Joe and Dianne Through The Looking Glass

Chapter 1 - First Week of Rehearsals

Alice noticed her the minute she came in, she was after all quite striking. Funny how on some people that hair colour would look rebellious and in your face, like an aggressive statement, but on her it just looked somehow right, despite the fact it couldn't possibly be natural. Perhaps it was the girl's manner which softened it or perhaps the openness of her face but Alice had naturally warmed to her and now she was watching her surreptitiously as she went about tidying up after the morning rush.

She hadn't been working in the coffee shop long, just a few months, but already she was used to the rhythm of the mornings. First the early morning joggers and gym goers pausing only to grab some of the freshly squeezed juices or strangely named pots full of oats, berries and yoghurts (Alice still didn't really understand what was in them and some of the ingredients she was sure had made up names) Next would come those rushing to work in the city, dressed smartly and carrying laptops and mobile phones so big Alice was always worried they would drop them as they juggled hot lattes, salad bowls and sometimes a pastry. After that came the mums and the occasional dad on the school run, they seemed so stressed all these people grabbing cappuccinos and sandwiches and thrusting bags of dried fruit at their reluctant offspring. Alice was sure when her two had been little it had been her favourite part of the day strolling to school talking about the buds on the trees and stopping to stroke the friendly cat on the corner. She didn't remember trying to do things at a hundred miles per hour like these parents did, seemingly trying to do five or six things at once whilst holding three conversations. But memory plays dangerous tricks and she knew she had a tendency to look back with rose tinted spectacles, it was all so long ago now and she knew she had lost touch a little with modern society.

That was part of the reason she had taken this job in the first place, to put her back in touch with people. If she was honest since she'd retired she'd become a little cut off from everything. Her children lived abroad and as she refused to learn how to email or skype she was afraid she had rather lost contact. They did occasionally talk on the phone but it was hard to keep up with the pace they lived at. She'd never had a television, happy instead to listen to the soothing tones of Classic FM and sometimes Radio 4 as long as there were no political interviews - she couldn't stand the way everyone argued with each other about politics. And of course Matthew was gone - it had been a relief in some ways after all that he'd been through. She missed him with all her heart but she had got used to the feeling of losing a crucial piece of herself years before he finally slipped away, in reality she had been without her Matthew for a long time. One day she'd woken up and realised she had no idea what day of the week it was and she couldn't remember the last time she'd left the house. She knew there and then she had to do something or one day she would fall asleep in her chair, never wake up again and no one would even notice. That very day she'd taken herself for a bracing walk along the river bank - despite having lived in the area for years she managed to get lost, honestly the pace London was changing was enough to make you dizzy! She'd ended up standing staring at a notice in the steamed up window of a tiny coffee shop - "Part Time Help Required 7am to 2pm Five days a week. Must Be Flexible." Three months later and here she was, left in sole charge of the shop now she'd got the hang of it and proved that although, yes she was old, she wasn't doddery or stupid and actually pretty competent. She loved it, loved the people watching and loved the stimulation of trying to keep up with the steady flow of customers and make efficient use of the quiet moments. Working here had been the best decision she'd made in years and had brought her alive again as she had gradually got to know the regulars and feel comfortable in her new role behind the counter.

