The Office Curve

These Words

"Hurry up and get showered, honey, so we can go out and have ourselves a good time."  I'd made it point to come in and greet her, even if I was in my pajamas, and yet here she was, pushing me back toward the bedroom.  "I'm thinking breakfast at a nice restaurant and then a little shopping - the perfect formula for a good day, in my humble opinion."

"But...but..."  As much as a delicious breakfast made my highly trained individual sounded good to me, this was technically supposed to be my sick day.  After all, intense family conflicts tend to knock the wind out of you and then some.  "I don't know, Cecile.  I was really hoping to take it easy today."

"I know, that's why we're going out, my dear!"  Her sweet, motherly tone was quite effective in counteracting my doldrum state.  Or maybe I just liked hearing her speak in such a tone.  "Nothing lifts the spirits more than a little food and a pair of designer shoes.  Sure, you probably could spend such money on rent or bills and what not, but nothing can compare to the high a woman gets when she buys a new pair of shoes."

There was one thing that came close - but I thought it best not to say that in front of her.  Even if she may have been far too aware of it.  "I hear you there.  Still, I'm not exactly a fan of shopping."

"Not a fan of shopping?"  Cecile clutched her chest, and her mock look of horror may have actually be genuine.  "A woman who doesn't like shopping?  I knew they existed, I just never thought I'd meet one in person."

I couldn't help but snicker.  "Well, I do like shopping, just mainly the online variety."  I fidgeted back in forth.  "There - there aren't a lot of stores around, even in this big city, that offer a positive experience for a girl like me."

"Sure, there is.  You just haven't looked hard enough.  But that's all right - that's why I'm here."  I winced as she pinced a good chunk off my left cheek, one of the man drawbacks of carrying a little extra meat.  "I've been doing my research, missy, and now, we're going places.  Just stick next to me, kiddo - I promise I won't steer you wrong."

That mischievous sparkle in her eye made me very nervous.  "Ah, okay.  I'll, um, trust your judgment."

"And just like that, you're leaps and bounds much smarter than my son."  The anxiety jumped tenfold.  Kaim was quite sensible and intelligent person - he wouldn't do something if he had reservations about it.  Just what did she have in store for me?  What did I get myself into?  "Come on, missy, get lathered up!  We've got work to do!"

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After a show, a flick of the hair, and pairing jeans with an ivory sweater and ballet flats, we were on our way to breakfast at the Lincoln Bistro - apparently one of the best places to have breakfast and also a purveyor of delicious European-style desserts.  I'd heard about this place on all those early morning news shows and whatnot but I never really go around to it.  During the week, I have to be at work by 8:30 in the morning and I preferred sleeping in on weekends.  And now that I was with Kaim, weekend mornings were reserved for something else.

Yes, mornings were definitely amazing.

I was pretty sure that Lincoln Bistro has a notorious reputation due for making people wait a ridiculous amount of time for a table, but of course, Cecile assured us that we didn't have to worry.  I did as I was told.  When someone else is picking up the tab, it's quite easy to feel relaxed.

To my surprise, the bistro wasn't very crowded, and we were able to get a table by the window. I always did enjoy people watching, especialy in the chic neighborhoods with the hipsters and the fashionistas - especially the fashionistas.  I always did like a good game of "whose wearing who".