Note: Much of the dialogue was actually in French but obviously I have written it in English.
*
I had only been back home a few weeks and already I needed a holiday! I looked on the web and found a nice Chambre d'hote in Provence about 30 minutes from Avignon. I have never used the Euro star before, so decided to go the leisurely way through the channel tunnel. It was just five hours to my destination, all told, via Paris. The French railways are possibly the most efficient in Europe.
My accommodation, Le Grillion was half way up a hill surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and just a stone's throw from Mt. Ventoux. Pretty well idyllic. It was on my second day in the afternoon, I had just come back from a walk around the nearby village and a girl was sitting at the picnic table round the front of the house writing on some paper work. She really was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. She looked up and smiled. She had oceans of blonde hair, which cascaded over her shoulders and came to rest in natural little ringlets at her waist. She had soft blue-brown eyes and just the cutest nose. Her lips were deep rosy pink and she had a natural pink flush to her cheeks. I don't exaggerate when I say that my heart skipped a beat when I saw her.
'Hello, nice afternoon.' I said.
'Yes, it is, beautiful.'
'Are you staying here?'
'Yes, well - the proprietress is my Grandmother. I'm visiting her for a couple of days.'
Her voice was like syrup. Sweet and golden. I couldn't just wander off without chatting to her a bit. Not that I had any hope of getting in to her knickers, but she was so delightful, so lovely, I had to hang around.
'Are you a trainee accountant?' I asked, pointing to the pile of paper work in front of her.
'No, I am just sorting it for my Gran, it's nothing.'
'Are you at college?'
'School?' Not today.
'School? How old are you, if I might ask?'
She looked quite serious all of a sudden.
'Eighteen why?'
'Sorry, I must seem terribly nosey. People finish school at 16 in England, I just...'
The smile returned to her face just as I thought I had put my foot in it.
'Ah I see, no I go to high school. There is a college in Avignon.'
'OK, what are you studying?'
'Business studies and German.'
'Right, good. So what's the difference between high school and college?'
OK, well High school is like normal school but for 17 and 18 year old people. College is similar but more specialised subjects. Some people go to school and college or just college.'
'Oh, I think I get it, but it doesn't really matter!'
She looked at me as if I was stupid and continued to shuffle through the papers.
'I'm going to get a beer, do you want one?'
'No. Thank you.'
'OK.'
'Actually, can you get me a fruit smoothie from the fridge?'
'OK. No problem.'
I don't know if she was typical but she had a rather off-hand manner. Abrupt almost, without actually being impolite. I don't know how to explain why, but it made her very appealing and sexy. She was so so sweet to look at, she actually needed a bit of an edge, in order not to dissolve in a pile of sugary goo!
When I came back with the drinks she had stood up and was watering some flowers along the side of the house. She had a pink T shirt on and blue football shorts, her breasts jiggling playfully as she moved. Her legs and arms were nicely bronzed, although her face was only slightly tanned. She was also shorter than I had realised; about five feet five at most. I had just begun to chat to her again when the proprietress appeared around the corner with some shopping.
'Ah you have met Amelie then?'
'Amelie - what a beautiful name!'
The girl smiled. It was like such a smile, which I have never seen before. It sent shivers down my spine.
'You're very beautiful.' I said when her Gran had gone inside.
She blushed slightly.
'Thank you, it is nice of you to say so Sir.'
'Ah my name is Alex. I hope you didn't think I was being inappropriate but you are beautiful.'
'It is OK, but you don't need to say it.'
'I don't need to say what?'