I Had Arrived
I had arrived. That in itself had been difficult. I had given myself all the reasons for not going. Perhaps the other participants would already be more advanced than me, even though the ad on the fabric shop window had said “Beginners Class in Card Making”. Perhaps I would find I was dreadful at it? Perhaps I wouldn’t be able to understand the instructions. Perhaps, perhaps perhaps.
Now here I was in the shopping arcade just two shops away. All I had to do was walk past the vegetable shop and the hairdresser and then I would be outside. “Come on” I encouraged myself. “You can do this”.
I stopped to look at the array of vegetables outside Brian’s shop. The smell of fresh baby carrots filled the air with sweetness.” Perhaps I can buy some carrots and squash for stew tonight. These wold probably be the last baby carrots of the season. Or perhaps some gem lettuce? I could scorch that on the pan, after cooking the chicken thighs. Perhaps a sprig or two of rosemary as well?,” I thought but no, I could do that after the class.
I heard a busker playing the ukulele just before the arcade narrowed. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen a ukulele. His fingers nimbly moved up and down the frets making that little instrument produce a rich sound.
“Enough of this procrastination kiddo” I chided myself “it is time to head into the unknown.”
I could see the fabric shop ahead. I paused outside, getting myself ready to push open the heavy wooden door. But I was rooted to the ground when I saw the window.
The window display was a riot of Autumn colours. Someone had “painted” Autumn using fabrics.There were bolts of cotton, satin, silk and jersey. I stood back from the shop window and looked at their colours. To my left were kingfisher blue, and deep purple which reminded me of pansies. Then there were the greens with some teal blue. The final bolt was a deep green like moss after a heavy winter shower of rain. oh it wasn’t the final bolt.There peeking through, was sunflower yellow and the rich red earth tones, of copper, rose, conker, rust and even a peach. The floor of the window was draped in sand and cream interspersed with pops of tangerine and lime. Whoever had put this display together was an absolute artist.
I pushed open the heavy wooden door. A bell chimed as I entered. Although this was 1998 that sound immediately brought me back to a shop from the 60’s or 70s. I felt I was entering a cave lined with fabric. The only natural light came from the front window but the shop was in an arcade so it would have been very dark without the fluorescent lighting.
“Perhaps I had come to the wrong shop. Why would a card making class be held in a fabric shop? Knowing me I had the wrong place”, I thought to myself
“Oh no you are in the correct place. The class is being held upstairs” said a voice with a chuckle beside me.
I jumped backwards into the door nearly knocking over a display of buttons. Yes I had done it again. I had spoken out loud instead of thinking about it
“Thank you I stammered and made for the stairs..
To be continued………