'Above the door, a small sign boldly declared in red lettering, that this was Mansfield's Pawn Shop. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on the door handle, and almost exactly when she touched it, the door flew open, and a young man nearly collided ino her.
"Good God!" He exclaimed, jumping back, then catching hold of her arm. "I'm so sorry, are you alright? How stupid of me!"
... She laughed. "Yes, I'm fine, really, I am."
"Good! Well, oh! I was just on my way out. For tea, actually. I haven't got any here, or I would offer some to you. Oh, but would you like to join me? I should be happy to treat you, as my apology for bashing into you at the door. Please come." The gentleman rattled off this speech with surprising speed and animation, and looked so sincere, that the lady was persuaded.'
~ excerpt from The Watch
a work in progress by C. N.