Short story: Oral agreement
How far do you go to get back what is rightfully yours? On scones, coffee and a handwritten cookbook full of recipes.
Oral agreement
The hot, humid summer night kept Jo awake all night making her brain shoot from one thought to another. Finally she got up, poored herself a glass of cold water, opened the window and stood there naked looking in the dark, empty street. A shiver went through her as the cool air reached her skin covering it with goosebumbs. From the first floor Jo watched as a cat ran over the crossing. If that would have happened during the day it would definitely not have survived.
“We had agreement and an oral agreement is good enough!”
Said Jo out loud. This time she wouldn't let him walk all over her. She wanted back what was hers. Nothing more. Pleased with her determination she fell into a deep sleep. Hours later Jo woke up to the sound of a passing motorcycle. She had overslept and found herself tumbling out of bed, getting dressed and hurry to get there on time. She hated getting late, even more she hated running to get somewhere on time. The determination that she felt at 3 am this morning had floted away from all her bodyparts. With each step, her arms and legs felt increasingly limp.
At the entrance of the cafe Jo stopped, breathless while her heart was beating fast although she had not run. A sudden feeling of dizzyness in her head made her hold on to the door. A cumulation of little sleep, the radiation of sun heat and leaving her appartment without breakfast made her now feel light in the head and nauseous.
“Get yourself together now!” she muttered.
A quick glance inside made her body relax as he was not there yet. Still dizzy, she took a seat at the long wooden table from where she could see everyone enter. On this tuesday morning it was not busy. After the first sip of coffee and the sweet taste of a piece of scone with cluttered cream and lemon curd, Jo felt the strength and determination returning her body. The sweet taste of the lemon curd took Jo back to her childhood kitchen as her mother had made this so many times for breakfast. And that taste was just one of the many taste memories her mother had left her in a handwritten recipe book.
Once she had taken her mother’s recipe book to his place. Never did she do that before. Jo trusted him and he broke that trust by cheating on her. He refused to give the recipe book back saying that what was in his house was his possession. Later a mutual friend admitted to her that he collected items from every woman he had dated. She would have to go to court to get it back!
Somehow she managed to persuade him to meet up this morning. He was late, making her irritation grow by the minute. Then her phone buzzed, a message from him saying he couldn’t make it today.
Irritation exploded into furry!
Quickly she paid and rushed out of the cafe. When she got to his corner apartment she saw him standing at the window facing the room. Out of sight Jo waited until he left. She knew the way to get in, they had done it many times when he had forgotten his keys again. Slipping through the backyard, the ladder was ready to be climbed. In no time she found herself standing in the living room. Hastily Jo walked to the kitchen. Her heart jumped with joy, the recipe book was still lying where she left it! Taking it in her two hands she smelled the book.
“Who are you?” she heard an angry woman's voice behind her.
Instantly Jo turned around. A woman wrapped in a towel was standing 2 meters away from her. Jo did not let herself be fazed and answered firmly:
“I am the ex and came to collect what is rightfully mine!”
The woman was clearly taken aback. Jo took advantage of that moment and quickly made her way towards the door. Still holding the door knob Jo turned around and said:
“Let me give you one piece of advice: don’t leave any personal belongings in this place. He is collecting memorials as trophies from all his exes.”
Holding the book tight with her two hands to her body Jo hurried home. When she closed the door she collapsed and in a relief screamed out loud. She was home and so was her mother.
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