The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
Another Love Story Where Nothing Happens
He is hustling across the U-Bahn station, but as he passes the elevator, he slows his pace. Then he shifts his path to head for the stairs. There is a woman there. She has brown hair and a messenger bag so large she could hide in it. He cuts with shyness through a pack of tourists. Then he steps down beside her, matching the gait of this lovely stranger.
She wears a blue scarf despite the warm weather. He wears a nervous half-smile that he points toward the ground. He is testing the situation, seeing if it is pleasant to walk at her side. Will he speak? She seems to notice him in her periphery, but walks on undisturbed and vaguely flattered.
They travel together down another flight of stairs, through the station, and up two flights to the exit. He seems content. He moves away in one direction, though she is clearly taking the other. As she waits near a crosswalk, she tosses a quiet glance at his departing frame. Perhaps for him, though, everything was perfect. And enough.
–Vienna, Austria.
Dear Mom, sorry the sculptures are sorta naked. I didn’t make them.
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
Very nice…………………..I liked this story…………..
Perfect photo!!! I always enjoy stopping by…
Thank you, Clanmother! It’s always nice to see your smiling face! 🙂
I have a bit of a problem with a “nervous of half-smile that he turns toward the ground.” I will have to work on that. But this was fun.
The Austrians I met were almost categorically shy men.
like the apology 🙂
🙂 Thanks!
The ability to give up the greed-for-more is a wonderful tool for enjoying whatever comes. (Does that sound as pretentious as I’m afraid it does?) Thank you for the reminder! I’m going to go fall in love with someone in the market now, for as long as it takes them to make my pad thai. Cheers!
Glory, falling in very brief love is why I GO to the market.