Curt

Curt stood across the street from the pottery shop and watched Mary through the store window. He hadn’t really paid attention to her before she flirted with them yesterday, while he did like women her age he avoided making out with his friends mothers because it caused complications with their friendship, most guys got uncomfortable if he made out with their moms. Thomas probably was no exception, but there was something about Mary that made him willing to take the risk. A couple of people entered the shop and left with purchases while he was watching, Mary did a good business.

In between customers Mary took care of the shop, dusting, straightening, checking supplies. What she didn’t do was create anything, apparently she only did that while the shop was closed, at least as Curt recalled the times he had been over there.

Curt had decided to wait until Mary was getting ready to close the shop for the day to go in and say hello, and that time was getting near.

He sauntered across the street and entered the store, a bell jingled as he opened and closed it, and Mary looked up from what she was doing.

“Hi, Curt, what a pleasant surprise, how can I help you?”

“Mostly I just came by to say hello,” Curt said, “but I can see you are closing, can I help with anything?”

“Actually yes, I have one set of shelves I can use help moving, I was going to wait for Thomas to get home, but since you are here I can get it done early. Let me get the store closed and we can get it done.”

Getting the store closed didn’t consist of much more than locking the door, lowering the shades, and turning the sign in the door from open to closed. That taken care of Mary indicated a set of empty shelves she wanted to move. They slid the heavy structure across the floor to the spot Mary had indicated, then reloaded the pottery Mary had removed earlier in the day onto it.

“Do you have time to talk?” Mary asked, as she emptied the cash drawer into a bag.

“Sure,” Curt said.

“Then follow me, we’ll sit in the studio and I’ll get us some refreshments,”

They went into the house which was connected to the store, and Curt looked around at the various unfinished pieces as Mary busied herself in the kitchen. She soon returned with a tray containing a carafe of water, two glasses, and some cheese and crackers, which she set on a coffee table in front of a couch.