Mallory Is Mistaken- A Short Story
If you enjoy short stories, I hope you'll like reading this one.
After waking up with a sore throat, Mallory found her shower leaking all over the bathroom floor, her only pet- a goldfish named Henry- floating belly-up in his bowl, and her kitchen empty of anything that could be deemed a proper breakfast. There was a gray cloud hanging over her apartment and her head.
After calling the landlord and waiting half the morning for the leak to be fixed, she spent another half an hour trying to clean the floor. Then, flushing Henry in a most undignified way, Mallory shoved her arms into her jacket and grabbed her keys before heading to the door.
“Could this day get worse?” She mumbled, unlocking her car and leaving the apartment complex with the sourest attitude she had had in a long time.
She didn’t want fast food, but she didn’t want to wait a long time either, so she drove to a small coffee shop that had just opened a few blocks away. She usually didn’t care for coffee- never really drank the stuff- but she knew there would be muffins, and she did love a good muffin. Whether or not she drank anything with it, the muffin would at least be a better breakfast than scrounging around her kitchen for whatever she could find.
She ended up having to park so far away that she got drenched in the rain as she rain for shelter. Now her hair was dripping, her throat was burning and her cheeks were flushed. Whether or not it was from anger or the weather, or both, Mallory wasn’t sure.
It only got worse. There was a line, thanks to a promotion offering two coffees and a plate of muffins for half the price. “Valentine’s Day Special!” The sign blared.
Great. Another reminder that she was the only one in a family of five kids that was not married. What another lovely thing to ruin her day. Mallory waited until there was only one person in line in front of her before she looked at the menu to actually see what she wanted to order.
“I’ll take the valentine’s special, please.” The man ahead of her said. “I’d like coffee, and,” He turned, “What will you have?”
Mallory frowned. She didn’t know this guy, and she wasn’t going to be the other half of his valentine’s special, for sure. What a creep, probably a stalker-
“Tea?” He smiled.
“I am having tea, but I’ll order for myself, thank you very much.” Mallory turned away, wishing this guy would hurry up and get on with his business so she could order.
“Okay.” He shrugged and turned back.
Mallory placed her order, waiting just a moment while her tea and blueberry muffin were prepared and then took a seat away from the brunt of the crowd to enjoy them. She’d hoped to stay far enough away that her sore throat wouldn’t spread, just in case it wasn’t due to the weather or her sleeping with a fan on.
“May I say something?”
Mallory turned to see a little old lady sitting at the table next to hers.
“You should try looking a little happier. You never know who might fall in love with your smile.” She said, winking at Mallory.
Mallory’s mouth opened and she was about to give the woman a piece of her mind when she saw the man who had been in line ahead of her carrying a tray with two cups and a plate of muffins to the lady’s table. “Alright, Gram, here we go.” He placed a cup of tea in front of the lady, put the plate of muffins between them and sat down.
Now Mallory’s cheeks were really burning. He hadn’t been speaking to her in line at all.
And she had said something terribly rude.
Draining the cup of tea as quickly as possible without burning her mouth, Mallory didn’t bother finishing her muffin , instead hurrying to leave.
She had just made it out the door when the whole thing struck her as hilarious. She had certainly made herself look like a fool. She let out a chuckle as she ran to her car, the rain almost stopped by now.
The day got a little better. She went home, took some cold medicine, and snuggled under the covers of her bed, glad that she at least had today off from work. After a long cat nap, she got up, fixed some lunch for herself, and eyed Henry’s empty fishbowl. After a quick contemplation, she decided to go get a new fish. Wrapping up in case of another rainstorm, Mallory bundled against whatever weather might be out the door, and went to the closest pet shop.
There weren’t many fish that would be at home in a bowl as small as she had, so she went with another goldfish. Looking at the bug-eyed little thing, she decided Henry was too dignified a name, but was unable to find a name she felt really fit the little guy.
“Aw, well, let’s get you home anyways.” She said, carrying the bag protectively.
She had almost passed the coffee shop when she decided to stop in for another plate of muffins to take home. She didn’t need them, but they had been delicious, and she could eat them for breakfast tomorrow.
Looking at the new fish, Mallory frowned. It was awfully cold in her car- the heater had went out months before winter had even started- and she hated to think of coming back to find a frozen fish-pop. She picked up the bag and tucked it carefully in the crook of her arm, shivering against the cold.
“You know, you’re starting to look like a Snowflake, despite your coloring.” She mumbled, walking briskly for the door.
“Here, let me get that for you.”
Mallory ducked inside out of the cold when the door opened, but didn’t look back. She mumbled a thanks over her shoulder and headed for the cash register.
“I’ll take a box of blueberry muffins to go, please.” She said.
“No tea this time?”
Mallory turned around as her eyes widened. The same guy was standing behind her.
“No. Just muffins. I’ve got to get my fish home.” She said quickly.
“Fish…” He looked down at the bag in her arms. “Fish. Right.”
Mallory smiled. “Long story.” She shrugged. “I am very sorry about this morning.”
“Eh, it’s nothing.” He shrugged back. “My grandma thought it was hilarious.”
Mallory shrugged once more and turned back around to finish paying.
“If I promise not to order for you, will you let me buy you a cup of tea and those muffins?” The man asked.
She wasn’t used to strangers inviting themselves into her life, and normally Mallory would have said no for the simple reason that she wasn’t trusting of strangers. But she turned around and asked her own question. “Isn‘t your grandma here to share the muffins with?”
“No, she had to get home.” He laughed. “She only came this morning because neither of us had anyone to share the day with.”
Mallory frowned. “Well, my fish needs to get home. Perhaps another time.”
“Then maybe we could meet here tomorrow for an early breakfast?”
Mallory shook her head. “Sorry, I have church tomorrow.”
“Why do you think I said early? So do I.”
Mallory’s eyes squinted. “Really? And where do you go?”
“I’m the new assistant pastor at the church just down the street.” He smiled. “If not tomorrow, how about Monday?”
“Can’t. I’m a teacher.” Mallory smiled, then sighed. “I guess my fish doesn’t have to get home right away, and another cup of tea would be nice. It helps sore throats.”
“My grandma lives by the rule that honey and lemon tea does the trick.” He said, stepping up to order.
“She’s right. That’s what I usually order.” He smiled down at her. “By the way, what’s your name?”
“Mallory.”
“Hello, Mallory. My name is Grant.”
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