Canopy of Secrets

Written and Published By Robert Renshaw

copyright 2009

Chapter One

Bloody traffic! Why do I always come these stupid wrong ways? 3pm I never meet anyone at 3 pm in the day, my own stupid fault, she better be worth it.

Parking, where’s the fucking parking around here? Why do women want to meet in the fucking hardest places to park? There 30 minutes that will do, got to try to fit this big bus into the spot. Lookout you stupid bastard! cant you see, “I’m reversing, fuckwit!” Shit! 5 minutes past 3, now what’s the name of this joint “the Coffee Castle” there’s the Coffee Shackle, The Café Spot. The Quick fix, fuck me where is this, oh there it is, it looks like a Police station.

I will pick a seat near the door if she’s not here, that way I can exit swiftly, if she does not show.

“Flat white thanks mate” that waiter looks like he has not washed in a week, why do immigrants think it’s trendy to look like shit. Oh fuck is this her? No! Thank heavens, let’s rethink her profile, tall, and slim, 40”s with happy outlook. 10 minutes past 3, I hope she’s lost like me and can’t find a fucking park.

Ok, she looks alright this one, is that her, for fuck sake please be her! No wrong again.

“Waiter is there a court yard or a rear seating area”?

Women who are married like to hide, maybe she’s married?

“Yes sir the fountain view is out the side entrance.” The fountain view! This is getting worse. A Fountain view in Surry Hills? “Thanks mate”

Ok this must be her. “Hi I’m Rob and your, Cheryl?”

“Yes, sorry I picked a hard place to get to; it’s close to my work”

“That’s ok Cheryl I enjoyed the trip here. So tell me why you’re meeting me, I would like to know?”

“Well you seemed nice, on your profile and you look like your picture which is a start. Plus you live close, most of the men I chatted to online are miles away or married, you’re not married are you?”