Jack’s heart stopped. He’d always seen a very reserved Augusta, a tensed bird next to her mother who watched her like a hawk. Here was a very relaxed looking Augusta with a crowd of children surrounding her laughing at something she said. He’d never seen that big shiny open smile before and he was beguiled.

She wasn’t wearing her usual large hat to keep the heat away, it sat in a chair. So he saw her toss her head and her hair waved him over. He crossed the street like a somnambulant. He didn’t hear the honking of the angry tricycles and the cussing of their drivers. The noise finally caught Augusta’s attention and she turned her head, just as Jack came rambling up to her table.

She looked up and their eyes met, Jack took the back of one of the chairs, dragged it out, sat down and never for a moment, took his eyes off Augusta. Chita’s eyes flew open as saucers, she’d notice Jack before, as had all the rest of the eligible women in Silay. He caused so many sighs and sleepless nights; that he was sitting at a table next to her, made her dizzy. That Augusta and he stared at each other like they knew each other, gave her a stroke.

They didn’t speak, the surprised look was slowly melting into warm smiles and bright eyes. Augusta’s face lit up like sunrise and Jack’s eyes looked like he was trying to imprint every curve of her face in his mind. Chita had to cough, twice.

“Jack!” Augusta finally blurted out.

Jack chuckled. “So it is really you. I couldn’t believe my eyes so I had to come see for myself.”

Augusta eyes darted down to her cola, but her smile widened. Jack turned to the other girl at the table. Augusta remembered her manners and introduced them. Chita giggled nervously when Jack extended his hand out in greeting. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, he’s going to touch my hand!

to be continued......