Sylvia.
I nearly stopped going on the bus after what that animal did to me, but he hasn't been around for a few days. I don't think I'd recognise him as such, because I didn't look at his face, but I'd know that bulk, and those scars on his hands anywhere.
I haven't seen my new boyfriend either, but I've been past his shop 3 times, and called in twice. The trouble is in a small shop like that it is more personal, and you get asked what you want. In York's we let people browse, we keep an eye on them, and you get to recognise someone who is likely to buy something, from those who are just passing the time of day.
I didn't like that guy in the tailors with the tape measure hanging round his neck, and those stupid glasses on a chain on the top of his bald head. He came up to me the second time and asked, "Is madam looking for anything in particular?" Yes the hunk who works here I felt like saying.
Anyway here I am waiting at the bus stop on a cold dark Tuesday morning. As the bus pulls up I can Frank is sat reading his book. I get on the bus, and I'm in luck, I sit next to him, he turns and smiles and I smile back.
"Sometimes, don't you just feel like staying on the bus and going somewhere different, not to work, you know, just see where the bus takes you?"
He smiles again, "The trouble is this bus just goes round and round the town."
I chuckle, "Yes but if it did go somewhere else, like some, I don't know, magical place where you could do what you liked, just for a day to break up the repetitiveness."
He nods, and closes his book "Okay, where would you like to go?"
Back to my bed with you would be a start, I think, "I don't know a favourite pub, a holiday," I laugh a little, "just somewhere where you could like be alone, or with a friend. I think a friend would be best."
"That sounds interesting; I think I'd like to be on a desert island. A few books, some jazz music, and I'd build a cabin."
"That sounds real nice," I chuckle again, and flick my hair, "in fact you can count me in if you're serious."
He sighs and is about to say something when the Olympic complainer from a few weeks ago interrupts us. He's got a clip board in his hand, and is asking us to sign a petition about the overcrowding on the bus. He stands there telling us that we shouldn't have to stand, and it was never like this in his day, which I'm guessing was the time carts were pulled by horses!
He asks us where we work, and he says he likes the tailor's shop Frank works in. When I mention York's he sniffs and says, they don't tell you in there if their gadgets need batteries, and he isn't going there again.
We're at the bus stop in town now, and Mr Complainer is still replying to my answer about the boxes having clear stickers on them, if an item needs batteries.
"It would help young lady if you knew your appliances, those notes aren't big enough, they do it on purpose you know, so they can get you back in there and tempt you to buy something else. Not me, oh no, I've learned my lesson."
"Well that's good to know, so I won't be seeing you any time soon."
He moves aside as I get up, "And that's another thing, you young people don't know how lucky you are, my dad fought in the war for the likes of you."
I'm off the bus now and heading towards the coffee shop. I turn to say something to Frank about the complainer, but he's heading off in another direction.
8 hours later I'm sat on the bus after a particularly boring day a work. I'm watching out the window for my black hunk. He comes round the corner carrying a shopping bag. He gets on the bus and pays. I can't believe my heart is pounding so much. I want to wave and scream at him that I've saved him a seat. He comes up the aisle and our eyes meet. I'm already smiling, but it takes him a little second to respond. He shuffles in next to me and produces my 2 inch hoop earring from his pocket.
"I think this is yours," he says looking at the earring in my ear.
I touch my ear like I haven't noticed one was missing. I thank him and say the stupidest cringe worthy thing, "It's a good job it wasn't my navel stud, people would wonder what we've been up to," He grins awkwardly, and I lift my hair, "Would you, please?"
He suddenly realises I want him to put it in. He fiddles with it pushing it in my ear. God, he's got a wonderful delicate touch. I want to turn my head and kiss his hand, but I don't. We chat on the way home. My arm is against his and he leans in to whisper in my ear. I want to turn my head and just press my lips on his, he's such a tease and I'm sure doing it on purpose to make me blush.
"Can I ask your advice, I bought this," he pulls out a red cardigan, "for my mum, her fingers are a little arthritic, so I thought the big buttons might be good, what do you think?"
I look at it and tell him it is nice, but perhaps he should have gone for one with a belt. I tell him how easier it would be to just tie it round her. He nods, and I can see him thinking that I'm right.
"I tell you what. Pop into York's tomorrow and I'll take you up to the clothing department."
I can see him thinking, finally he nods, and I do a little fist pump in my mind.
Geoff.
The fucking slut look at her, smiling and fiddling with her hair, it's teasing that is. So she dropped an earring. Hold on he's going to kiss her. No but what's he doing now? Well fucking me he's bought her a jumper or something. I bet it's a, "thanks for the fuck lunchtime Sylvia." I don't know for sure because I've been out of town for a few days, making collections. Then I took them to George, got myself nearly four hundred quid from three houses, not bad.
So he's given her a jumper, I mean a fucking jumper. Girls like Sylvia like flowers and chocolates, and sexy underwear well she has enough of that at home, not as much as she used to, but a fucking jumper, I ask you.
Sylvia.
I tell Frank about York's and how I wished I worked in the clothing department. In my mind I'm imagining Frank and me running a little shop, his and hers clothing. I can see the name above the shop now, Sylvia and Frank's, or Frank and Sylvia's, I don't care which way round it is.
"Would you like my number, just so I know when you're coming in?"
He looks a little worried. I bet there's a girlfriend. Oh shit, shit, shit!
"Okay," he says but he isn't really convinced.
We get to my stop and he gets up to let me out. God I wish he was getting of with me. Still I've got his number now, and he's got mine.
Geoff.
Poor Sylvia, she's going to be heart broken. I stayed on the bus to his stop after she got off, and some woman was waiting at his bus stop. She gives pretty boy a big kiss, some bitch with two kids in tow. They walk away from the bus, arm in fucking arm.
He's a two timing bastard, fucking Sylvia at lunchtime, and then off home to play happy families with his wife and kids. I wonder if Sylvia knows about her. I've got to know her so well that I actually feel sorry for her. She might act all stuck up, but now I've had a quick grope, I know she's just a tart. Well Geoffrey Baker you've hit the nail on the head. She was at his bus stop that morning, getting on with while his wife was away I reckon.
I thought she was different and I even decided on a new approach. She shocked me by not putting up a struggle that time when I had a feel of her leg, but now I know why. Sylvia wants and likes it, all the touching by me, and shagging him, a fucking a married man. I've stumbled on a right strumpet. So I am going to have to sort things for her soon, very soon.
Sylvia.