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Short Fat Stubby Finger Stories PRESENTS:

Episode 8

Location: Café Di’Mondo: London

Time: 11:59:30

Marilyn Mason, the receptionist for the Café Di’Mondo looked up the minute the young woman entered the room.    It was not that Marilyn had any choice in the matter… she was totally bewitched by the beautiful young woman the instant that she laid eyes on her.   Never once, in her sixty five years, had she wished that she was a man …never … until that very moment.   Marilyn had never seen anybody as soft and gentle and beautiful as this young woman that stood before her.

“May I help you?”   Marilyn asked, surprising herself with the nervousness she was certain was being displayed by her voice.

“Buona mattina, signora’, my name is Rosetta Tussacani,” the young woman said, the soft dulcet tones of her voice complimenting the most beguiling smile Marilyn had ever seen, “I am meant to meet a man named James.   I don’t have his last name, but he said he would meet me at his table.  I was told to come here to be shown the way.”

“Nobody has been in to advise me you were coming I am afraid, my dear.   Perhaps he is still on his way.   The traffic has been chaotic for the last few days.  They are doing road-works in the next street and it has caused a lot of traffic congestion in the area.   James, did you say?”   Marilyn asked as she turned to her computer screen and began pounding the keys on the keyboard.

“Si!”  Rosetta replied, her voice expressed a soft excitement, but she was to be disappointed.

“I am sorry,” Marilyn advised, “but I don’t seem able to find a match.   The name means nothing to me.  Could you describe him for me, in case I have seen him?”

“I have never met him,” Rosetta replied, “but I was given a description of him by a friend who made inquiries on my behalf.   He is around thirty five, thin, six feet tall and a nice face.   He will be wearing a suit, but I don’t know what colour and he was supposed to be here by twelve o’clock for reserved seating.    That is all that I know.”

A smile came to Marilyn’s face as she spoke.   “I think I know exactly who you are waiting for, though I didn’t think his name was James.   But he does have a regular booking and I would grant him the description you gave.

“You know him?”   Rosetta asked excitedly.

“I am fairly certain that I do, love.   He must have forgotten you were coming.  We have him at a single table.  Not to worry, I still have a good seat for two.  I’ll get somebody to take you to his table … I expect he will be here shortly.  He normally doesn’t arrive until midday on the dot.  He is rarely late.”

“Gracias, Signora.”   Rosetta said, the smile on her face glowing so strong, so bright, so happy Marilyn felt a sudden need for sunglasses.   But as the waitress arrived at reception and began to guide her to her table, Rosetta felt a cold chill run through her body at the sight of the extremely dark cloud hovering in the sky very, very close to the restaurant.

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