Pretty Lady

Ugh. Sandra watched him enter the coffee shop where she stopped every morning before her first class of the day. She was sure that he knew her routine because she had "bumped into" him a lot lately. He always feigned surprise at seeing her there and that had become another thing about him that nauseated her.

Sandra first met him when she was waiting for a bus. She was happily alone and he took it upon himself to keep her company while she waited to go downtown. He sauntered over to her and asked for the time, calling her "pretty lady." She instantly felt like she was covered in slime. She had told him her name, but he called her "pretty lady" whenever they just happened to cross paths.

His name was Steve. He was probably twenty or so years older than her, and clearly dyed his hair black. He lived in a trailer at the outskirts of town while his ex-wife and kids lived two states away. Sandra hadn't asked for these details of his life. He simply carried on one side of a conversation that they had never had.

Sandra sighed, giving up on the coffee place and went to the donut shop on the other side of the strip mall. The coffee wasn't as good, but she needed more caffeine before heading to school. While she waited in line smelling the sickening sweet aroma of donuts, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Well, good morning pretty lady!"