A gentle knock on the door announced Gillian’s arrival.
” Come in , come in,” I hollered from the couch. I continued to watch television as she entered the hallway, peeked round the jamb and finally inched her way into the room.
“ Are you alone?” she asked sheepishly. “You did know I was coming? Mark told me you would be expecting me. You are aware of Mark’s arrangement aren’t you?” She posed a number of similar questions but I ignored her. She finally sidled into our overstuffed easy chair after it dawned on her that there would be no response. I immediately snapped my fingers and motioned for her to stand-up. She promply popped to her feet and waited silently, shifting her weight and occasionally clearing her throat.
Ten minutes later the “Nature” documentary ended and I snapped off the television. I kept staring at the set however and allowed the silence to grow. Her discomfort became palitable. I then flipped through a “New Yorker” which sat on the coffee table.
“I suppose I should leave then.” She suggested.
I closed the “New Yorker” and placed it patiently on the sofa beside me. I finally turned and stared straight into her face. She was a slim brunette with a striking figure. Her coloring was pale yet flushed with the anxiety of the moment. I watched her pupils grow and her eyes dart like a trapped doe. I kept my expression implacable, frozen, offering her nothing. I simply assessed.
“I had no idea, it would be like this. Mark sent me to you.” I held my stare….. cold, incisive, probing. She remained still and silent her mind racing. Then, she broke. She looked down at the floor and pleaded. “Mark told me to be here at seven. Mark sent me to you.”
“Why?” I broke my silence.
She shuffled and stared at her shoes. “For training.” She whispered.
” Come in , come in,” I hollered from the couch. I continued to watch television as she entered the hallway, peeked round the jamb and finally inched her way into the room.
“ Are you alone?” she asked sheepishly. “You did know I was coming? Mark told me you would be expecting me. You are aware of Mark’s arrangement aren’t you?” She posed a number of similar questions but I ignored her. She finally sidled into our overstuffed easy chair after it dawned on her that there would be no response. I immediately snapped my fingers and motioned for her to stand-up. She promply popped to her feet and waited silently, shifting her weight and occasionally clearing her throat.
Ten minutes later the “Nature” documentary ended and I snapped off the television. I kept staring at the set however and allowed the silence to grow. Her discomfort became palitable. I then flipped through a “New Yorker” which sat on the coffee table.
“I suppose I should leave then.” She suggested.
I closed the “New Yorker” and placed it patiently on the sofa beside me. I finally turned and stared straight into her face. She was a slim brunette with a striking figure. Her coloring was pale yet flushed with the anxiety of the moment. I watched her pupils grow and her eyes dart like a trapped doe. I kept my expression implacable, frozen, offering her nothing. I simply assessed.
“I had no idea, it would be like this. Mark sent me to you.” I held my stare….. cold, incisive, probing. She remained still and silent her mind racing. Then, she broke. She looked down at the floor and pleaded. “Mark told me to be here at seven. Mark sent me to you.”
“Why?” I broke my silence.
She shuffled and stared at her shoes. “For training.” She whispered.
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