Chance Encounters

Absolutely gorgeous: pixie-small with big brown eyes, pale complexion, and her black hair tied up in a red kerchief that matched her red lipstick.

“Having a good day?” I asked.

She grinned and rolled her eyes, “Good and bad.” She whispered, “I hate the guy I’m working with.”

I smile sympathetically.

“But today’s my last day, which is fun, but sad in a way.”

“Going to a new job?”

“No, I’m going to college.”

“Really? Georgia Tech?”

She looked down and out and away for a moment. “Actually I’m going to Boston University.”

“I don’t know very much about Boston, except that the traffic sucks.”

Again that brilliant and expressive smile flashed. “Yeah, during orientation the guide told us to be especially careful not to get hit by cars or trains.”

We both laugh, and she hands me my coffee and with the transferral of the plastic cup from her hands to mine, the tiniest of all relationships was over.

“Well… Enjoy your college,” I say.

“Thanks!” she said, and smiled.

I will never see her again, whatever her name is.