op12

God Shuffled His Feet / Crash Test Dummies









With the sugar and cream on the other side of the room, Jack went off to again to stand behind the giggling girls, while Lead sat at a small table in the front window waiting for him. He was fighting the urge to watch the pretty woman still waiting in line, and forced himself to focus on a local newspaper some one had left open on the table. He scanned a human-interest story about a hill of carved pumpkins wondering if his brother and Ally would have any interest. He half eavesdropped on the snippets of conversations of the people in the room that drifted his way. Most of it was excessively dull with comments about papers due or tests to grade. It reminded him of being in college, a not exactly unpleasant feeling and familiar enough ground at least to be reassuring.


Lead noticed the entrance of the two young men, only because they entered with a wave of energy disproportionate to their movement.


“Hey mom,” the dark haired boy called, clearly his friend, a smaller blonde boy, trailing behind. “Tim wants to know if I can go to his house for lunch. I told him I’m supposed to eat with James, but he was wondering if we could trade days. What do you say?”


Lead registered the conversation with disinterest, until the young man continued.


“Decir por favor no. El tomará no no para una respuesta, yo traté, realmente.” The boy continued holding Lead’s attention. The combination of the change in request, the Spanish and the realization that the boy was talking to the pretty woman caught Lead’s curiosity and he raised his head to get a better look at the intriguing situation. The dark haired boy had his back to Lead, but upon glancing up he locked eyes with his mother, each instantly knowing that the other had understood her son’s request, smirked. She was not simply pretty, Lead realized, but a strikingly beautiful woman and although, probably rude, Lead found himself reluctant to turn back to his paper.


“Oh I’m sorry Tim.” The woman replied without missing a beat. “Zach really needs to eat with his brother today. Maybe some other time though, okay?” The woman put her hand on Friend Tim’s shoulder as the two boys looked a little dejected.


Left hand, no ring, Lead noted, immediately feeling elated, self-conscious and chastising himself that he was thinking like his brother.


“See. I told you.” Zach replied to his friend as the two started to leave, Friend Tim exiting first. “Thanks Mom.” He yelled back over his shoulder.


“Usted me debe.” The beautiful woman called after them, then turning to Lead added, “Los ensayos de la juventud,” laughing, confident he understood her completely.


“Madam Harris, Voici votre café. Peux-je vous recevoir n'importe quoi autrement aujourd'hui?” The young man behind the counter interrupted.


“Oh. No, merci. Café, tres bien.” She dug in her pocket for money. Lead leaned against the table, not even pretending to hide he was staring. He wondered who the small woman, tiny even, with her captivating dark eyes and pale skin, who fluidly shifted between three languages could possibly be and what he could possibly say to find out.


“M'excuser, travaillez-vous à l'école?” Lead called out as the woman stepped toward the door.


She stopped short, clearly surprised that the handsome Hispanic man whom she had just joked with in Spanish had asked her a question in French, with a hint of Australian accent.


“Oui.” She began, looking at Lead with new curiosity. “Hey you must be the new visiting Scientist.” Lead glanced to the table blushing and nodded. “I’m sorry I don’t know your name.” She smiled, “I’m Louisa Harris.” She held out a small hand.


“Lead Hernandez.” Lead stood taking her hand surprised that such a tiny woman could have such a firm handshake.


“Lead’s an odd name.” She laughed, wrinkling her forehead.


“Thomas officially, Lead’s a nickname, it’s a …complicated story.” He shrugged, again noting she had the darkest brown eyes he’d ever seen and the most infectious smile.


“Well, welcome to QA. I teach Foreign Language.”


“I would have never have guessed.” Lead said deadpan, then immediately kicked himself that the beautiful woman before him might not share his sense of humor. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly glancing away, though much to his relief she laughed quickly.


“It’s okay. ” She shrugged. “Well, it was nice to meet you. I need to go back up the hill; I have a class. Tout à l'heure.” Louisa smiled and stepped toward the door.


“Nice to meet you too.” Lead smiled. If Jack hadn’t been with him he’d have asked to walk with her. Instead, he was frantically trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t either sound stupid or like he was a potential stalker. Since nothing came to him, the two nodded smiling at each other for a second, before Louisa headed out. Lead stood watching her walk away. Joining him, Jack followed his brother’s gaze to the woman now walking down the street.










“She teaches foreign language.” Lead said to Jack as the left the shop.


“She has a kid.” Jack answered.


“My god. You were on the other side of the room?” Lead nearly shouted.


“I’m observant. It’s part of my training.” Jack smiled.


“No ring.” Lead answered.


“So why didn’t you ask her out?” Jack paused, they were now approaching Lead’s driveway.


“Oh yeah, Hi. Hi. You teach here? Yes. So you want to go out some time? Sure.” Lead shook his head, hands on his hips. “This works for you?”


“Sorry, I forgot you were a scientist.” Jack shrugged.


“What’s that supposed to mean?”


“Look.” Jack sighed and took a half step closer to his brother. There was no one around, but he still lowered his voice. “The Foreign Language department is on the fourth floor of your building.” He shrugged, tilting his head in the process.


“And you know this because languages are always in the science building or…?” Lead folded his arms across his chest, but his tone was less hostile.


“I know this because I can read. There was a directory in the doorway where we entered the building yesterday.” Jack smiled shaking his head. “Come on, let’s unload this stuff so I can go to work.”