The icy gust of wind left his head abruptly bare and he stood forlornly on the busy pavement, his hands belatedly clutching at his balding pate. Raindrops splashed against his already-cold fingers. Passers-by stared curiously at him from within their tightly-fastened high-collar coats as they hurried by. Arthur turned stiffly on his heel and tried to catch sight of the fleeing hat, but the swell of bobbing heads made it difficult to see more than a few yards.
There! A gap opened up, giving him a fleeting glimpse of the water-rippled road. Something had just fled behind a clattering red sports car. He stared intently, hoping to catch sight of his errant hat as the car moved forward, but his hopes were dashed by a black, wind-shredded umbrella. It flapped in his face like a trapped raven, narrowly missing his eye. Impatiently, he swept it aside, leaning over towards the road in his desperation to catch sight of the sports car.
But it had already moved on, creeping slowly up the traffic-choked street, signing the air with blue smoke that swirled briefly before being torn away by the freshening breeze. The tarmac it left behind was momentarily empty, devoid even of Arthur's headgear. Then a hard-driven white van devoured the space greedily, cutting off all sight of the road. And Arthur's hope of locating his hat.
It's gone! He stared down the street in dismay, his raincoat flapping manically against his legs. Unconcerned passers-by brushed against his back and bumped into his elbows as they squeezed past, but he was oblivious to them as they hurried past in a river of pale faces. A sudden wave of loneliness washed over him. Tears sprang into his eyes. The hat had been his final link to the past. Unbidden, his mind washed up the memory of the day he had found it; or rather, the young lady who had found it for him. He glanced up at the frantic clouds. It had been a very different day to this one; warm, bright and full of optimism.
Just like I used to be.
He smiled through his pain. He'd been leaning against a plate glass window, peering into the milliners shop, wondering why on earth anyone would want to strut about with such ridiculous garments balanced on their heads. As he’d turned away, shaking his head, a polite cough distracted him. Frowning slightly, he turned to peer with sun-dazzled eyes at the young woman before him. She perched uncertainly on fashionably high heels. Her youth-blessed face smiled back at his weather-worn one. Her strawberry blonde hair flowed over her shoulder, curling inwards to touch below her throat. Maverick strands brushed her cheeks, teased gently by the bright morning breeze.
"I think you might have dropped this, she said cautiously. “It was on the ground right behind you." He found himself staring down at the workers flat cap, displayed on her upturned palms as if it was her first pie at a WI meeting. Arthur found himself entranced by her contralto tones.
“It is yours, isn't it? she asked, her smile fading. He lifted his eyes to gaze into hers. They were blue, just like his own. Her eyelashes fluttered nervously. The polite smile was melting quickly from her face. He risked another glance at the hat. It was almost identical to the ones littering the shelves only a few feet behind him. Why would anyone want to strut about - ?
"I'm sorry, she began, her foot already lifting to draw her away from him. Her smile was gone.
“I've made a mistake. Arthur's heart skipped a beat. She was leaving! He stared at the offending headgear once again, tightened his jaw and made his decision. If it gets her to stay, then so be it! In a sudden flurry of motion, he plucked the hat from her hands and pulled it into place over his dark hair, one hand at the peak, one at the back, just as the men at the mill had done a thousand times. The tops of their heads beneath him had been a rushing river of flat caps heading for the steel gates. The glass in his lofty office had fairly vibrated to their siren-driven stampede. She started at his sudden action, then smiled at him, white teeth contrasting her ruby lips. She smiled at me! He grinned back at her for a moment, then remembered his manners.
