Butterflies (BL)

Chapter 1: Bananas

"A banana has five sides"

☆

"This one?" Tamesh points to the small canvas of citrus fruits on the wall behind him. 

"Yes please." The lady replies, smiling with joy at the image of brightly coloured fruits. "It would look perfect in my kitchen." She adds. 

"Ah very good." Tamesh smiles as he places the painting on a ready rolled out sheet of brown paper, ready to wrap. 

The lady watches as he cuts the paper from the roll, wrapping the art up like a present before tying it up with some string. "Ok, so that's £60." He says as he taps out the price on the old fashioned cash register. 

The lady hands over the money, with Tamesh popping it in the drawer, before picking up the neatly wrapped parcel and handing it to her. She nods a thank you with a smile and heads out of the quaint art shop, making the old style bell tingle on the way out. 

Tamesh takes a deep sigh as he stares momentarily at the closed shop door, wondering when or if anyone else would show up today. 

Business had been particularly slow of late. Apart from a few valued customers with whom he'd won over with his style and would buy whatever he painted, no one really came in and if they did, it would only be to gaze upon the images of landscapes and still life, to just give Tamesh a warm smile before walking out of the door again. 

He moves from behind the counter and looks around at his work hanging on the walls and stacked in display boxes, deciding on what to replace his citrus still life with. He eventually decides on the seascape he painted on his trip to the coast last month, unhooking it from the wall and taking it to its new home behind the counter. 

As Tamesh adjusts the painting in its new space, he hears the bell tingle once again and looks over his shoulder, his heart fluttering a little, like it did every time someone came into his shop. His soul and his passion laid bare for comment and critique by whoever may enter.

It turns out to be his friend and fellow shop owner Alfie. He turns around to greet him. "Hey Alfie." 

"Hey Tam. Nice painting." Alfie says, pointing in appreciation at the freshly placed art on the wall. 

"Thanks. It seems whatever I put here will sell." He replies chuckling to himself, looking back at the image. He looks back at Alfie who was now resting his elbows on the counter, emitting a light sigh. "Business slow too?" 

"Mmhm." Alfie nods. "No one wants my candy today." He pouts. 

"They don't know what they're missing." Tamesh smiles. "Your cherry bombs are the best."

"Thanks." Alfie smiles. "Anyways, Dale's minding the shop for me, do you fancy grabbing some lunch?" 

Tamesh sucks in a breath in thought. "I dunno, I'll have to close up."

Alfie looks at Tamesh, then looks over his shoulders at the empty shop. 

"Ok ok I know I have no customers!" He says a little defensively. 

"Just half an hour." Alfie insists "I want to run something by you. I'll even treat you in your favourite ramen place."

Tamesh finally relents and nods. "Ok, I guess half an hour won't hurt." He goes to grab his jacket from out the back and pulls his keys from his trouser pocket, turning the sign to 'closed' on the shop door.

***

As soon as Tamesh walks through the door of 'Nam's noodles', the beautiful aromas hit his senses. He instantly follows the smell in, as if it were a magic potion guiding him to the source, which happened to be the long table, opposite the kitchen where the magic happened.