Uncertain Beginnings

I first met Elodie when I found her in one of the various second hand bookshops on the Charing Cross Road looking utterly perplexed over the various aging paperbacks. Her face was a portrait of inexpressible confusion and as her foot tapped the floor impatiently, her eyes scanned the shelves pleadingly as she let out a resounding sigh so significant, it made the frail old woman hunched over the lower shelves a few feet away jump up in fright and turn round to glare. Even in her puzzled state, she still managed to exude that self confidence and disregard for her surroundings that only the very beautiful or very rich can ever hope to acheive.

I approached timidly and attempted to make myself as unobtrusive as possible as I silently ran my eyes across the various titles. If truth be told, I was as overwhelmed by the choice as she appeared to be but I was not brave enough to face the awkwardness that would arise from both of us, strangers at that time, standing side by side and surveying the same shelves. As quickly and quietly as I could, I plucked the closest book from the shelf nearest to me and in the same movement I turned swifly around and was about the walk towards the till when I heard several dull thumps behind me. Turning back, I found a heap of four or five paperbacks strewn across the carpet at my feet. I looked up akwardly to see Elodie peering at me curiously with one perfectly arched eyebrow raised. A glance to her right took in the old woman shaking her head and tutting seemingly towards the carpet.

Trying unsuccessfully to smile apologetically, a look of nervous awkwardness cast it's shadow across my face and I bent down to retrieve the fallen books. I gathered all but one of them clumsily up into my arms and just as I was about to pick up the last, I lost my grip and they all tumbled back to the floor. Cringing and flustered, I awkwardly tried to laugh it off, before bending back down to gather them up again. In my haste, I misjudged my balance and tripped forwards, knocking my head lightly but noticeably on the shelf in front of me. This further served to cause two more precariously balanced books to tip from the shelves and fall mockingly to my feet.

I looked up and tried to laugh, hoping there would be someone that would laugh with me and not at me. I was greeted by Elodie's uncertain expression; an equal measure of disdain and pity.

"Oh dear." I sighed cautiously.

"Are you... alright?" she inquired in her clipped tones.

"Yes. Yes! Well... yes I'm fine." I grinned maniacally back up at her, a failed attempt at being lighthearted and friendly.

"I see." she pondered. She peered down at me. "Shall I help you with these?"

"No, no. That won't be necessary at all..." I gushed. But she had already begun to collect up the books gracefully yet efficiently into the crook of her arm. She placed them elegantly back onto the shelf. She did all this in the time it took me to stumble to my feet and brush at the dust on my clothes.

She smiled halfheartedly at me and then turned back to bookshelf. "Oh, I'm sorry. Which one of these did you want to buy?" She lifted her hand to the shelf.