Timeframes

Chapter One - A shelf breakdown

                                                              The Girl In The Red Suit

The Girl In The Red Suit suit crossed the street. Up ahead was the cute little coffee shop she discovered last month during a desperate manhunt across Manhattan for a toilet. When she opened the door the little silver bell rang, greeting her just like it did the first time. (And the second, and the many, many times after) The smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies hit her, a strong contrast to the smoke-heavy winter air outside. As usual, the brown and golden interior that welcomes her managed to calm her nerves. With a heavy sigh she trusted her backpack on her regular table, the one with the blue duck embroidered on the tablecloth. Freed from not the weight of the world, but at least that of her education and future, she proceeded to the front to greet the coffee lady.

Behind the counter the owner greeted her with a smile that matched the golden sun on her chest in its warmth.

"Hi my dear, what can I get for you today?"

"Hi, one dark chocolate muffin please. And..." She hesitated for a second. Would today be the day? "... one iced matcha latte with extra spice please"

The Coffee Lady's eyebrows shot so high as if they were planning on pursuing a career as astronauts.

"Are you sure, my dear? The last time it seemed like it wasn't really your taste. "

"It's fine", she answered. A lie. "I have my reasons" A truth. It was money well spent. After all, it wasn't meant for her pleasure.

"Alright, then just a moment. I'll bring it all to your table. The usual one, I suppose?"

The Girl In The Red Suit nodded, then made her way back to her table. Her schoolwork was already waiting for her.

Five minutes into her maths homework, the delicious smell of freshly melted chocolate interrupted her desperate attempt at solving the first of a dozen potential equations in front of her. The coffee lady shot one glance at her paper and quickly looked away. "I'm so glad I don't have to do this anymore", she said. "You see, this is the reason I brew coffee instead of building spaceships." She glanced at the rings under her eyes. "How are you holding up, my dear?"

The girl in the red suit accidentally snorted. She had no clue how to solve this, neither the equation nor eleventh grade. But that wasn't something she was eager to scream into the world, so that everyone could gossip about the kid of two university-lecturing scientists who couldn't even handle school on her own. So, she responded with: "I'm a bit stuck right now but it's nothing I can't manage. And besides, your homemade chocolate-chip muffins make everything better!"

That made the old lady smile. A callused hand patted her shoulder, then she retreated behind her counter to bring new sugary relief into their lives.

The Girl In The Red Suit was really glad she had found this shop. It was an oasis of calm in the desert of her stressful life. And there was another reason that made her thankful for the scarce supply of public toilets in Manhattan...

As the reason passed by the glass wall that separated the coffee shop from the cozy bookshop next door five minutes later, the girl in the red suit almost choked on a particularly big chunk of chocolate from her cookie. (That would have been a shame though, she had been looking forward to it. On the other hand, not a bad way to go.) The reason had short blond hair that she was almost certain was dyed,emerald- green eyes and muscles like she went to the gym every day. (However, she didn't know that. Because she still hadn't been able to talk to her.)

Her reason began to put some newly arrived books away. The girl in the red suit didn't want to look away just yet, because everything, but especially this was way better than equations. And so it happened that she noticed when the whole top shelf slowly toppled over, and, after a tense moment, let a cascade of books slide over the edge.

The loud dunk convinced the few other guests in the room to raise their heads. Paralyzed by chaos and possibilities for a moment, she just sat there. But then the girl in the red suit grabbed the matcha, stands up and walks over to be the shining hero in the moment of need.