Every month I put a FREE short story on here. Here’s the story for November.
Island of Dreams
He called it technology terrace. The terrace of the fast-food chain overlooked the water and it was the place everyone with a computer or iPhone came to check their e-mails, skype their friends or g
enerally surf the net. It wasn’t the only place in the beach resort that offered free Wi-Fi, but it was the one with the loveliest view, he thought, as he gazed out over the sunlit Mediterranean, watching diamonds of light dancing on blue water.
He saw the girl arrive, just as she had every day that week, and set up her laptop on the next table. He watched her log-on, just as he had every day that week, her features taut with concentration. Fronds of dark hair fell across her face hiding her frown as she bent her head forward over the keyboard. She appeared every day at the same time. It’s amazing how she improves even the loveliest of views, he thought as he watched her; she brought a new high spot to his day.
Pity she looks so gloomy, though; looks like she’s lost a shilling and found sixpence. Suddenly he had the stupidest urge to try to put a smile on her face. Such a beautiful face deserves a smile, he thought.
He flicked a few keys on his laptop and called out to her, “Do you have a connection? I can’t seem to get on today. Is yours working all right?”
She glanced up.
She’d noticed him there every day. Quite attractive, she thought, in a scruffy schoolboy way. His face was pleasant enough but his hair had a wild rumpled look about it, his t-shirt, although clean, was creased, his khaki shorts baggy and he was wearing socks with brown sandals. Not like her boyfriend Roddy. Roddy was suave sophistication; never a hair out of place, shirts ironed to perfection, shorts immaculate and cut to flatter and he wouldn’t be seen dead in sandals. No – this chap wasn’t her type at all.
“Hmm yes – I’m connected.”
Steve gave a heavy sigh and beamed her his best ‘little boy lost’ expression. “I don’t know what’s wrong with it,” he said. “I’ve never had this problem before.” He shrugged in a helpless gesture and gazed at her until she came over.
Lisa tapped a few keys and connection was re-established.
“Wow,” he said. “You must be some sort of computer genius. Thanks.”
“No problem,” she said. “You were working off-line.” She returned to her table. Some sort of genius, she thought, almost smiling. That’s not what Roddy thinks. Roddy was always telling her how useless she was.
Steve shrugged again. “I’m hopeless at this,” he said. “a real technophobe. Thanks anyway.” He tapped a few keys and glanced at her again. He’d made a connection and didn’t want to let it go. “Can I get you a coffee or something?” he said, “by way of thanks.”
“Really, it was nothing. I’m fine.” She bent her head over her keyboard again.
“Please. It’s the least I can do after all your help.” He stood up. “Coffee or a cold drink if you’d prefer.”
Lisa’s shoulders drooped. Her sister’s e-mail was late and she didn’t know how long she’d have to wait to hear from her. “A cold drink would be nice,” she said. “Thanks.”
Hopeless at this, Lisa thought. Roddy would never say those words. Roddy was expert at everything, even if it was something he’d never tried. He reckoned he was a scratch golfer, expert horseman, diver, aviator – you name it Roddy excelled at it. He even dragged Lisa into his fantasies. “That’s right isn’t it?” he’d say when relating one of his daring exploits.
Once, when Lisa had dared to mumble “I don’t remember that,” he’d lost his temper, called her an imbecile and said sometimes he was surprised she remembered her own name. Then he sulked all evening. Of course she could never match up to darling Melanie, his ex. Melanie was elegant, stylish, intelligent – everything Lisa wasn’t, there was no way she could compete, although she’d tried, Lord knows she’d tried. Since they’d been together Roddy’s opinions had become her opinions, his likes were her likes and his dislikes her dislikes. In fact she sometimes wondered if she’d ever had a mind of her own. She sighed and shook her head. Why had she ever agreed to come on this holiday?
It was Roddy’s idea. They’d been going through a rough patch. “What we need is a break,” he said. “A holiday in the sun. Things always look better in the sun.”
Lisa didn’t want to go. Her mother had been taken into hospital and she didn’t want to leave her, but Roddy insisted it. “It’s only a couple of weeks,” he said. “and I need a holiday.”
So they’d come to Malta, the Island of Dreams. Lisa’s sister, Sue, had agreed to keep an eye on Mum and e-mail Lisa every day. Today her e-mail was late and Lisa was worried sick.
Steve returned with two cold drinks. “I’m Steve, by the way,” he said.
“I’m Lisa.”
“Hi Lisa.” Her hand in his felt small and soft. His heart skipped a beat.
They sat chatting while they had their drinks. Lisa told him about her mother and her worries and saw genuine sympathy reflected in his soft brown eyes. “Must be difficult, being so far away,” he said. How different from Roddy, she thought. All he cares about is enjoying his holiday.
Her laptop pinged. Her sister’s e-mail had arrived. Lisa’s face broke into a smile as she read it. “She’s so much better they’ve let her home from the hospital,” she said. “That’s why Sue’s e-mail was late. She’d been to collect her.”
“Fantastic,” Steve said and looked genuinely pleased. Just as he imagined, he thought, her smile made her look even more beautiful. He hesitated. He’d have to go soon but didn’t want to lose the connection he’d made.
“I don’t suppose you know how to get to the music downloads on this thing,” he said indicating the laptop. “My mate put some of my favourite tracks on but I can’t seem to find them. Any ideas?”
Lisa smiled again. She leaned over and quickly located the media player, bringing up a list of tracks.
“Wow, thanks. That’s great.”
“I don’t know what sort of thing you like,” he said, “but they’ve got Country music tonight at the Sun Seekers’ on the front.” He crossed his fingers and hoped. “I wondered if you’d like to come along for a drink or something…” Of course he wouldn’t tell her about his Masters Degree in Computer Science or that he’d be spending the afternoon teaching software programming to a bunch of geeks at the International School. No he’d leave that until he got to know her better.
Country music, she thought. Roddy would go ape. Music for peasants he called it. Still, there was something in Steve’s face that made her feel all warm inside. “Great,” she said. “I love Country music.” Perhaps this would be a break she could enjoy after all.
If you enjoyed this story there are many more in my Short Story Collections here.
