P
Pia
Guest
Her phone rings. She digs into her bag, pulling it out along with a crumple of card receipts and a lipstick without its top. The name is on the screen. His name. She holds the phone, then glances up at Lotte’s flashing eyes. She smiles and swipes the display to off.
“OK then. Let’s finish up and go.”
Ten minutes and they were there. Lotte pushed open the door of the Tucherlounge calling a greeting to the girl behind the little bar. A few couples sat in the pale purple and yellow light, relaxing in the soft leather sofas, quiet talk sinking under the tranquil music. They settled down, Gisela sensing that she was being gently led to the darkest corner seats.
“Do you like it? It’s nice isn’t it? They refurbed it a year ago I think. I like it here anyway. Here, take a look at the list. What’ll you have? I know what I’m having. Sofie. Hey Sofie, over here…”
“You know everyone here then?”
“Not everyone, but I come here. They’re friends. It’s relaxing isn’t it? More than down in town I think. I… well, I sometimes feel, you know… you’re sort of on display… people…men… they sort of think they can just, well, you know… they just think that you belong to them, even if you’ve never seen them. I… well… I like it better here. Have you decided yet?”
Gisela stared at the list of cocktails and wines, her finger running up and down the page.
“Yes. I. I think I do like it here. But it’s funny what you say. That people think they own you. Do you really think that? I mean, you… is it just men that you think that about?”
“OK then. Let’s finish up and go.”
Ten minutes and they were there. Lotte pushed open the door of the Tucherlounge calling a greeting to the girl behind the little bar. A few couples sat in the pale purple and yellow light, relaxing in the soft leather sofas, quiet talk sinking under the tranquil music. They settled down, Gisela sensing that she was being gently led to the darkest corner seats.
“Do you like it? It’s nice isn’t it? They refurbed it a year ago I think. I like it here anyway. Here, take a look at the list. What’ll you have? I know what I’m having. Sofie. Hey Sofie, over here…”
“You know everyone here then?”
“Not everyone, but I come here. They’re friends. It’s relaxing isn’t it? More than down in town I think. I… well, I sometimes feel, you know… you’re sort of on display… people…men… they sort of think they can just, well, you know… they just think that you belong to them, even if you’ve never seen them. I… well… I like it better here. Have you decided yet?”
Gisela stared at the list of cocktails and wines, her finger running up and down the page.
“Yes. I. I think I do like it here. But it’s funny what you say. That people think they own you. Do you really think that? I mean, you… is it just men that you think that about?”
