Sugar and Spice

Chapter 4: An American in Paris II

Lisa had always thought that her own apartment back in Boston was tiny. Granted, it probably looked smaller than it actually was because of all the clutter and the stuff that never seemed to get tidied away, but it was still just three rooms. An open-plan kitchen and living area, a bedroom, and a pretty poor excuse for a bathroom...but it was hers, and, despite the fact that it was a shoebox, it was home.

Jennie's apartment, above the shop, made Lisa's look palatial.

It was really just one room. The kitchen and living area took up most of the space, and an ornate wooden screen had been opened out along the length of the wall to shield a bedroom. Lisa assumed that the closed door next to the screen led into the bathroom, which looked as if it had been built as part of a small extension over the shop next door. But, somehow, it didn't feel claustrophobic, or squashed. There were three windows that opened to reveal colourful window boxes, full of geraniums and lobelia and trailing ivy, that sent a sweet, fresh smell through the apartment every time a breeze wafted that way. Jennie had carefully chosen colours and fabrics to lighten the room, and a large mirror, artfully placed on the longest wall, reflected the light from the windows back through to create an illusion of space.

Despite its size it was, Lisa thought, one of the nicest apartments she had ever seen.

But then, as Jennie was putting some coffee on and stripping off her chef's shirt to reveal a simple blue top underneath, Lisa caught sight of something in the corner of the room. Something small, and round, and a fluffy brown colour that somewhat didn't fit with the pale-mauve-and-cream colour scheme of the living area. Something that looked a little bit like a ball with fur.

Then its eye opened and blinked slowly at her.

Lisa almost jumped backwards.

"What the hell?"

Jennie laughed as she walked around the kitchen counter to stand beside Lisa.

"It's ok, it's just Kuma. Here." She walked back to the refrigerator and took out a punnet of strawberries before handing one to Lisa.

"I thought you said you were making a salad?"

"I am. These are for Kuma. Go on, give him one. He loves them, and it's a good way of introducing yourself'.