Don't Cage The Birdie (Book 2)(rough first draft)

Chapter 11. The date

James strolled nervously outside the taxi cab he had arrived in and coerced to stay. The cabby sat slumped over his wheel, staring out the window at the apartment block they had arrived at five minutes earlier.

'I hope you know the meter's still runnin', pal,' the cabby called out the window.

'I know,' replied James. He glanced at his watch. 'Fuck,' he said, remembering that it was broken. He needed another one. 'What's the time now?' he asked, bending down to peer into the window of the cab.

The cabby sighed and glanced at the stereo clock. '6.38,' he said. 'Maybe she ain't comin, pal.'

James grunted, turning back to the apartment building. Jasmine had told him to pick her up outside the brownstone building apartment building in Upper Manhattan along Edgecombe Ave at 6.30. Maybe she wasn't coming.

Upper Manhattan was a nice part of town, especially Edgecombe Avenue. On the other side of the street was the Jackie Robinson Park, just over 12 acres of public park spanning from 145th Street to 155th Street which cut through it. On the other side of 155th Street was another section of forestry with various buildings scattered through, including the New York City Housing Authority.

'6.40, buddy,' said the Cabby. He took off his cap and rubbed the sweat from his forehead and then replaced his cap. 'You wanna just send me home?'

'Spoke too soon,' said James, gaze alighting on the front door of the building as Jasmine herself appeared. She was wearing a pale blue summer frock with ruffle button front and matching shoes. Her auburn hair was pinned up in a loose bun, with a few strands falling into her eyes. She sprang down the front steps, panting. Glancing behind her she rolled her eyes as she shook her head. She hurried across the pavement and pulled to a stop in front of James, almost colliding into him. A scent of berries washed over James as he breathed her in. She looked up at him, face flushed.

'So sorry I'm late. My parents are mad. Daddy's painting the rooms and I couldn't get anywhere until the paint dried,' she exclaimed in a rush of breath. It smelled of mint.

James smiled, 'Not at all. No excuse needed.'

Jasmine grinned and then glanced at the cab. 'Is this our ride?' she asked, bending down to peer into the open window at the cabby. She grinned broadly, waving her hand. 'Hello!' she said happily.

'Evenin', Miss,' said the cabby cheerfully, tugging at his cap brim. 'Glad you could join us.'

'Chariot awaits,' said James, opening the door and stepping back to allow Jasmine to climb in. After she was seated James climbed in beside her and gave their destination to the driver and the cab took off.

'This place comes highly recommended,' explained James. 'Good wine, apparently.'

'I'm sure it'll be nice,' said Jasmine politely.

'So,' said James, 'I am interested to know more about you. You're studying horticulture?'

'Mmm,' Jasmine nodded. 'Second year. As you can see,' she pointed out the window to the park lands they were driving past, 'I live across from a park. Have all my life. We don't have much green land in New York City. It's mostly residential. There's a reason Central Park is so well known around the world, because it's a massive park in the middle of a city of concrete and steel and glass and polluting cars. I want to look after it one day and make sure that it lives on.'

'That's noble,' said James, watching the Jackie Robinson Park retreat into the past behind them. 'So all your life you wanted to study plants and things and work in a garden?'

'It's not a garden,' said Jasmine, scowling at him. 'There are gardens in the parklands but I don't want to work in a garden. I want to look after the whole thing.'