Sweater Weather

Merry Christmas, Darling

Wednesday, December 2nd
23:45

There was a beautiful voice belting out one of Peggy's favourite songs. She was walking through one of the shopping passages in town, just having finished her shift at the law firm. She wanted nothing more than go home and hide in bed until her 08:00 class the next day, but there was someone singing her favourite song, beautiful raspy sounds weaving through the thin early December air. It was only logical to follow the voice and see who had this excellent taste in music.

She slipped through gaps of people who wandered between the shops, everyone chattering loudly, couples, families, a group of college students on their way to the nearest pub. At the end of the passage, between the last two shops, was a girl strumming a guitar, words to The Neighbourhood's 'Sweater Weather' escaping her mouth.

"'Cause it's too cold, whoa, for you here and now. So, let me hold, whoa, both your hands in the holes of my sweater."

The girl had her eyes closed but played confidently anyway. Peggy slowly walked closer, drawn in by the music and beauty of the person playing. A few other people had stopped too, but most kept walking, barely glancing towards the guitar case propped up in front of her boot clad feet. The case was almost empty. A few lone coins, a couple dollars, and two crumpled banknotes sat in it, accompanied by a worn-down stuffed cat.

Peggy rummaged through the pockets of her coat for loose change, knowing well that she'd need the money too, but god knows how long this girl had already been there, singing her throat raw in the cold dry air. She must be cold; it seemed like a wonder that she could still play the guitar. Peggy's own fingers would be frozen without her coat pockets by now. There are black gloves on the girl's hand but they're missing the fabric on the fingers so they couldn't possibly be warm enough. Overall, her outfit doesn't seem warm enough considering the season. Black off-brand Uggs over black jeans disappearing under a thin white sweater, the fingerless gloves, and a black saggy beanie sitting on top of long blonde curls.

Frowning, she slid the bit of change she found into the case, catching a closer look at the stuffed cat as she bent down. When she looked back up, a pair of cool blue eyes looked back at her. The girl mouthed a thank you in between two beats before finishing the song with a last strum of the guitar. Some people nearby applauded, making the girl blush a little and bow for a moment. Peggy watched as she gathered the money from the case and put it in her backpack to make room for the actual guitar.

"You have a really nice voice." Peggy said as the person closed her case, revealing a bunch of stickers on top of it. Peggy caught sight of a rainbow and one that says 'she/her' and smiled.

"Спасибо, er, um, thank you, I mean." The girl said, pushing a strand of hair from her face as she hoists the guitar case onto her back. "For the donation too."

"That was my favourite song, I had to." Peggy said. "Besides, your cat looked disappointed with what you had in there."

The girl laughed a little and picked up her backpack. "I see. But today was a good day compared to earlier this week. Who knew people here were such a tough audience?"

"You've been here all week?"

"Yeah. It's been a tough one. People loved hearing me back home."

"Where are you from?"

"....Moscow."

"Russia? I actually just returned from there two weeks ago. I did a semester abroad from my university."

"Moscow too, or a different part?"

"St. Petersburg."

"Ah, so not far."