Grey Hoodies and Bikes

I went to buy a camera with my dad today. This one for anyone interested: http://www.cnet.com.au/canon-ixus-240-hs-339342461.htm

We got it at JB Hi-Fi. I know what you're thinking. How could I betray my one true love, Officeworks, like that? Well, Officeworks did not offer what I wanted. And, after buying my camera, I realize that JB Hi-Fi has much, much better customer service. And efficiency of service. But poorer heating. It was chilly in there.

We got to that big, yellow building. Walked in. Walked. Observed the cameras. Went to find someone to get the camera for us. We started approaching one of the employees there. Apparently, they don't have a uniform. This guy was dressed in jeans and a grey hoodie. He saw us approaching and said, "Hey, guys. I'll be with you in a sec. Gotta couple customers here waiting."

Grey Hoodie was none other than... former head body of our high school in the year below us. None other than Alexandre where the reversal of the R and the E from traditional spelling indicates high class and sophistication (we've discussed this already). None other than the guy I occasionally see on the bus or at the bus stand but am too scared to talk to even though I'm older therefore more sexually mature and worldly. None other than the guy who used to work at the local IGA (guess we know where he went now). None other than the guy who I swore I would talk to when I went through his check-out at the IGA during the summer of 2010/11 (did not happen, if you were wondering).

I texted Helen about a recent occurrence with Grey Hoodie a couple of days ago. I saw him at the bus stop. We made eye contact. I think he recognized me (I obviously recognized him). I really wanted to say something like, "Hey! You went to such-and-such school, right?" But I did not. I regret my decision as clearly the forces of the universe are trying to thrust us together (word choice completely deliberate).

I regret this decision even more because, when the bus arrived, he stepped back to let me on the bus first. Like a true gentleman. I turned, smiled and murmured, "Thank you," all docile and feminine like every good woman should do when they're not baking pies or surrendering their Precious Flowers to soldiers returned from The Great War.

On this occasion at JB Hi-Fi, I guarantee Grey Hoodie recognized me again. Whether from the bus stop or from school, I'm not sure. But he recognized me and I gave him a bemused smile. I think something special is happening here. As we loitered, I heard him speaking. So much knowledge about telephone devices. So much knowledge and charisma. That charming smile.

Damn me and my cougar-like intentions.

In the end, Grey Hoodie did not serve us. Instead, some other guy did. I now have a camera to take photos of the great, rolling hills of Buxton, Derbyshire. And something called the Gherkin that Little Mishelle is apparently enamoured with. I doubt its beauty with a name like that. Sure, I love gherkins and all things pickled as much as the next person (seriously, banh mi's would be nothing without that mounding pickled vege) but I think we can all agree that pickles are hardly the most attractive thing in the world.

No, that would be Grey Hoodie.

I digress.

In other news, my dad got a free bike from his boss at work (whom he incidentally despises. I wonder if this free bike will change his views?). It is a ladies' bike and he only got it because I expressed interest in it. He spent all of this morning pumping the tires and servicing it or whatever. Then he went and bought new tires or new tubes or some shit. Now, I feel obligated to ride the shit out of this bike.

Except that I hate cyclists on the road and I'm pretty sure it's illegal to ride on the footpath. But I love cycling. I love the ease, the breeze, the treble in my thighs (channelling Schmidty here).

In any case, this new (free) bike will be conducive to my decision to start training for a triathlon.

J