I met Cecilia when her grocery bag split on the stairs of our apartment building.

I’d seen her around, and I’d admired her long, dark hair and her toned legs. But I’d never said much. I’m more than a bit on the shy side. But it’s hard not to have a formal introduction after you’ve wrangled rolling oranges and cans of tuna.

“Jesus, thanks,” she said, taking the loot I’d managed to gather. “I ask for paper because it’s environmentally friendly, but it’s not so good at not splitting after getting damp in the rain.”

“You walked from the market?” I asked. “Because that bag wasn’t damp. It was soaked.”

She nodded. “Yeah, my car’s in the shop. It was only two bags, so I figured... Read More