The New Boy

I browsed in Boots for a while, as I waited for the Mrs. and her new Boy to arrive. I got preoccupied looking at lipgloss and various random cosmetics, when I felt someone next to me say "Hello little one." I looked around and there she was, kitted out in the new boots that he had bought her the other day, adding another couple of inches to the six she already has on me. Her Boy was next to her, also tall but without the aid of heels and I suddenly felt even more of a munchkin than usual. "Hello," I said, looking up at them and smiling, "I had forgotten what tall people looked like. I feel like the shortest person in the world." We hugged and said our hellos and then we made our way out to go and get some food. They are a cute couple. They were affectionate and sweet together and I liked how comfortable they seemed with each other. I tried not to think about how much I already missed BFTP and tried not to feel like the gooseberry. But they didn't make me feel that way. The Mrs. and I went to order the food while her Mr. grabbed us a table. Once we had the food, we carried it outside and then swiftly decided against our original plan of al fresco dining, when half the napkins and the straws I had picked up blew away with a sudden gust of wind.

Back inside, we were lucky to get a corner booth and settled in to eat our meals. We talked about things and laughed, and they sang along to random tunes that played over the speaker system. I could feel that I wasn't sterling company; my mood had really dropped because of the situation with BFTP and although I enjoyed being with them, I was finding it hard to make conversation or get my mind off the things that were bothering me. We still had fun and the Mrs. asked me about the stuff that was happening and I did the same, although it was hard for her to give a completely honest account of things with her Boy sitting there. He was very laid back and I could feel there was a genuine fondness between them. I liked that. I felt comfortable in their company, just not so comfortable in my own. The Mrs. chastised her Mr. for stealing her use of the word 'munchkin,' which apparently she patented back in the 30s, prior to The Wizard of Oz. My munchkin status was a running joke throughout the day and for a while it felt like we were teenagers again, spending days out and about, without a care in the world. It was a short break from everything else that was going on.

The Boy went out to smoke a cigarette and I watched the Mrs. as her eyes followed him out and a smile played on her lips. "You love him," I teased. I smiled at how content they seem, even though based on her previous bad experiences she is convinced that things are going to go wrong, and is inclined to pre-empt any such result by breaking up with him, which he is well aware of. We talked about it until he came back and then went all quiet when he returned. He smiled at us and said "You can keep talking you know, I know what you're talking about." I tried to convince the Mrs. against any pre-emptive break-up and she chastised me jokingly for not taking her side. We talked some more and giggled away 3 hours before finally deciding to make moves, after her Boy had made several paper people chains out of the excess napkins I had snaffled and then made a 'sculpture' out of our used cups and straws. He took a quick snap of the Mrs. and me that will probably end up on my wall somewhere.

Before our respective journeys home, we went to make a quick bathroom break for a travel wee (lol), my complete lack of cash meaning I didn't even have the 30p required entrance fee. The Mrs. cobbled together some change in pity of my broke ass, but when we got to the turnstiles, we didn't have the right coins for me, so I somehow squeezed through the turnstile with her on her 30p. Apparently there are some advantages to being little. Afterwards, we meet outside to say our goodbyes. The Boy asks for a spare pen to do the daily sudoku from the paper on the train. I give the Mrs. a big hug and we express how great it was to see each other again. I hug her Boy and we say how nice it was to meet, even though for some reason I felt like I'd already met him. He tells me to take care and I assure them I won't fall down any cracks in the pavement on my way home. We laugh and go our separate ways. It has been a nice afternoon, but as soon as I am out of their company, I realise how alone I am starting to feel.