A Students Research Project
I was walking through the town centre when I bumped into a couple I had known for many years but had not seen for a while due to the covid regulations.
We stopped to chat and catch up with what had been happening in our lives over that period of time.
Whilst we were talking I noticed a young lady sat on a bench behind them. It was one of those benches built around a tree trunk that you often see in city centre's.
I guess she was about fifteen feet from us and was obviously on a lunch break as she was eating a sandwich.
What took my attention was that she was fairly obviously listening in on our conversation, her eyes concentrating on us. Not that it worried me; it was a completely innocent dialogue of no real consequence.
I found it slightly odd trying to concentrate on our chat while my mind was also wondering why we had piqued her interest.
Anyway we finished chatting and the couple wandered off. I paused for a few moments before moving on, just wondering if she would strike up a conversation with me.
It was late summer and pleasantly warm so I was walking in a pair of rugby shorts (those cut high on the thigh), a t-shirt and a pair of slip on sandals.
As I started to move she and I made eye contact, not pre-meditated.....well it wasn't in my case.
Her facial expression slipped into a gentle smile and as I passed close by she gave me the once over.
Well that came unexpectantly out of the blue. I estimated her age as around twenty and I've just turned sixty, so as you can imagine I took the compliment.
Perhaps I should tell you a little about myself. I'm David, 5' 8'', about 170lbs and I consider myself reasonably fit for my age. I walk a lot and still play a couple of sports though no longer competitively.
I have blue eyes and short fair hair, typically Anglo-Saxon.
I took early retirement from the financial side of business about nine months ago.
I've lived alone for nearly ten years now having lost my wife to cancer, and although I've been on a few dates over those years I've not yet met a lady that I've really clicked with.
I have three daughters who I meet up with every now and then but they all have children of their own so have busy lives.
Anyway, I was smiling to myself as I continued past the shops and cafes, having had that look over. I was wondering what she could have seen in me.
Perhaps I was smiling outwardly as well as several people seemed to be smiling back at me.
Or was it just that the girl's reaction had a brightening effect on my countenance, whatever, I was in a happy mood.
Life continued as normal for the next week until I was back walking through the town again.
I saw the same girl sat having her lunch again. When she noticed me passing nearby she started to quickly pack her lunch away, and I realised she had got up and had started to follow me, just walking a few yards behind.
Was this a deliberate action or just chance I wondered?
As I passed a store with large windows I glanced at our reflection. She was still there, so I slowed my pace to see how she would react.
She slowed behind me and gave the pretence of looking into the window.
Why would she have any reason to follow me? I had no idea who she was.' Not an obvious assassin' I smiled to myself.
I decided to call her bluff and I started to walk around the next street corner. Located there was an old church that had open plan gardens in the middle of a large lawn. It contained many benches for people who wanted a rest or to meet others.
I sat down on the end of one bench and looked back. She was continuing her stalking, if that's what it was, but I could see she was now a bit flummoxed about what to do next.
Her pace had slowed, and I pretended to ignore her as she walked slowly past. She was obviously unsure of what she wanted to do next.
She stopped by the next bench along but did not take a seat. Eventually she turned and walked back and as she approached my bench she stopped and asked 'do you mind if I share this bench with you?'
'Not a problem, help yourself' I replied with a neutral tone to my voice, hoping to keep her at ease.
She was wearing a patterned yellow summer dress about mid thigh length and a pair of summer sandals. I estimated she was about 5' 8'' with dark brown hair hanging to her shoulders. She was average build and I would have described her as pretty rather than stunning.
She turned and sat partially facing me and crossed her legs. I saw a flash of white panties before her legs closed. Was that deliberate or accidental I wondered as I tried not to let it show what I had seen.
I could see that she wanted to speak but for some reason was struggling to find a way to start.
I relaxed back onto the seat. 'Shall I make it easier' I said to her, with a gentle smile on my face.
I related to her our short history and left her with the question 'what is your interest in me?'
I could see the features of her face relax a little, but there was still a pregnant pause before she eventually spoke.
'I'm sorry' she said 'It doesn't provide a good omen regarding my aspired profession.'