| Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
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“Can I help you?” Matt asked.
“…I’m looking for chicken broth.” The girl said.
“Here are the chicken broths. A couple brands to choose.” Matt pointed.
“Oh thanks.” The girl casually reached for one. She mumbled to herself while counting the stuffs in her basket, “Got tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, chicken broth…should be good…”
Matt peeked, “Excuse me, but I believe what you’ve got in the basket is lettuce and not cabbage.”
“Serious? I got them from here…” The girl pointed at the vegetables and the signs above, “It says cabbage.”
“I’m sorry. Someone must have been sorting through the vegetables and wrongly put this lettuce with the cabbage.” Matt said politely, “Look. The rest of these are cabbages.”
“Really?” The girl picked up a cabbage and compared.
“…they look different.” Matt added.
“Look kind of the same to me…haha…” The girl giggled, “Luckily you pointed out. Otherwise I would have bought the wrong veggie. Looks stupid.”
“What are you making?” Matt could tell this girl obviously did not cook often.
“Borsht soup.” The girl bragged, “Having a party at my place with my friends tonight.”
“I don’t think lettuce goes well in borsht soup.” Matt smiled.
“Thanks for your help.” The girl laughed and looked at the name tag on his uniform, “Matt? You’re a great employee. I should write some compliments to your boss on you.”
“I’m just doing my job.” Matt said sincerely.
“Okie I’ll definitely come back to shop here again. Hope to see you again.” The girl left.
Matt had a glance at her and went back to his work. Of course he would take her words seriously. She’s just one of the chatty customers he would run into at least a few each day.
********************************
“We see each other much less often now ever since you quitted a few months ago.” Matt held the hand of his girlfriend Ivy as they strolled at the park.
“I made the right choice of leaving that small supermarket. The pay now is much better. Hey, it’s a big insurance company. The best part is actually working in an office. I’m just doing clerical work but hey…can dress up and walk around in high heels. I have my own desk and computer and stuffs. So different from before where I had to wear that stinky ugly yellow uniform and sat at the cashier the whole day.” Ivy nagged.
Matt did not make any comment.
“Told you to come with me.” Ivy said, “You could have got that office assistant position.”
“They were probably looking for someone with more education than me. I wouldn’t get the job anyway.”
“You didn’t even try.” Ivy glanced at him.
“I’m ok working at the supermarket now. Boss is nice and I get along with everyone there.” Matt shrugged his shoulder, “And it’s stable.”
“Stable…that basically means you don’t get demotion but not promotion either.” Ivy glared.
“The big company has a little higher pay, but to work with a lot of people will be a bigger problem. Talking about work place politics. I don’t want to risk. Job security is no. 1 thing to me.” Matt looked at her, “You know that.”
“I know. As long you get your pay cheque, you don’t even care if you have to pile cans onto racks and push around durians and frozen meat in the buggy for the rest of your life.” Ivy frowned, “You are 21. So let’s say another 40 more years to go.”
“Alright. Let’s talk about something else.” Matt avoided the topic and comforted, “Don’t get mad huh?”
Ivy bit her lips.
“…look little magic here!” Matt waved his hands and hid behind his back, then flashed out a paper-folded pink rose.
Ivy did not move.
“Wow…like that?” Matt gave her the paper flower.
“…thanks.” Ivy muttered and took it.
“You always like these little tricks, don’t you?” Matt smiled sweetly, “I just know that. You like these cute stuffs.”
Not anymore, Ivy said in her head.
Matt did not read her mind and thought she liked it, “Ok. Let’s go grab a bite. What do you want to eat?”
Ivy puffed out and put her thoughts behind. She still wanted a good date with Matt, “I feel like having spaghetti.”
“Sounds good.” Matt always went with her choice, “We can go to Rico’s Café.”
“Not Rico’s Café again. We went there four times in a row.” Ivy refused, “Let’s go somewhere else. How about…hm…that restaurant across from the supermarket that we always passed by and said it looks really nice?”
“Rico Café is more economic.” Matt said.
“Matt, can we forget about economic food? At least just for today?” Ivy suppressed and did not want to argue with him, “As celebrations for me getting over probation in my new job, ok?”
“Ok ok.” Matt stroked her hand, “Go there then, as long as you’re happy.”
******************************
“Great job, Matt.” His supervisor patted on his back.
“…thanks.” Matt nodded.
“This letter will really help you to nominate for the Outstanding Employee of the year.” The supervisor flashed the paper, “Keep it up!”
After the supervisor walked away, Matt’s coworkers surrounded him.
“Wow you actually got a compliment letter from a customer! How did that happen?”
“She said you’ve been the most courteous and helpful. Now tell us the truth…was she actually your friend and you two faked it…”
Matt just smiled. He was amazed how that girl took it seriously and actually wrote to praise on him. Anyway, it really left him with a good mark in his performance records. Matt thought, if he ever saw her again, he would remember to thank her.
