“Hello ... ”
Elodie starts. She hears the voice, warm and tender, behind her. It seems to her that she doesn't know it. She makes up a pleasant smile and turns around. The stranger is wearing a gray pinstripe suit. He could be forty years old.
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| The advantage when people talk on the phone is that you can easily follow them. |
“I'm not interrupting anything?”
He's not addressing Elodie. A device attached to his ear serves as a phone. He carries on with his conversation on the same tone and passes the incredulous walker, without paying attention to her.
Mindful of her environment, Elodie perceives the sounds of footsteps on the gravel, the birdsong, sometimes even the leaves rustling in the trees. According to her, solitary talkers are the wrong note. Secluded from their surroundings, they always speak a little louder than necessary.
It's payback time. Elodie goes down Mountain Street, then makes a left. The dollar store stands two crossings further. For a handful of change, one can buy plates, candles, or electronic equipment. Elodie chooses a cell phone cable. On the sidewalk opposite the shop, she unpacks her purchase. She throws the box and the explanatory leaflet in a garbage can. Without delay, she sticks the rounded tip in her ear and pushes the other end in her jeans pocket.
So equipped, Elodie traces her route in the reverse direction. She comes up the hill, emerges in the small park. Rush hour is at its peak. All the better. She takes a deep breath and exclaims:
“Yes, cou can say so! Oh dear! What a story ... Me? Yes, I met my new boss ... yes, not bad at all, mind you ... attentive, a good communicator ... ”
Since she's invading, Elodie reflects as she paces up and down the garden paths, she might as well stay positive.
“I was entrusted with an interesting project,” she continues. “I will redecorate a nursing home. They want something uncluttered, like a fancy hotel. I love the idea. It's true, after all! We must come back from the hospital atmosphere, or the Balzac-type boarding house ... ”
Well, well! Marwan says to himself, three steps behind Elodie. This one appears nice. A creative job, cares about the elderly ... The advantage when people talk on the phone, he rejoices, is that you can easily follow them. They don't notice anything! And they guide you on how to accost them.
But Elodie has changed the subject. A slight dizziness takes hold of her. Her fantasies exhilarate her, she's so discreet, usually. She embroiders in all sorts of shapes, adds the man of her dreams.
“Carl is in Paris on business. I'm planning a huge surprise for him. We are going to celebrate our tenth anniversary, can you believe it?”
Too bad, Marwan thinks as he walks away.
Photo © https://unsplash.com/photos/goholCAVTRs