The other stories I have written in the Group Sex category have taken weeks even months to craft. This series came about out of a desire to produce a work quickly. There are (hopefully) going to be nine chapters in this 'Quickie' series, if they were included in a single work it would make the most implausible reading. I'm hoping that by splitting it over nine separate short stories it will be more fun and only improbable.
Constructive feedback and comments are always most welcome.
Enjoy.
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The cab ride to Hyde Park inevitably reminded me of Felicity. I hoped she would be able to re-educate her husband successfully. She was lovely, I wished I could have seen her again. However, it was a truly glorious day and the cab driver dropped me off next to the incredibly impressive Albert Memorial, what a sight that is!
I wandered around the park for a while and happened upon a memorial to Peter Pan, who'd have thought that? Memorials are all very well and good, but this was a day to be appreciated, this was a day to take time out and be glad to be alive, this was a day for ice cream and people watching.
As I settled down on a bench by the Serpentine lake my spirits soared, yes I would have loved to have spent more time with Harry too, but all things must come to an end and she in all likelihood did me a favor. I scanned the fauna and flora in the park, it is a wonderful place in a bustling city. The sky was blue, birds were singing their hearts out, squirrels were hopping about scavenging and the human population provided plenty of entertainment.
Time passed quickly and before I knew it I was hankering after some lunch. Opposite the Serpentine is an eatery called The Lido, it was very busy but I happened upon a table outside just as it's current occupants got up to leave. I'd bought myself a Towering Reuben sandwich and a Pimms, I felt like celebrating, and settled down to eat.
A few moments later and a voice alerted me to the presence of a lady standing next to me, tray in hand, "Would you mind if I sat here." She indicated the chair opposite me.
I stood up and smiled, "It would be my pleasure, please."
She thanked me and settled down.
"My name is Paul," I offered my hand, "I'm very pleased to meet you."
She looked a bit perturbed, but took my hand, "Maggie, pleased to meet you too."
I don't know much about British regional accents, but Maggie didn't sound local, "Are you a Londoner?"
She smiled, it made her eyes sparkle, "No, I'm from Sheffield, just doing a spot of touring."
"Well I hope you're having a good time, it's lovely weather for sight seeing."
A few moments later she spoke again, "That was very old school polite of you."
I looked up into her eyes, she really did have lovely eyes, "How do you mean?"
"Standing up to greet me, a stranger, who just wanted a seat. Normally people just grunt and then ignore you."
I pondered this for a moment, "You know, I think that a few days ago I would have been a grunter too, but the last couple of days have opened my eyes."
She sipped her soup, "Oh really, how so?"
"I've spent years developing my career, climbing the ladder, earning very good money and in my mind doing a great job of being a husband. Turns out I wasn't being a good husband so now I just have the job and I don't want it any more."
She looked genuinely sad for me, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, do you know what you do want?"
"Yes... you have the most beautiful eyes... I want to make people happy."
She spilled a spoonful of soup, "I err... thank you... um, how do you make people happy?"
"In any way I can, I don't know, I've only been doing it for a couple of days. Before that it was all me and my career."
"Well, it seems to me that if you don't want your career you'll have to find a way to make people happy that makes money."
"Making money isn't going to be my focus any more, I've tried that and it didn't bring me happiness, not like the happiness I feel now. I've never felt so alive."
She stared into my eyes as if she was searching for answers, "If you don't mind me asking, how have you made someone happy in the last couple of days?"
Oh god, this was going to be tricky, how do you explain Felicity!? "Well I..." Beth, yes Beth, she was the easiest to explain, "I introduced someone who really wants to be a pilot to a friend of mine in the States who can help achieve her dream, and the bonus was in doing so it made my friend really happy too." I took a big bite of my sandwich hoping I wasn't going to have to do any more explaining.
She continued to look deeply into my eyes, her soup seemed to have been forgotten. "OK, I like that, but it's very specific, another example please?"
Oh shit! Everything else was going to sound so...weird. "You've asked a question, how about it's my turn, OK?"
She leaned back in her seat and pushed her soup bowl away. "OK," her eyes sparkled, "I'm game, fire away."
I thought back to what Harry said this morning, direct questions save time. Think, think... what to ask? "OK, I've known you for about," I glanced at my watch, "5 minutes. In that time I've appreciated your beautiful eyes and your inquisitive nature," time for a stab in the dark, "you strike me as a person who is looking for something, someone who has a deep rooted need, what is it?"
Her eyes opened wide and she took a very deep breathe, I was seriously concerned the Police were about to get involved. "Sorry, I... I'm not comfortable telling you that," she looked down in to her soup and without looking up she whispered, "why don't tell me something that you really don't want me to know."