another story
The farmers market, which sits on top of the old Russell street cemetery, comes alive every Saturday, the voices and laughter of shoppers taking the place of the stale air that fills the market Sunday through Friday. With Saturday’s sunrise vendors flow into tin roofed stalls and shopkeepers unlock their old wooden buildings that line either side of the open air market. Families come throughout the morning and early afternoon to explore and restock their pantries while couples wander aimlessly from stall to stall holding hands. A weekly Bohemia arises, where everything from coffee to silk scarves can be bought in bulk and people from all over the city bump elbows. The cloth shopping bags of the young couple carry spices and fresh produce, as they walked through the market on the blustery February afternoon. Finally they took refuge from the wind in Hirt’s country store.
“I thought we could get some things for the apartment, nice dishes and stuff for when we have company,” Alex said in response to the questioning look Emily was wearing.
“Plates would be good, I would hate to have my parents eating off of the chipped ones we have now” Emily said taking off her gloves “my mother would be disgusted, she’s always saying how the plates make the meal, it’s something to do with ambience.”
“Ours aren’t so bad, but sure, it would be nice to have some for special occasions,” Alex said.
“I don’t really care what we’re here for, I’m just glad to be out of the cold air,” Emily said, adjusting the homemade winter hat that is taming her short blond hair. “It would be such a nice day with a little less wind.” The old wooden floors creaked beneath them as the couple made their way past the bread towards the coffee and kitchenware section of the store.
“Your hair has grown a lot since we cut off your dreads,” Alex said. “Short hair is so cute on you, Em.”
“Are you kidding? It’s a complete mess, I wish it was long like yours,” Emily said. “It’s transitional hair, no one looks good with transitional hair. You could have at least tried to make it cute when you were cutting them off.”
“Fine, let’s just forget I said anything, I didn’t know it was wrong to like it,” Alex said, lifting a pale green saucer into the air. “Hey Emily, what about these plates?” Dusty light drifted in from the large windows that circled the first floor. “They would perfect dessert plates, we could use them tonight.”
“What’s special about tonight?” asked Emily, taking the plate from Alex and placing it back on the blue cloth that covered the small display table. The round table that sat in front of a shelf of tea pots and decorative olive oil dispensers looked like it belonged in a café; it held a set of five hand-painted porcelain cups and saucers which formed a circle around a blue glass bottle holding purple irises.
Alex’s eyebrows drew together. “Em, please tell me you remembered to call and invite them over, you have been promising to for weeks and--”
“It’s not that I forgot, Alex, I am not the one who has trouble remembering things, dear, I just decided it would be better to wait a little longer,” Emily said, picking up the plate again. “I really can’t stand this mint-y color, it’s too much like the walls of a dentist office.”
“Last time I checked green was your favorite color,” Alex said taking the plate back from her and placing it on the display once again. “Besides, we really don’t need plates anymore, now that we’re not having company. I can’t believe you didn’t ask them.” “It’s not like we’ll never have company,” Emily said, “I just didn’t think tonight was such a good night.”
“But you have been promising me for a month that I would finally get to meet them.” Alex said, swinging the bag of produce from the market back and forth between them.
“Look, it was my decision, and I would appreciate it if you would just drop it, at least until we get back to the apartment, we don’t need to make a scene.”
“No one is making a scene, I just think that being in love with you makes me part of your decisions”
“Please stop, people will hear you,” said Emily as Alex reached for the green plate again.
“Fine, but I still don’t see why you care what strangers think,” Alex said.
“We’re not getting those plates,” said Emily, looking down at Alex’s hand which was tapping the rim of the green saucer. “I’m not the kind of person who entertains with ugly plates.”
“What is your problem with the plates?” Alex demanded, catching Emily rolling her sea green eyes.
“You mean aside from the horrid color?”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Alex said, sighing audibly and picking up a dark blue plate. “Is this one any better for you?”
“I thought you said we didn’t need plates if we weren’t having company,” Emily said, taking off her hat and smoothing her hair.
“Just tell me what you think!”
“Okay, I don’t like it,” Emily said giving Alex a slight (sarcastic?) smile.
“Why? Is blue a horrid color now, too?”
“No they’re just too small, and round,” she said giving up on her hair and putting the hat back on. “You know I hate round plates.”
“How can you hate round plates?” Alex said. The plate made a clinking noise as Alex placed it roughly back onto the table.
A young saleswoman in a red apron walked over. “Is there anything I can help you with?” she asked curtly.
“No thanks, we’re just looking,” Emily replied quickly turning to look at the plates again as her pale cheeks began to turn the shade of a valentine.
“Well then, would you mind being more careful when handling them?”
“Of course,” Emily said, looking sternly at Alex
“Thank you, my name is Sara, just let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”
“Thank you, Sara,” Alex said. “I appreciate it, and actually, would you mind telling me what you think of the color of this plate?”
“Which plate?” Alex pointed to the light green saucer and Sara picked it up and turned it over in her hands a few times. “I have always liked this shade of green.” Alex gave Emily a satisfied look and turned back to the woman in the red apron.
