Читать книгу Celia's Shadow - Sandy Levy Kirschenbaum - Страница 10

Celia buckled her seat belt, placed the key in the ignition, and started the engine. She patted the dashboard. “Thank you, sweetie.” Her little green car didn’t always start.

She drove the scenic way, which took her by the ocean. She pulled into the parking lot at the beach, took the first space closest to the sand, opened the windows, and smelled the ocean air. From behind the steering wheel, she watched the waves roll onto the shore. She was mesmerized by the water.

The crash of a shell smashing onto the hood of her car startled her back to reality. In an instant, a filthy seagull blocked her view. The bird pecked at the shell and pulled out a tiny piece of meat. It then pooped on the car’s hood. Thanks for the gift, birdie. Guess this beach break is over. The dashboard clock read 8:17 a.m. She left the beach and headed to the T station.

Regardless of how beautiful the day, the subway car was either too cold or too hot. Today the underground travel was sweltering and unpleasant. Celia took the last seat in the row, which limited the number of passengers surrounding her to one. A woman doused in cheap perfume took the seat next to her and took Celia’s breath away. Damn. That stinks. Celia opened her bag and pulled out a tissue, which she then held under her nose. How about a no perfume area? Did anyone ever think of that? Cigarette smoke isn’t nearly this offensive. Said the smoker. She saw the humor in her idea.