Headwinds. Sybil Kempel
"Again that cereal loaf, Klara" he said, then leaning towards the saleswoman: "Perhaps my brother will visit me today. And he loves my stuffed potatoes to die for''
"I've heard of them, they are famous" Klara replied gently. Mrs. Clements swelled with pride: "Did you really hear about it?"
"They make twelve pence, Mrs Clements. Sure: they say they are unique"
"Thank you Mrs Klara, you are a love" said old Mrs. Clements, laying a handful of small change on the counter.
Behind her the whispering resumed. Davis prepared to queue patiently when a lady approached him and told him. "Mr. Davis, will you pass?"
He looked at her condescendingly: "No, thanks, I'm in no hurry, I can wait"
"Really, I'd be happy if you pass"
Mr. Davis, slightly annoyed shielded himself and said flatly: "I will wait for my turn"
Still smiling, the woman returned to her seat in the queue, then turned in a low voice to her neighbor: "How arrogant!" He commented in a whisper, while his interlocutor nodded with conviction.
When Mrs. Clements had moved away, Klara looked up at the line: she noticed an unusual agitation and saw Ursula from behind Davis, nodding towards him, pointing at him repeatedly, accompanying the gestures with a series of extremely comic grimaces.
Klara smiled and continued carelessly serving the line.
Davis maintained a detached and absent attitude for the next fifteen minutes. When it was his turn he went to the counter.
"Good morning" he said coldly.
"What do you want?" Klara asked, a little more abruptly than she'd wanted. Davis looked up and looked at her with intensity, visibly annoyed by those too brisk ways.
Klara held her gaze in an attitude of defiance and expectation.
"I need four rye bread and three with sesame seeds," Davis said finally.
Without saying a word Klara took the cases as requested, weighed the bread and handed him the paper bag.
"They make forty-two pence" he said.
Davis paused to count the loose change, then took out a ten pound note and placed it on the rack.
Klara chuckled and handed him back the note: "I'm sorry, the day has just begun... I don't have the rest"
"And I have no change," said Davis.
"It's not a problem: tomorrow Edward will pay for everything"
"But I don't want to leave debts" said Davis.
"Mr. Davis, for a customer like you... "
"I'm no better than the others" Davis replied almost furiously.
"Not the rest to give you" he said slowly, chanting the words Klara.
"And I don't have any change" Davis replied just as slowly.
Klara blushed and was about to give some replies when the woman from before intervened: "Do you want me to change the bill?" he proposed.
Davis turned away annoyed by the intrusion then gave a minute nod and mechanically handed the ten pounds to the lady.
"Here look: five in banknote and five in coin" she said thoughtful.
"Thanks" Davis replied dryly and threw a pound coin on the counter.
Klara did not pick it up and put the small pieces of the rest on the glass holder.
Davis then took it and turned around, grabbing the bag, and started to leave without saying goodbye.
"Good morning Mr. Davis" Klara said, exaggeratedly kind.
There was a few giggles from the line and Davis, unleashing a false smile, replied: "Good day to you, Mrs..."
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