Love in the Afternoon, Revisited

This was originally posted in October 2015. As I work on downsizing to move from a large house into a condominium, the conundrum of which possessions to part with is sometimes easy, often hard. Mr. Underwood came home with me last year, and I am please to say that he has made the cut. Could you blame me for keeping him around?

Harvest Coffee Bar, Bryan, Texas
Slo Bru at the Harvest Coffee Bar in Bryan, Texas

I found myself sleepy to the point of no concentration. The words on the page kept running together, and the thought of another cup of coffee was appealing. I left the La Salle Hotel and walked down Main Street to the Harvest Coffee Bar.

The distillation contraption was intriguing, and I soon had a little cup of the cold brewed coffee and headed back towards my room. I wanted to get a another several hundred words down.

It was then that I saw him. He was standing at a shop window, then he turned and looked at me. He pulled off his sunglasses and smiled.

The soul of Mr. Underwood

I smiled in return but continued walking.

He said, “Stop and talk with me awhile. I think we may have much to say to one another.”

I pulled up short, and looked at him again. His blue eyes were were sincere and compelling.

We stood talking in the street for a long time. His name was Underwood. While his face was lined and he was evidently older than I first thought, the more we talked and the more stories he shared, I found myself completely taken with him. I took his hand and he followed me back to the La Salle.

Mr. Underwood
Mr. Underwood

We woke the next morning with the sun glowing around the edges of the blinds.

After pulling on my clothes and getting my bag together, I turned to him. “I’m really not ready to stop here . . . would you consider coming to Houston, and spending some time with me?”

His smile lines deepened, and those blue eyes gave me a wonderful look.

Lucca and the Underwood typewriter
Lucca and Mr. Underwood

Ann in Castolon in Big Bend National Park. Photograph, Jim Stevens

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Ann Fisher

Writer, traveler, and cancer fighter. Get out there and live life!

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7 thoughts on “Love in the Afternoon, Revisited

  1. the dune mouse May 9, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    haha so very clever Ann! love it.

    Reply
    1. Ann May 9, 2016 at 2:38 pm

      :-).

      Reply
  2. amazinglyaasiyah May 8, 2016 at 5:19 am

    Captivating!

    Reply
  3. iveneverbeentosantoriniiwanttogotosantorini May 4, 2016 at 12:30 am

    Incredible!

    Reply
    1. Ann May 4, 2016 at 5:43 am

      I’m glad you liked it. When I found the old Underwood and dragged it back to the hotel, I had fun writing this little piece.

      Reply
  4. MamaFriday TC May 2, 2016 at 12:56 am

    Love this.

    Reply
    1. Ann May 2, 2016 at 6:08 am

      When I wrote this last fall, someone who I was dating asked, “Um . . . Mr. Underwood IS the typewriter, right?” No. I picked up Paul Newman and brought him home. Really.

      Reply

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