Black Cats Bring Luck

She passed through the city square and headed up the hill, which appeared too steep for some, especially older adults. She didn’t mind a little more exercise than usual. Doctors recommended cardio training after all, so all the better.

While on top, she tried to capture the best angle of a cathedral, a city landmark, as crowds filled this area during Christmas. A simple task of taking a picture of stunning architecture became impossible.

After waiting a few good minutes for the group of Japanese to pass and clear the view, she was about to press the button on her phone when a brash man stood right in front of her.

“No way!” She exclaimed loudly. Too tired to look for another perfect position to take her photo, she turned on her heel and started walking away.

The man turned away too. Far from being discouraged by seeing only a woman’s back, he elbowed her aside with his strong grip.

‘Hey! I’m sorry. I must have disturbed you while taking your photo.’

‘It’s okay. I can come back any time. I’m not a tourist.’

He flinched, hearing her words.

‘Oh, so am I a bloody tourist searching for a sensation then?’

She didn’t respond. She didn’t want this guy to cross her path. She wasn’t looking for a romance. But a man seemed not to share her view.

‘Hey! I’m not an enemy. I said I’m sorry.’

‘And I said that I forgive you. Goodbye!’

‘Hey, hey! Wait a minute. Would you like to start again?’

‘Excuse me?’ She asked, surprise on her face.

‘There’s a great place nearby, the Cardinal’s Hat. I was about to go there later to check it out after a photo session of this popular cathedral. But right now, I don’t even want a photo of this enormous architecture freak. Right now, I want to sit with you in warm candlelight and talk. Would you agree to join me?’

Could she say no? Gosh! That was the best romantic beginning she ever heard, and she yearned for more.

They anchored at the small round table in the darkest corner of the room, hidden behind an enormous oleander. She, with her demitasse, and he, with his light lager, looked like a perfect couple.

‘So what are you having for dinner?’ He asked her when the waiter presented them with menu cards.

She looked at the menu, eyes wide with curiosity.

‘I’ll have a Hog Heaven,’ She measured him with her gaze.

‘I’ll have a Hog Hell then, for the balance. Thank you.’

The way he ordered and examined the waiter with his eyes made her think of his professionalism. She couldn’t stop visualising him as a regular visitor to such places.

‘So, what are you doing here, if you’re not a tourist?’

‘I’m a student, well, sort of. I’m planning to study science at the UCL in London.’

‘Oh, you too?’

She couldn’t believe her luck. For months, she had been planning to go to London, but she was afraid of making a fresh start on her own. And now she found a man whose desires were similar to hers. Could the universe be more generous than that?

‘Sorry, I didn’t catch your name,’ She asked, as if afraid of suddenly losing him.

‘I don’t think I’ve mentioned it,’ He answered with all his charm and boldness emanating from him as if he just caught a big fish. And after a while, he added.

‘We’re going to save it for a dessert. Unless you want to guess?’

‘No, no, let’s know each other a little bit more. Names can suggest too much sometimes.’

‘I agree.’

And they swung into their own rhythms without brakes. When one asked, the other one answered diligently. When answers followed questions, listening was the only generous thing that could ever matter.

The conversation flowed like the cardinal’s hat carelessly thrown to the wind.

At some point, a black cat sauntered between brown and green sofas, rubbing against them as if in search of shelter or caress. Which one? It was hard to say.

‘Black cats bring bad luck,’ He said, following the trail of an animal for a while.

‘Do you believe in luck?’ She asked automatically, not really knowing what to say.

‘Well, it is known that black cats portend bad luck, but one surely doesn’t have to believe in that, does it?’

Right at this moment, the cathedral bell began tolling, heralding a full hour. In this case, seven o’clock.

‘Oh, look! Can you hear? For whom the bell tolls?’

It sounded like a proposal, at least. One couldn’t imagine better surroundings for a wedding than a colossal cathedral, but one had to admit that they were both leaving this place soon.

During the dessert, Fruit Arcade for her and Summer Lightning for him, it was time to announce their names.

‘You first,’ He said, gentlemanly.

‘Leah.’

‘Nice to meet you, Leah. I’m Paul.’

They shook their hands as if celebrating a business agreement. And it really felt like that.

In the last few hours, when their heads came closer and closer and their distant and foreign voices transformed into a familiar whisper, they couldn’t stop talking. But right now, they suddenly run out of topics for a conversation. Ominous silence pervaded the room. The only solution left was to leave.

Outside, a drizzle spattered on their faces, blessing them. Spring was in the air, and so was love, no matter how you look at it.