Friday, 3:44 am, July 13, 2012

Day 2

On their first full day in London the sun rose a short time before them, as they lay still spooning on a so-called king size mattress.

The window's treatment of lace, parchment in color, whispers the movement of a mild breeze stirring about the room's interior and drifting across the beautiful face of Ann. Having only opened her eyes for a few moments earlier, after a rooster's crow, she meanders back to the safe harbors of sleep for a few more minutes.

The essence of who she is radiates perkiness. A positive attitude is supported by her gentle nature while speaking firmly, but with grace. She also has a slight twang to her voice.
Ann, still sleeping, dreams and lays resting in the comfort of ironed pillow cases, crisp with freshness that subtly speak of the innkeepers love of duties.
A vase, half full of selectively placed flowers, becomes the center of attention as its beauty, is accented by the rays of the morning sun. The maid who dreamed herself of one day resting, as Ann does, will soon be run over by a crazed moose while on holiday in Sweden. Go figure.

Mccail on the other half of the bed has had a 4am awakening lasting for about twenty minutes. His nature for many years has been gruff. After a trip to the john, a rocking chair in front of an opened screened window became his observation post for these predawn hours.

Quiet was the way the early morning settled into Mccail. He sat still in the shadows of his room, and from outside the two story window, the activities of the night unfolded.

An unseen couple say good night, her high heels talk of movement before opening and closing a rusty hinged door, her date then drives away. A cat wandering the backyards tips over a bottle as the sound echo's into the night. Crickets and a lone frog hit the high and low notes, their tunes travel through the misty air and into Mccail. The peacefulness of his surroundings whispered its tale while the conductor of life directed the orchestration.
Stillness hung in the wee hours and amplified a trickle of water flowing slowly into a small garden, half the size of a Cadillac.

Mccail has been absorbing the moment as thoughts about the cab driver seemed to be working its way into him. The question of not listening to his soul began to tug at his. Turning his head he hears the water flowing from outside reminding him of the bible verse "to lie down beside the still waters."

He reflects the meaning of this verse before sauntering once again into bed. He could feel Ann's warmth laying along side in spoon position. The fulfillment of his awakening carried him back to sleep as he gently pondered the question from the cabby in his heart.

The night was breathing and sleep settles into London.

***

The morning is clear and cool. A playful breeze moves about London. In the time that it takes to walk a mile shoppers will appear in droves wandering the streets of London sniffing out deals.

Experienced shoppers were up against the best shop keepers London had to offer. Practiced in the art of selling, these craftsmen were like barkers at a girlie show and the women of this trade could sell ice to an Eskimo.

Properly arranged display windows were selectively stuffed with teasing tidbits causing many heads to turn and if you'd dare to ponder, you were reeled in and consumed.

Deals to be found and made await them along with hordes of foreigners with the spending might of wealthy land barons. Power shoppers, mostly women, graze, their credit cards flourished, crisscrossing paths, colliding, with the same items waving wildly in their hands in this daily tug-a-war.

Men best stay out of the way unless they want to be victims of hoof and possibly foul mouth.
Shop owners prepare to open while the McClarry's are about a half hour away from settling down for breakfast.

It's 8:00 am and both sides are set to begin bartering.