Every morning of the week was the same. The regular monotony of urban workers in every city in the country had become my routine. Reluctantly answering my alarm, taking the few steps on cheap carpet to the bathroom of my suburban unit, complete the regular morning preparation and head out to work.
Years ago, as an ambitious young man I felt the world was my oyster, sure I would start small in the big city, but soon I would move up the ladder, meet my future wife, but that house in the suburbs with a yard and a pool and live the good life. Here I was, pushing 40, living alone, working day to day just to get to my weekend of solitude with a beer and TV. An exciting morning might include an extra 10 minutes in the shower to enjoy the fantasy of how last nights failed Tinder date could have gone. The sad morning stroke of a solo single.
Part of my routine always involved a quick stop at the local breakfast bar for take away coffee and breakfast. Generally an uneventful stop until one sunny spring morning when Gloria worked her first shift. Reasonable tall, mid length blonde hair, in her late thirties with a curvy yet attractive body hugged by the knee length dress that all of the stores female staff were required to wear. She had the look of a woman who thought her days working early morning coffee shifts were behind her, yet she had a charming manner and sweet voice that caught my eye.
From that day on I looked more and more forward to my morning coffee stop just so that I could get my morning Gloria fix. As the spring turned into summer I found myself waking just a little earlier each day until I was able to sit and have my coffee and breakfast at a table. I became a regular face and made small talk, she would smile, then I would leave for my day feeling just a little happier. Sure I saw the wedding ring, but I had a little crush, what was the harm in that?
Deep into the hot depths of summer, my weekly Friday night visits to my local bar for a few beers and a little football were my only real social activity. Each week I would drink and chat to the usual gang of locals. Lots of talk about nothing at all. Then walk home as alone as always. There was nothing wrong with me as such, but I had somehow allowed life to become this lonely sameness that I equated with comfort, the local barflys had become regular acquaintances substituting for friends.
This particular week like any other I drank from my glass, vaguely listened to Ian the local blowhard bragging about some random conquest the week before and stared vacantly at the giant screen showing a soccer match between two unknown European teams when I saw her. Walking through the gaggle of half drunk carpenters, office workers and general riff raff in the Sports Bar on her way to the Bistro was Gloria.
Looking amazing in just a pair of regular blue jeans and grey t-shirt she wa accompanying her husband on what looked like a rare dinner date.
He was a scruffy looking man, he appeared to have spent little time preparing for his night out with his Queen.
"Some guys have all the luck", I thought. I gulped the rest of my beer and ordered another. It was time for a serious drink.
After a few beers the urge for the bathroom became too much and a visit was essential. I made my way to the back of the bar and through to the bathrooms. As I turned the corner I met eyes with Gloria who was also heading in the same direction. She looked stony faced as she passed by, but took a second to give a feint smile and say hi, then put her head down and entered the Ladies.
On my return to the bar I saw her husband at the betting machine. Beer in hand he placed a number of bets. As the night wore on he spent increasingly longer periods in the Sports Bar yelling at the various screens as his obviously poorly chosen horses failed him time after time.
On my next visit to the bathroom I again chanced upon Gloria, now tipsy she had clearly been crying. She wiped her eyes and this time greeted me with a clearly forced smile.
"Hey, I didn't expect to see a nice guy like you in a dive like this. I thought you would be on a hot date or something."
Clearly I had made myself look far more interesting in our morning chats.
I felt the buzz of the beers mix with my crush on the local coffee girl and replied with something I just can't remember. It was obviously reasonably witty as she giggled.
The effect of the beer had unfortunately impeded my discretion. As she giggled my eyes drifted to her ample breasts as they wobbled in her tight grey t-shirt.
"At least someone noticed them" she quipped as she gave me a cheeky wink.
Embarrassed I mumbled some excuse and made for the bathroom. I really needed to go anyway, those beers were really kicking in.
The night continued, her husband lost more bets, I drank more beers, Gloria sat alone. We once again passed near the bathrooms, again stopping to make small talk. Again she smiled, again my eyes wandered, this time as she went to move off she planted a quick kiss on my cheek. Surprised I stood and watched her walk back to her table, how had I never noticed how lovely and round her backside was. Those jeans!
After one more beer it was time for the short walk home. Gloria's husband was by now involved in a drunken argument with another of the locals over some kind of bet, the soccer match was over and loud music filled the room.