“Thank you, I like it, too.”
“We’ll let you know if we need anything else,” Emily said sharply as she took the plate from her and put it back on the table with the rest of the set. The couple watched the saleswoman walk back to the front of the store. Once she reached the counter, Emily turned to Alex. “I told you people could hear us,” she said, her face flaming. “God, and you wonder why I hate shopping with you, you flirt with
everyone.”
“Really Em, you need to calm down, she didn’t hear anything, I’m sure she doesn’t know about us,” Alex said staring intently at the plates, reaching down to tap the green one again. “And there is a difference between flirting and being nice.” Emily, who was biting the nails of her right hand, turned her head away from Alex to glare at the saleswoman.
“I know what flirting looks like, you can’t just assume she’s like us.”
“How do you know she isn’t? And besides I wasn’t flirting.” Alex grabbed her free hand and gave it a little squeeze. Emily quickly jerked her hand away.
“I hate it when you do that,” Emily said.
“When I do what? Hold your hand?” Alex said, sounding hurt.
“Yes, this is hardly the place for it.”
“I don’t know what you mean by that. What are you even worried about, all the breakable stuff?” Alex replied mockingly.
“No, it’s just I feel weird with people watching.” Alex looked around the store and saw only the saleswoman and an old man and woman who stood arm in arm, picking out bread.
“I think you need to get over that,” Alex said reaching for her hand again. “You can’t treat life like the whole world is watching.” Emily reached with both hands for the nearest plate, which was white with a black cityscape painted around its edge.
“This one is nice,” she said turning it like a steering wheel.
“That plate is just as round as the green one,” Alex said. “Can you tell me why you care if people see us? No one is reporting back to your parents, you know.”
“I know that Alex, Jesus! Just stop, please, I really don’t think this is a good place to talk,” Emily said reaching for a red flowered tea pot as she eyed the saleswoman, who was reading The Dharma Bums at the register. “And leave my parents out of it.”
“Well, if you would have just asked them to dinner...”
“Stop,” Emily said. “You know as well as I do that they would never come. This will never be okay to them.”
“To them, or to you?” Alex asked sharply. “You should at least give them a chance to hate me before just assuming they do.”
“I told you they disapprove, to them this is just another phase, like basket weaving,” Emily said. “A momentary amusement no more significant than a craft.”
“Baby,” Alex said, leaning over to kiss Emily’s cheek. “Let me win them over, just like I did you.”
Emily sidestepped the kiss. “Why are you so obsessed with the whole world knowing about us?”
“Because I’m proud of this, dammit! You know I love being with you.” The saleswoman started to walk towards them, clearing her throat loudly.
“You’re talking too loud,” Emily said in a harsh whisper as she narrowed her eyes at the saleswoman before turning her head.
Alex said more softly, “And I hardly think wanting to be near you and meet your parents is the same as broadcasting our relationship.”
“Okay then, if you aren’t trying to be obvious then why do you always try to hold my hand when we go out?” Emily whispered fiercely. The saleswoman approached. “Are you two sure there isn’t anything I can do for you?” she asked. “Have you made any decisions about the plates?”
“No,” they said in unison. “We’re still fine, and I’m sure we’ll let you know if we need your help,” Emily said, smiling at the saleswoman while her eyes remained cold and expressionless.
Alex shrugged as the saleswoman retreated. “I just like being near you, what’s so bad about touching my girlfriend?”
“It’s just so inappropriate, and keep your voice down,” Emily said, glancing nervously toward the front of the store.
“The only thing that’s inappropriate is the way you are treating me, and your fear of being who you are,” Alex said. “No one cares if we hold hands or not, they just don’t.” Emily concentrated on the exhausted wooden floor under her feet; the boards had been worn smooth and dull from too many washes and the constant trampling of dirty boots. She began to tap her left foot. “And another thing,” Alex said as Emily brought her right hand back to her mouth. “You can’t expect your parents to be okay with us, when you don’t seem so sure yourself.”
Emily winced as her gnawing drew blood. She stopped chewing the nail of her index finger and turned to Alex, tilting her head. “But you know I love you,” she said quietly, leaning toward Alex. “Baby,” said Emily, her voice barely a whisper now, “you know I’m sure about this. Why does it matter so much to you that other people know?”
“Because, Emily, love isn’t meant to be a secret,” said Alex, looking away. “And I can hardly even hear you. If you love me then say it out loud, but if you can only love me when we’re alone in the apartment then I don’t think we should be together anymore.”
“That’s not fair,” Emily said.
“Look, I am going across the street to Rocky’s to get some organic green tea, meet me there if you can bear being seen with me,” Alex said contemptuously, heading for the door. The saleswoman looked up from her book, smiling.
“Have a nice day,” she said.
“You too, Sara,” Alex replied.
Emily picked up the green plate as she watched the door fall shut behind Alex. “Um, excuse me, miss?” she said. “Could you help me with these plates?”