Roses at Home-1
Kate stepped off the train and began walking towards her building. Though she spent the weekend in the country, she had no problem falling into step with the city life again. Her boots clicked away unheard as people hurried about her finishing their Sunday errands. She let herself into her apartment, dropped her bags in her bedroom and began to unpack.
Living in London kept her busy but she was thankful for holiday weekends that allowed her to return home to her family in the English countryside. She was 19, but studying part time in school. Her uncle had allowed her to live in his unused apartment in the city which kept her close to her school and her accounting job.
Tomorrow, Monday was still a holiday but she came home early to have the day to herself. She wanted to see the shops and fill up her cupboards with food before the school term started again.
Kate had finished unpacking and turned in early. The fresh air of the countryside still lingered in her nose and a smile played on her lips as she slept.
The next morning she woke early to get all the food errands done before the day got busy. She finished by lunch time, and picked up a sandwich at the local deli and went to her favorite spot to eat lunch.
Hyde Park was busy with people and pets on holiday enjoying the outdoors. Kate took a seat on a bench and ate her food, quietly observing the people around her. When she finished, she went to the ice cream stand for fresh frozen yogurt.
“One Vanilla please, with a chocolate flake,” Kate ordered.
“Make that two, with an extra flake,” a voice behind her said.
Kate whirled around “I wasn’t quite finished you know,” she said with an air of annoyance. The young man standing behind her had a playful glint in his eyes and a smile was tugging the corner of his mouth.
“I’m sorry,” he said politely. “My treat.” He quickly paid the man and took both ice creams before Kate understood exactly what was happening. He led her away from the stand to a grassy area to sit. Kate however, remained standing and slightly confused. He seemed familiar and strange at the same time. Suddenly it hit her.
“Oh!” She looked at him wide eyed and felt sheepish for forgetting. “You’re William, from Marie’s birthday parties, ages ago!” She smiled and sat down next to him. “But what are you doing here?”
Kate was referring to an old family friend Marie, who had fabulous birthday parties when they were little her family estate. Marie’s mother and Kate’s mother grew up together, and every birthday Marie would invite Kate as well as her entire class from school. While Kate adored Marie, she found these parties rather boring, and could be found in the library pouring through old and new books. The other kids tried to make fun of her but Marie never let them get away with it. Especially the boys.
“You always were boring old Kate,” William reminded her, handing her the ice cream. “Book Kate, Book Kate hiding by the bookcases. She has no friends, she has no life, won’t someone put an end to her strife?”
Kate smiled at the memory. William and his friends were teasing her in a sing song way. They had taken her book and thrown in into the punch bowl. Marie had found out and by the time the boys finished their second chorus of ‘BookKate’, Marie had flung the remaining punch on the boys.
The library smelled fruity for months afterward.
And so did Kate’s copy of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.
“I am sorry,” William said, suddenly serious. “But I saw you sitting by the pond all alone and I said to myself, well I’ll be dammed if I let BookKate sit by herself in Hyde Park on a beautiful day.”
“Kate,” she replied. “Just Kate, I’d rather not be called BookKate.”
“Of course,” He smiled at her.
The afternoon passed without much event. They spoke little of the present and more of the past. Reliving birthday memories and catching up on life. When he spoke about his movie, Narnia, Kate’s face lit up.
“Oh William,” she sighed. “I completely didn’t think to put two and two together. Of course! You were in the movie! I loved those books and I absolutely loved the movie. It was brilliant. Really, it was amazing.”
William’s smile grew with every word. He was proud of his work in the movie and enjoyed people’s reactions to it. “I’m glad you did. I didn’t think boring people like you watched movies.”
“Well excuse me, you obviously forgot but you ruined my copy of The Magician’s Nephew when you threw in the punch bowl. I love Narnia, I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Anyway,” she began to change the subject. “What is a celebrity like yourself doing out in public?”
“No one recognizes me,” he replied quietly. “I grew my hair out after Narnia and I don’t exactly dress like Peter so its easy to get around unnoticed. Wait where are you going?” Kate had gotten up and was brushing herself off.
“I just realized, my classes start up again tomorrow and I have so much left to do.” She started to walk away, looking downcast. “I’m so sorry, this was fun but I really must be going.”
“Well wait a minute,” William quickly pulled out his wallet and found a card. It was his agent’s card. He scratched out the information and replaced it with his phone number. “Take this,” he handed it to her. Then, without thinking, he pulled her into a hug. She fit easily into his arms, and seemed to truly relax for the first time that afternoon.
