Over in Medway

In Wrigley’s Market: “Let me help you.”

The voice came from behind me, I ignored it assuming I was not involved. It came again, “Let me help you.”

Curious now, I turned to see what was going on. There was a man there, but nobody for him to help. I must have glanced around confused.

“You... let me help you,” he said.

“Why?” came out of my mouth. Frankly, I have no control over my mouth quite often. He smiled.

“I was trying to start up a conversation actually,” he said.

“For the purpose of what?”

“I’ve seen you here a number of times, I thought we may live near one another. We seem to be in a similar age group, shopping on a Tuesday morning during senior discount hours. I thought we might have something in common.”

“I don’t usually talk to strangers. If we’re in the same age group, I’m sure you learned all about stranger danger too.”

“Oh yes. Well, how about we meet right now, then next week we won’t be strangers anymore. Hello! My name is Andrew Trent,” he held out his hand.

He was actually quite handsome. Nicely dressed, not too fancy. He seemed friendly, and yes, definitely in the right age group. “Hanna Albertson.”

“I will see you next week, Hanna Albertson,” he smiled, let go of my hand and walked away.

As I watched him go, I thought of my husband, gone now for eight years. We had been married so long, and so happily. It took a while, adjusting to being alone. The kids helped, and I was determined I was going to be independent. And now I was.

I hadn’t given Andrew my real name, of course... so, the next week I just started shopping at Bingo’s, over in Medway.