Alice glanced across at the red-haired girl again. It was unusual for anyone to come in and sit down at one of the two tables inside the tiny coffee shop at this time of the morning. Just past the work and school rush but not early enough for a mid-morning coffee break the shop was usually very quiet and Alice spent the time tidying up and restocking the fridge with paninis. She stole another glance at the petite figure sitting drinking her coffee out of a cardboard cup and scrolling through her phone, she was beautiful and Alice was reminded somehow of herself all those years ago; before Matthew, before her career and the children and all those things which kept her tethered to one place, when she could make decisions all on her own which would only affect her, could go anywhere, do anything. She had noticed the girl had an accent when she'd ordered her drink and toast (with almond butter of all things.) Was it South African? Possibly Australian? She wondered what had brought her to this tiny shop close to the Thames in London at the beginning of September. Travelling perhaps, although she looked too well turned out to be a backpacker - despite her leggings, trainers and sweatshirt the girl was wearing full make up and her nails although short were painted and tidy. Undoubtedly that hair would take some maintenance as well. She seemed restless, on edge or maybe excited would explain it better, as if she was waiting for something to start. The red-head looked at her phone again then glanced up at the door and frowned a little. Ah that would explain it, she was waiting for someone, and given the nice make up and nails Alice wondered if it was a boy. Although she knew people in their twenties were undoubtedly adults making their own way in the world Alice couldn't seem to break the habit of thinking of them as boys and girls, they just seemed so young to her, barely out of school in her mind and so, at least in her head, they remained boys and girls. She wiped the surfaces and began to tidy the work area around the coffee machine (her least favourite part of the shop due to the initial struggle she had had trying to master its spaceship like control panel) as she wiped and sprayed Alice watched through the window wondering who the girl was here to meet - whoever it was they were undoubtedly late if the girls frequent glances at her phone and the door were anything to go by. It surely couldn't be a date Alice mused, the girl wasn't dressed to impress, more like ready for a training session at the gym or a run and she would hope that for a beautiful girl like this any boy would make an effort to at least be on time.

She was nearly at the bottom of her cup of coffee by the time he finally arrived, Alice had her back to the counter so she didn't see him approach but she heard the door swing open and shut and his apology - it was hard not to overhear with the shop being so small and only the three of them inside. She looked up to see them hugging slightly awkwardly. Alice couldn't understand this modern obsession with hugging, the only people she had ever embraced were her parents, Matthew and her own children but every day outside the shop she saw people hugging even when it would seem they barely knew each other. The dynamic between these two was interesting, it was obvious from the slightly stilted conversation that they didn't know each other well and yet there was an air of tension about them, almost excitement and he was quite obviously a little nervous, fiddling with his watch and drumming his fingers on the table. Alice took another glance at the pair now sitting down either side of the table and talking in quick bursts interspersed with the odd laugh. He pushed back his hair away from his face and Alice realised that she recognised him. Not a regular but he had been in the shop before, a number of times and always in the daytime, she had wondered about him - wondered why he wasn't at work for a start. He was well spoken and polite, something Alice always noticed, sometimes he was dressed smartly and sometimes to be honest a little strangely and for the life of her Alice couldn't work out why he let his hair grow so long on top, today it was well groomed and he looked tidy at least. She had always thought he looked terribly young and had concluded that he must be a student of some kind although she'd never seen him with any books. He too was wearing clothes suitable for fitness, certainly not a date then but what an odd way to start an exercise program if that was what it was. She watched them together as she made the drink he requested - another mission for her and the coffee machine to face down together as she furtively checked in the book under the counter that she had remembered exactly what went into a dirty chai latte - yes he was nervous, more so than the girl who looked much more collected now that he'd arrived. He pushed the hair away from his face again and glanced at the girl opposite him, smiling as she spoke and nodding enthusiastically. It was a difficult relationship to read. Somehow the girl seemed to be in control of the situation and Alice was amused to see him tentatively show her his shoes almost as if he was asking for her approval. Now she wanted him to look at something on her phone, a video of some kind and they bent, heads almost touching to look at the screen together. Alice caught him looking at the side profile of the girl's face before he directed his eyes to the phone, it was just a couple of seconds but Alice read in the expression on his face a look of admiration, so he has noticed how beautiful she is then she mused. As she completed making his latte the two of them got up and moved towards the door. Collecting his drink from the counter on the way, the boy smiled at her and then headed after the girl who was already standing outside. Just before he opened the door she saw him take a deep breath, his shoulders raised high as he filled his lungs, he paused for a second then pulled open the door and marched outside as if to meet some unknown challenge head on. Alice noticed as they walked away what a good match they were height-wise, she just a little smaller than him. Now the girl was looking towards him as he spoke to her, concentrating hard on whatever he was telling her, suddenly, just before they turned the corner and went out of sight, she threw back her head and laughed, her flame red hair streaming behind her. Well that's a start thought Alice; he made her laugh and that's always a good sign.

This is the first chapter of a series running the length of Joe and Dianne's Strictly journey. I'd love to hear what you think. I hope to publish chapters on a weekly basis so follow me to hear when the next instalment is published.

Love, Gruff xxx