“Kate, I hope to see you again.” He looked at her for some sign of hope.
She broke into a smile, “William, we will see each other soon.”
Living in London kept her busy but she was thankful for holiday weekends that allowed her to return home to her family in the English countryside. She was 19, but studying part time in school. Her uncle had allowed her to live in his unused apartment in the city which kept her close to her school and her accounting job.
Tomorrow, Monday was still a holiday but she came home early to have the day to herself. She wanted to see the shops and fill up her cupboards with food before the school term started again.
Kate had finished unpacking and turned in early. The fresh air of the countryside still lingered in her nose and a smile played on her lips as she slept.
The next morning she woke early to get all the food errands done before the day got busy. She finished by lunch time, and picked up a sandwich at the local deli and went to her favorite spot to eat lunch.
Hyde Park was busy with people and pets on holiday enjoying the outdoors. Kate took a seat on a bench and ate her food, quietly observing the people around her. When she finished, she went to the ice cream stand for fresh frozen yogurt.
“One Vanilla please, with a chocolate flake,” Kate ordered.
“Make that two, with an extra flake,” a voice behind her said.
Kate whirled around “I wasn’t quite finished you know,” she said with an air of annoyance. The young man standing behind her had a playful glint in his eyes and a smile was tugging the corner of his mouth.
“I’m sorry,” he said politely. “My treat.” He quickly paid the man and took both ice creams before Kate understood exactly what was happening. He led her away from the stand to a grassy area to sit. Kate however, remained standing and slightly confused. He seemed familiar and strange at the same time. Suddenly it hit her.
“Oh!” She looked at him wide eyed and felt sheepish for forgetting. “You’re William, from Marie’s birthday parties, ages ago!” She smiled and sat down next to him. “But what are you doing here?”
Kate was referring to an old family friend Marie, who had fabulous birthday parties when they were little her family estate. Marie’s mother and Kate’s mother grew up together, and every birthday Marie would invite Kate as well as her entire class from school. While Kate adored Marie, she found these parties rather boring, and could be found in the library pouring through old and new books. The other kids tried to make fun of her but Marie never let them get away with it. Especially the boys.
“You always were boring old Kate,” William reminded her, handing her the ice cream. “Book Kate, Book Kate hiding by the bookcases. She has no friends, she has no life, won’t someone put an end to her strife?”
Kate smiled at the memory. William and his friends were teasing her in a sing song way. They had taken her book and thrown in into the punch bowl. Marie had found out and by the time the boys finished their second chorus of ‘BookKate’, Marie had flung the remaining punch on the boys.
The library smelled fruity for months afterward.
And so did Kate’s copy of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.
“I am sorry,” William said, suddenly serious. “But I saw you sitting by the pond all alone and I said to myself, well I’ll be dammed if I let BookKate sit by herself in Hyde Park on a beautiful day.”
“Kate,” she replied. “Just Kate, I’d rather not be called BookKate.”
“Of course,” He smiled at her.
The afternoon passed without much event. They spoke little of the present and more of the past. Reliving birthday memories and catching up on life. When he spoke about his movie, Narnia, Kate’s face lit up.
“Oh William,” she sighed. “I completely didn’t think to put two and two together. Of course! You were in the movie! I loved those books and I absolutely loved the movie. It was brilliant. Really, it was amazing.”
William’s smile grew with every word. He was proud of his work in the movie and enjoyed people’s reactions to it. “I’m glad you did. I didn’t think boring people like you watched movies.”
“Well excuse me, you obviously forgot but you ruined my copy of The Magician’s Nephew when you threw in the punch bowl. I love Narnia, I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Anyway,” she began to change the subject. “What is a celebrity like yourself doing out in public?”
“No one recognizes me,” he replied quietly. “I grew my hair out after Narnia and I don’t exactly dress like Peter so its easy to get around unnoticed. Wait where are you going?” Kate had gotten up and was brushing herself off.
“I just realized, my classes start up again tomorrow and I have so much left to do.” She started to walk away, looking downcast. “I’m so sorry, this was fun but I really must be going.”
“Well wait a minute,” William quickly pulled out his wallet and found a card. It was his agent’s card. He scratched out the information and replaced it with his phone number. “Take this,” he handed it to her. Then, without thinking, he pulled her into a hug. She fit easily into his arms, and seemed to truly relax for the first time that afternoon.
“Kate, I hope to see you again.” He looked at her for some sign of hope.
She broke into a smile, “William, we will see each other soon.”