Start Something Delicious

Inspired by all the time I spend at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

I didn’t know much about her then, but when I first saw her I knew that she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

50 years later, she still is. And she still amazes me.

I can still remember that day, when I finally had the guts to approach her. I didn’t know what to say so I just said what first came to mind.

“Hi. You’re really beautiful.”

She looked like she wanted to laugh. She said, “Really? Do you always approach strangers this way?”

I was so embarrassed. “Yes. I mean, no. I mean, yes, you are beautiful. No, I don’t always approach strangers this way. This is my first time.”

She smiled, “Thank you. That’s very sweet of you. No one has ever told me that before.”

“That’s impossible.” I told her. “I’m sure you’ve heard it a hundred times.”

“Not a hundred. And not this way.” she replied, uncomfortably looking at her feet.

“This way?” I asked.

She looked at me, “This honestly. You say it like it’s really true. Like you really do think I’m beautiful.”

“That’s because it’s true.” I told her.

“You’re so kind. Mr…”

“Michael. My name is Michael.”

“Hi Michael. What a common name you have. My name is Louise.”

“Hi Louise. That’s a pretty name.”

“Michael, you shame me for being so nice! I’m sorry. I like your name too.”

I smiled, “You don’t have to. But thank you.”

It was at that point that I realised that I had run out of things to say, and not being anything close to a Casanova, I knew that was that.

“Anyway, that’s all. I just wanted to tell you that. Have a good day, Louise.” and I awkwardly turned to walk away, thinking to myself, “Michael you idiot! Michael…”

“Michael?” the sound of my own name interrupted my thoughts. I turned around.

“Michael. It’s about to be my lunch break, and…” Now she looked uncomfortable. “Would you like to have lunch?”

She didn’t have to ask twice. We had lunch that day, and coffee after work, well, she had coffee and I had tea. The next day we did the same thing, and the the day after, and the day after the day after. More than 18,000 days later, and practically 36,000 cups of coffee and tea, we relive the day we started something delicious.