Deli Romance

Deli Romance
By Marni Myers

aaaahey met in the deli on East 10th and University Place, after 10 on a school night. She had stopped in on her way back to the dorms to get some granola bars and a pint of Ben and Jerry's; he was picking up coffee and English muffins for tomorrow's breakfast. She passed him on her way to the freezer, noticed the navy Jansport backpack over one shoulder, his thatch of sandy blonde hair, the cute spectacles, his startled expression when he lifted his head and saw her. He took in her comfy jeans and nondescript jacket, her blonde hair--slightly disheveled from falling asleep while reading at the library--those blue eyes, the messenger bag slung diagonally across her chest. She smiled tentatively when she noticed him looking at her, broader once her back was turned to him. She guessed he was a few years older, maybe a grad student. He impulsively glanced toward her again as he headed to the cash register. She was glancing at him too, now just two people behind him in line. She smiled again. His shyness overcame him and he forgot to smile back. She could tell he was a little nervous from their encounter, but that he liked her. Now it was his turn to pay. He grasped the brown paper bag with his items. He turned briefly as he approached the door, and caught her eye again, a slight linger, before stepping out. She hoped he lived in the neighborhood, and that they would see each other again. She liked him too.




	a	Deli Romance By Marni Myers aaaahey met in the deli on East 10th and University Place, after 10 on a school night. She had stopped in on her way back to the dorms to get some granola bars and a pint of Ben and Jerry's; he was picking up coffee and English muffins for tomorrow's breakfast. She passed him on her way to the freezer, noticed the navy Jansport backpack over one shoulder, his thatch of sandy blonde hair, the cute spectacles, his startled expression when he lifted his head and saw her. He took in her comfy jeans and nondescript jacket, her blonde hair--slightly disheveled from falling asleep while reading at the library--those blue eyes, the messenger bag slung diagonally across her chest. She smiled tentatively when she noticed him looking at her, broader once her back was turned to him. She guessed he was a few years older, maybe a grad student. He impulsively glanced toward her again as he headed to the cash register. She was glancing at him too, now just two people behind him in line. She smiled again. His shyness overcame him and he forgot to smile back. She could tell he was a little nervous from their encounter, but that he liked her. Now it was his turn to pay. He grasped the brown paper bag with his items. He turned briefly as he approached the door, and caught her eye again, a slight linger, before stepping out. She hoped he lived in the neighborhood, and that they would see each other again. She liked him too.