Ted and Erica

14 JANUARY 2014 – 1050 WORDS

CHARACTERS:

TED – YOUNG MAN

ERICA – YOUNG WOMAN

KATH/SIS – TED' SISTER

'Fuck' was the first word he heard her say, Somehow, he broke her fall. It didn't stop her hitting the pavement, but at least it was a soft landing of sorts.

He apologised for where his left hand had come to rest and quickly removed it. She grimaced back, already struggling to get to her feet, but said nothing and, for a few moments, she rested against him.

She did not let go of his right hand immediately. No one else had stopped to help and, fifty yards away, the rest of the walking group they were with was disappearing around a corner, as they both stood in the street watching.

'Ted' he said.

She looked at him for a moment before she twigged. 'Erica' she replied.

'After that little fall, I think you need a drink. Can I buy you coffee or a tea?'

'Thank you'.

They crossed the road and she followed him towards a narrow arched gap between the shops in front of them. He took her hand and brought her level to himself before looking at her and saying 'My sister has a little teashop down here'.

For a moment she was suspicious, but he had just saved her from a nasty fall and he did have big hands, and before she knew it she heard a bell tinkle as a door opened and he stood back so that she could go in first.

A middle-aged woman with hair already grey in places, looked up from behind the shop's counter and said 'Hello Kiddo, I wasn't expecting to see you today. Thought you had gone on a walk or something'.

'Kath, meet Erica. She had a fall and needs a nice hot drink to help her recover'.

'When did this happen?'

'A couple of minutes ago'.

Kath looked at Erica, not knowing what to say. She was too busy trying to assess her. Not Kiddo's kind at all. Not that either Erica or Ted noticed. All they heard was 'What can I get you Erica?'

‘A tea please. Earl Grey would be nice if you have it'.

'Sit down then, and welcome'.

The teashop only had five tables. How did she make it pay? wondered Erica.

Ted pulled a chair out and invited Erica to sit before moving the other chair at the table so he could sit down beside her. He saw her looking. 'It's the cowboy in me. I always like to have my back to a wall, so I can see out of the window and both doors at the same time'.

'If you live here, why were you on the walk?'

'Martin, the walk leader, is a friend and he's made some changes and wanted my opinion on how it went down with the punters, so we were going for a beer after so I could give him feedback, but I can do that next week. Anyway from what I saw, it was going OK until you tripped. What about you? Why were you on the walk?'

'Came into town to meet a friend and saw the notice in the pub where we had an early lunch. After she left, I thought I'd go along. I really should know the history of the town I call home much better. I didn't even know this place existed’ said Erica with a sweep of her arm, looking up at the stone and brick ceiling above them.

'Used to be an undercroft and open, then bricked in by the Georgians. They incorporated this part of the medieval wall into Town Row, with its covered raised walkway, but a Second World War bomb did for this section and it was never restored'.

'I'm impressed. You know your stuff'.

For a moment, Eric basked in the compliment. 'Not really, all from Martin. He's the historian, not me'.

'You like history. Your face lights up and your voice takes on a lovely lilt. Perhaps you can take me on my own guided tour one day soon'.

'I'd like that' replied Ted and he responded by pulling himself upright on his chair. He was beginning to feel good about himself — a feeling he had not enjoyed for a while.

Kath glided across unnoticed with two teas and some rather nice looking cake. 'On the house Kiddo'.

'Thanks Sis'.

A brother and sister at ease with one another. She liked that.

He saw her looking. 'Twenty-two years older than me. Our mum and dad had me late'.

'Ah'.

'And you?'

'Only one. My Dad died three years ago and my Mum two years ago, so I sold the house where we lived and bought a smaller one close to the motorway because I drive a lot'.

'What do you do that takes a lot of driving?'

'I'm a stock auditor, so I have to go where the work takes me, often at short notice. You?'

'Progress Chaser in a local factory'.

'Which one?'

'Finzdorf Ordnance'.

There was no need to say more. It was the biggest ordnance works in the country. Everyone knew Finzdorfs. Half the town depended on them in some way.

'Ah… and where do you live?'

'Here' replied Ted.

'Here?'

'I have the flat above the shop. It's actually part of the old medieval wall. Sis lives with Roy, her husband, and three teenage kids, probably not far from you. They’re close to the motorway too'.

Kath looked at them from behind the counter as she served another regular with a latte and Danish. Kiddo twenty-two and the girl a bit older. The word she was searching for and found was 'animated'. Not at all what she had expected. Always had Kiddo down for curvaceous redheads with pale skin and here he was, with a skinny bespectacled woman, coming up for six foot, with a mass of thick black curls. Which one of her parents had come from the Caribbean or Africa?

Twenty minutes later she watched them disappear into the side passage and begin to climb the stairs. Somehow, she knew their journey in life together was just beginning.

'Ted and Erica' she said. 'Ted and Erica' she repeated. 'Wait until I tell Roy'.

© ROBERT HOWARD