thump as an off-balance body hits her mat and/or the floorboards."
"I'm flattered that you appreciate our 'Driving Home Show' so much."
"Thanks, and regard the compliment as sincere. We recognised quality in the well-chosen music, the pace you maintain, your wit and your friendliness and skill in conducting talkback with callers."
"Wow, my adoring mother would like listening to you rave on about 'Driving Home' with me at the helm. Please come to my family home for lunch on Sunday."