Lana stood at the counter, apparently staring at nothing. In front of her was a half eaten pastry and a cup of water. She didn't hear the door open and or the footsteps and didn't realize that someone was standing in front of her until the third time they
cleared their throat.
"Excuse me? Can I get some service?" The tall woman asked.
Lana blinked and looked up at the amazon that stood before her. She didn't look too nice, her face was scrunched up in a scowl and she looked like she'd just taken a huge bite out of a lemon. She must have had a hard day, she thought. Determined to cheer this
grouchy soul Iliana put on her biggest smile and fairly sang out, "Sorry about that, how long were you waiting?"
"A few minutes," the stranger replied, "can I get a few of those rolls up there?"
"Sure." Iliana stood up and skipped over to the rolls in question. While she prepared the bag and began to fill it, she let out a stream of chatter, "My name's Iliana, but you can call me Lana, what's yours? You sure do look tired, have you been working hard today? My grandmother thinks that I should work harder and spend less time daydreaming but it's so hard to keep track of the passage of time, do you have that problem? Like Just now, I didn't realize that I had been staring at that crack on the floor for so long, I'd just stopped when you got my attention. How many rolls did you want again?"
The child apparently had run out of air because she finally closed her mouth. Before she could refill those lungs and continue the verbal attack, the woman answered. "Nice to meet you Lana, my name is Ide and that's what everyone calls me. I'll just take four
rolls thank you."
Iliana obviously didn't pick up on the 'leave me alone' vibes that this Ide was putting out, because she continued her attempts at friend making. "These rolls are very good, my mother made them just this morning. I had five of them a couple of hours ago,
you should try them when they're warm out of the oven with fresh fruit. That's how I like them. Come early tomorrow and you can get them as soon as they're done okay?" Taking Ide's money and putting it into the money box, Iliana held on tight to the bag, not wanting this strange woman to leave just yet. "Are you sure this is all you want? There's tons of things I can suggest if you want me to. Four rolls won't last
an awfully long time, how about some of these, they have an apple filling."
Ide looked as if she wished she'd never walked into this store. There were other places around to get a meal why did she pick this shop? "No, I'm fine with
this. I'm sort of in a hurry so can I just get the rolls and leave please?"
"Of course, sorry to keep you like that, I was only a bit lonely that's all. Here's your bag. If you warm them up in the oven they're almost as good as when they're first baked. A little cream and some strawberries would go great with it you know."
"I'll be sure to remember that." Ide snatched up the bag and turned toward the door before this girl could find anything else to say.
Before she made it to the exit, Iliana shouted. "Please enjoy your purchase and come again! It was nice meeting you, Ide!"
Ide turned just long enought to give a brisk salute and walked out. "I am never coming here again." She grumbled. "All that for a few rolls?"
***