After Olivia

19

A cloudy morning sky had darkened over the shopping mall where Bill waited for Matilda. He turned his attention from a display at the Mobile Depot kiosk to the sound of heavy rain that had started pounding on the glass skylight above. It was well past noon and he wondered if she had changed her mind about meeting him or, worse yet, was somewhere outside in the sudden downpour.

"Have you been waiting long?" Matilda asked as she stepped up quietly behind him.

Bill's heart quickened as he turned and looked at her. His smile conveyed a hint of laughter and boyish excitement. The words Olivia had said on so many occasions that followed her into his dreams, came to him in another's voice.

"What's so funny?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing," he said with a soft smile.

They gazed at each other in silence for a moment until a crack of thunder broke the spell.

"I was afraid you might be stuck outside in that," Bill said as he pointed up towards the skylight.

"Oh, yeah. I missed my bus," Matilda said as she looked upward. "I made it into the mall before it got bad. Luckily the bus stop isn't too far from the entrance."

"Well, let's find you a phone so the next time you're almost drowned by a storm you can call me for help." Bill glanced at Matilda to read her reaction. "I've been looking at the phones and talking to that guy over there. He seems pretty helpful."

"So, you have been here for a while," Matilda replied over a suppressed giggle.

"I was afraid I would be late, so I got here a bit early. Like, eleven," he said with a sheepish smile.

"What? I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry, I grabbed a coffee and looked around. I haven't been here in years and there's so much that's changed."

After a short time looking over the selection and going through the paperwork, Matilda had her new phone. As they stepped away from the kiosk, Bill asked, "Would you like to get lunch?"

"Definitely! I slept in, so I skipped breakfast and still managed to miss my bus," Matilda said as she scanned the selection in the food court. "I haven't had a Lucky Burger in a long time and for some reason I just have this craving for one."

"That sounds good, I haven't even seen a Lucky's in ages. I love their onion rings," Bill replied as they proceeded towards the counter.

As Matilda enjoyed her meal, she passed her new phone to Bill and said, "I left your business card on my dresser at home, so you'll have to put your phone number in it so I can call you. You know, in case I'm drowning in the parking lot. And, while you're at it, can you show me how to do it? Otherwise, I'll have to read the manual."

As Bill reached for the phone, she added, "No rush, you can finish eating first. I just didn't want to forget. I've been doing a lot of that today."

"So, I avoid menus and you avoid manuals?"

"Why read a manual when you have a Guru to show you the way?"

When Bill finished the last bites of his meal, he took the phone and showed Matilda how to add a contact while she sipped on her strawberry milkshake. His fingers tapped continuously at the screen well after the basic "how to" lesson was finished.

"Are you writing a novel or something?" she asked.

"Well, now you have my home number, my cell and office numbers, and my email address. Oh, and we can't forget the photo!"

Bill held the phone out to his side with his right hand, lightly pursed his lips and distorted his face into a strange wide eyed hollow cheek look. The phone snapped the photo and saved it to Bill's contact profile.