Story 5 - Basket

I’ve had a new neighbour for over a month now and I think she’s struggling with something.

She wanders around the garden and inside the house, holding a book and muttering to herself.

I just want to make something nice for her and leave it at her door. You might think, Tom, why don’t you just talk to her?

Well, there’s this thing that happens to me where I get flustered with people I don’t know. I don’t stammer usually, but with new people? I could tell you hundreds of tales of utter embarrassment but I won’t.

I’m just going to add cookies to a cute tin for my new neighbour, then add it to the basket I set aside for her, add some napkins and a card I wrote while baking the cookies, in which I’m welcoming her to the neighbourhood.

Is it too much?

I look at her, staring down at the book in her left hand, frowning and gesturing with her right.

I have to do it. I rush out of the house, half run to the cottage next door, set the basket down and back away.

The door flies open and the woman looks at me, clutching her book to her chest.

“Did you bring me food? Oh my gods I’m starving!”

I smile, “Yes sorry yes, I… did. Tom. That is, Tom, that is me! Oh good grief. Enjoy.. eat!”

I feel like my face catches fire and turn to walk away.

She chuckles softly and says, “I’ve just made tea. We can eat cookies together and then I can tell you about my brother. He’s really cute and he’s looking for a boyfriend.”

I stammer, “Wait, how do you… how do you know? About me?”

She points at my shirt, and says, “Your shirt?”

I look down and laugh. I’m wearing my rainbow shirt with the logo of a gay bar in London I visited once, with an ex.

It was a disaster but the shirt is kinda cute. I smile, “Busted. So eh tea?”

She beams at me, “I’ve just brewed tea for courage.”

I smile back at her, pick up the basket and follow her into the cottage.

I may have found a new friend.

click here for more stories set in this world, written from another character’s perspective, the neighbour 😀