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In a small town, a cafe sits next to a lingerie boutique, displaying their personalities through their storefronts. Helga has been fitting bras and stocking the panty trends for decades, but business has waned over the years. She doesn’t remember how long ago Newton opened the cafe. She recalls being in her twenties, pretending to stock the storefront each day before lunch in hopes of catching a glimpse of the freshly baked goods he'd haul in for the afternoon special, and admire how with each step his dark hair would bounce into his eyes. Though she'd have liked to get to know him, she feared she could never hold a friendly interaction without any suggestiveness due to her association with lingerie, the only part of her identity he could be aware of. Thus, she avoided any chance to, for fear of coming on too strong and face rejection.
On good days, she could wrestle this fear and with adrenaline, she’d organize every rack in the store while brainstorming opening lines for lunchtime small talk (‘Hi, how’s your day? Nice weather we’re having! I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!’).
But the moment she’d arrive at the cash register across from Newton, only suggestive lines would haunt her mind (‘Hello, I’m thirsty, would you happen to have anything that could help me with that? It’s so hot out, you must be too warm all those clothes…’). To avoid hinting that such thoughts would ever cross her mind, she’d stick to the script of her order with a stoic performance, “A coffee and the lunch special, please, no sides,” (sides are suggestive), “thank you,” and place the cash payment on the counter. Newton would take the payment and quietly make the change. “I will get that ready for you Ms. Helga. Thank you for coming in.” He’d reach out his hand to place the change into hers, and he never made small talk.
Helga can't recall how many months or years have passed since she last saw him. About halfway through the cafe’s first decade, Newton had abandoned his routine bakery haul, and his visits became sporadic and later in the afternoons when she was usually occupied with a customer. As his appearances dwindled to monthly check-ins, Helga decided that knowing him was unrealistic and put the idea out of her mind. |
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| Keiko Agena |
The women I admire most in this business are Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler and Winona Ryder. Susan Sarandon because she's, well, Susan Sarandon. Winona because she's never compromised herself by showing her body in any of her love scenes, and Bette Midler because she has such a varied life. Her family, her marriage and her career are all priorities. |