Dutch Blood

Mrs. Patti

     The door opens with a ding following it.
     "Hello Olivia! It's a pleasure to see you again!" Amy Pattington says quite loudly in a happy and cheerful voice. "What brings you here today?"
     "Hi Mrs. Patti. Can I get some sourdough bread and a hunk of lamb meat?"
     "Of course, dear!" Mrs. Patti opens up a door to a freezer and puts on her gloves. "Do you want that salted?"
     "No. I don't think my brother can handle it." Mrs. Patti, reaching for the lamb meat bursts into a loud chuckle and Olivia gives a smile. "He hates salt."
     Mrs. Patti brings out the hunk of lamb and opens up a glass display case and takes out the sourdough.
     "I remember your brother, Olivia. Believe it or not, he was a short kid. And yes, he did hate salt, but boy did he love spicy foods. Your mother would always take him down here to get our spiciest.-" Mrs. Patti stops.
     Olivia looks down at her feet.
     Mrs. Patti bursts into tears. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to mention your mother! Oh there I go again!" Mrs. Patti's cheeks are very red and are covered in tears.
     "It's okay Mrs. Patti! Please stop crying!"
     She stops and sniffles loudly. She grasps Olivia's hand tightly and look at her with sorrowful eyes.
     "I'll always be with you in the deepest of your times, Olivia. Trust me."
     Olivia shakes her hand. "Thank you Mrs. Patti. And I'll always be with you." She smiles.
     To prevent Mrs. Patti from crying again and save Olivia from a tight hug, she asks how much the bread and meat will cost.
     "$15.34," Mrs. Patti sniffs.
     Olivia hands her a $10 off coupon followed by a crinkled 5 and two quarters. "Keep the change," she says, realizing that Mrs. Patti was counting in her head to find out how much to give back. Olivia takes the bread and meat and shouts buh-bye.
     Olivia leaves the small, cramped shoppe and heads back toward her home. As she walks across the stone sidewalk, she pays close attention to the soft sound of the water fountain, and the quiet voices of the old ladies gossiping on Chippendale Street. "Olivia? Is that you?"
     She stops and looks around. "Hello? Who's there? How do you know my name?"
     A faint laugh in the distance comes closer and closer. Coming out of the fog, a tall and skinny red headed girl with many freckles appears with a smile.
     "It's me, silly! Foggy day, isn't it?"
     Olivia, still confused nods with an awkward "Uh-huh."
     "It's been a long time sinse I saw you! How's it been?" The red head says happily.
     "Fine.. Sorry to ask but, who are you? I don't think we've actually met." The red head's smile turns into a big frown.
     "It's Fox! Remember? The girl from the amusement park!"
     "Oooooh!"
     Guilt rushes over Olivia's body, and a slight instinct she got was to grasp her arm with her other hand. Fox puts a hand on Olivia's shoulder and giggles.
     "Aye, it's alright. We all forget. It's all part of human nature!" Olivia is confused as hell at this point.
     "Whad'ya say we go to that new milkshake place after supper? Heard their milkshakes are bomb." Olivia cringes.
     "Erm, no thank you. We have dessert at home..."
     "No no no! I insist! It's on me, alright? See you at Debby's!" Fox skips back into the fog without letting Olivia respond. She lets out a heavy sigh and continues back to the house.