Awkwardly Charming

Purchasing a teleporting machine as a means of transportation in the city of New York in June is not a bad idea at all with the temperature mostly being above thirty-five degrees and people bustling all around the city. Jacqueline sometimes questions her decision to settle in such a round-the-clock city and not a smaller one like Vatican City but the satisfaction of how much she has achieved so far as a chef in this same city retraces her thoughts. She sees a girl not older than seventeen wearing a see-through tank top and a short bum short exposing a little flesh of her ass.

The present moral decadence of society annoys her and the most vexatious of all is the choice of outfits worn by women in general these days. She won’t describe herself as overly gorgeous but she was a twenty-four-year-old lady who was way above standard with her clear and milky skin but she didn’t go about half naked to show those off.

“Good day, ma’am. I wasn’t expecting you at this time.” said petite Jane who is a newly employed staff as she headed towards the payment counter of her restaurant which she walked into a few minutes ago. “I didn’t know that I should be at my business place at your designated time.” Jacqueline knew the moment that the words left her mouth that they were wrong and the pitiful look on Jane’s face confirmed it. “I am so sorry Jane for my tone and choice of words. I am just having a not-so-fun day.” Jaqueline said. “When do you ever truly have a fun day?” Jacqueline knew that voice anywhere but still turned around to see dear mid-sixties Aunty Rose who had practically joined her in growing the food business from scratch. She is not just a business partner but a friend who knows a lot about her and treats her much more like a mother would. The woman is a fun-filled person at her age even with the fact that she lost her husband in her twenties and had to raise her son all by herself. She still goes to parties and social activities and has a well-to-do businessman as a son who has a family of his.

“Come on Aunty Rose, what do you mean by that?”

“You know exactly what I mean. You do not even go to the club or have social nights.”

“That’s because I can have fun without going wild or getting involved in any of that stuff.”

“Darling, having fun is not ‘that stuff’. When was the last time you allowed the opposite gender to touch you?”

As much as Jacqueline knew that what Aunty Rose was saying had some truth in it, she was not ready for this discussion especially not in the presence of one of her new employees.

“Money making is the top trend these days and is worth talking about. Jane, how are the sales going so far?” Jacqueline said intending to shut Aunty Rose up.

“All orders have been settled except for an online order which was placed a few minutes ago. “Jane explained as she handed her the sales book.

“The address for delivery is at Wall Street and I’m heading there for some business, so, I can deliver the order.”

“Oh! Ma’am you don’t have to. I already reached out to our courier and he is on the way from his last delivery.

“Oh please, girl hand that package over to dear bored Jacqueline. Who knows, she may meet Prince Charming but darling, I hope you are well kit underneath those baggy materials at least.”

Jacqueline quickly picks up the order and begins to half run out of the restaurant hoping that the few customers didn’t notice how red her cheeks were. She won’t refer to herself as experienced sexually or romantically. She had her first kiss with one of her course-mates whom she had a crush on during her first year in college which was quite embarrassing because she bit the guy’s tongue and it ended up in an emergency. After that, she started searching for how to kiss and do other stuff on the internet and decided to practicalize it with her first boyfriend who she met at a diner around the school processes while still in her first year. The relationship ended in her second year when he attempted to touch her farther than he had ever done with her and she farted. She still feels the depth of shame she felt that day just thinking about it. Well, an order was waiting to be delivered and an application that she had waited to be eligible for as well.

*An hour later*

This has to be the third time in the week that her car has gotten her stranded in the middle of the road. Today was not a fun day from trekking from where her car had decided to disappoint her to the bus station and missing the bus. Now, she was extremely late for her application and order delivery which made her regret her decision to deliver the order. She confirms and realizes that she has arrived at the location for order delivery, so, she dials the number on the details of the order but the person doesn’t pick up. Frustration begins to creep into her skin, then, she sees a guy having a heart-to-heart conversation with a lady and approaches them.

“Hello, please excuse me. I have an order to deliver to someone, the details say it’s Miss Kimberly Lawson at this location and I have been calling but there is no response. Do you….”

“I already canceled that order. You guys should not be in business if this is how you treat your customers or better still, you should be fired from being a delivery girl since you suck at the job!”

“Oh! Miss Lawson, I am so sorry but…”

“Girl, fuck off! I said I canceled the order already.”

“Kim, come on, she apologized already,” said the man who was with Miss Lawson all this time.

Jacqueline turned to go but then, she heard the lady chuckle. “Oh my, so, you don’t only forget to deliver orders but you also forget when to expect your period. What a pity.”

Shit! She touched herself and realized that she was wet meaning that she was stained. She had felt some signs earlier but never thought that the bloody thing would decide to be out now. She begins to walk faster but doesn’t look properly as she stumbles over a piece of wood down to the ground making oil from the package of food spill over her.

“What a mess,” Disgusted Miss Lawson said as she cat-walked away.

“You’re okay?” The man who had watched her disgrace herself asks as he stretches out his hand to help her up. Jacqueline stands up with his assistance but keeps looking down because she can’t face him.

“I am Carl Garfield. Please forgive Kimberly’s behavior. We need to get you cleaned up.”

“I don’t think I have the time. I need to have gone for an application at an organization around here about thirty minutes ago.”

“So, you prefer the whole world to know that you are on your period?”

Jacqueline raises her head to look at him and notices how handsome this man is. One could easily get lost in his eyes and his face is well-chiseled and should be in his lover’s hands often. She realized that she had stared for too long when she heard him call out to her.

“Hey. You got lost back there. What’s the name?”

“I am Jacqueline. Jacqueline Dominic.”

“What a way to meet Jacqueline but right now we should be sorting out the situation”

Jacqueline doesn’t understand why he keeps saying “we” like he is obligated to help her. “Mr. Garfield you have done enough. I-um- I – uh- truly appreciate but I have to get going.”

He begins to pull his jacket while saying, “Carl, please. Call me Carl. You know, I have women in my life and I understand what menstruation is, so, stop being embarrassed. You can have my jacket, it’s long enough and will also cover the stains from the food. Here you go.” He hands her the jacket.

She is about to argue but he starts helping her wear the jacket. “There, that’s better. You should start leaving now so that you can meet up with your appointment,” he says and begins to walk away.

“Thank you but how will you get your jacket back Mr. Garfield?”

“It’s Carl and you can keep it. Moreover, it is a privilege for my jacket to be worn by such a pretty lady.”

Before Jacqueline could think of a response, he was gone.