****************************
Ivy was about to get off the car, but her colleague quickly hopped off the driver’s seat and went to open the door for her. She tittered: such gentleman.
“Thanks for the ride.” Ivy said.
“My pleasure.” The young and well-groomed insurance agent showed his professional charming smile.
“See you next Monday at work.” Ivy waved.
He drove away.
Ivy was meeting up Matt for movies, and her colleague was on his way so he gave her a ride. She arrived early, so while waiting for Matt she wandered around for some shopping. She went into a small fabric shop.
“This is a very nice colour, especially for adding on patterns.” The salesgirl smiled to Ivy, “What are you planning to knit?”
Ivy touched the bundle of yarn in her hand, “I just started knitting a dark blue scarf. I was going to just make it plain colour, but then changed my mind and thought maybe to add some patterns to it. Do you think this grey colour will go well with the dark blue?”
The salesgirl nodded, “Certainly. Here are some catalogues to give you a few suggestions…”
Ivy bought the yarn and a catalogue. She was knitting a scarf for Matt as Valentine’s Day gift. There was still two months to go, but this was the first time Ivy knitting a scarf, so she wanted to start early because she was not sure if it will go well.
“Wonder if he’ll like it.” Ivy tittered sweetly to herself. She hid the yarn inside her handbag so Matt would not see them. He did not know she was knitting a scarf for him; it was supposed to be a surprise gift.
“Hi Ivy.” Matt’s voice sounded from behind.
Ivy turned around, then her happy face instantly darkened.
“Danny, say hi to Ivy.” Matt smiled.
Danny stood behind Matt and kept his head down, not looking up to Ivy.
Matt chuckled, “…shy to see Ivy? Haha…”
“…why is he here?” Ivy frowned.
“We’re watching this Disney movie today. Danny will like it too.” Matt turned around, “Right Danny? You like Disney cartoon, don’t you?”
“…if he even has the sense of knowing what he’s watching.” Ivy mumbled.
“Hm?” Matt did not hear clearly.
“Nothing.” Ivy rolled up her eyes, “You can put him at that workshop, at a daycare, or even…a babysitter. Whatever works. I just don’t see why he has to tag along in our dates.”
“Just once in a while. Danny can have some fun going out.” Matt said, “Last time the three of us went bowling together. You had lots of fun too, didn’t you?”
“…if not counting how he spilled coke over my head.” Ivy said coldly.
“You’re still mad over that? Come on Ivy. Danny didn’t mean it. He was just being nice in passing the pop to you.” Matt comforted and turned around again, “Now Danny. Ivy’s still mad huh. Say a little sorry to her once more.”
Danny peeked at Ivy, and she gave him a glare in return. He freaked out and hid back behind Matt.
“Alright. Let’s go to the get the tickets now before they’re sold out.” Matt softly picked up Ivy’s hand.
Ivy reluctantly followed.
Danny grasped on Matt’s t-shirt and tailgated at his back.
Ivy turned around and frowned, “Matt can you ask your brother not to grab onto you like that?”
“You know the reason. I told Danny to grab onto me, to make sure he doesn’t get lost on the streets. He’s been good and remembers to follow me tight all the times.” Matt said.
Ivy flung away Matt’s hand, “I’d better walk alone. Don’t want the three of us to hang together like a trio. People on the street give us these strange looks.”
“Ivy…” Matt quickened his steps to catch up on Ivy.
At the cinema, Matt grabbed the seats and settled Ivy and Danny down: one on each side of him.
“Pops, candies, chips…” Matt dug the snacks out from his big bag. They were mostly for Ivy, because she loved snacks.
“Hm.” Ivy sneaked a satisfactory smile.
“These chips are on sale at our supermarket, so I bought a few. You can take some home.” Matt never bought them at the cinema: too expensive. He would rather carry them all in his bag and sneaked in.
Ivy took them all. Danny was left with only a bottle of water.
“I’m going to the washroom. Danny you want to go too?” Matt asked.
Danny shook his head.
“Ok. Be back soon. Ivy, take care of Danny.” Matt walked away.
Ivy leaned back and popped a candy into her mouth.
Danny peeked at the bag of candies in her hand. She realized and looked at him, and he quickly dropped his head down.
Ivy reached over Matt’s empty seat and offered the candies to Danny.
Danny did not dare to move.
“What. I ain’t such a meanie huh?” Ivy roughly stuffed him the snacks, “Take some.”
Danny poured out a couple candies and kept them in his palm.
Ivy took the bag away, “Eat, or they’ll melt.” She pointed, “Open your mouth. Eat. There’s one candy, two candies…I’ll show you how to count…”
Of course I can count, Danny said in his head.
Matt came back and sat down between them.
“Check your brother. He’s keeping the candies in his hand for no reason and not eating them. Don’t know what’s up with him.” Ivy said.
Matt smiled and knew what Danny was doing.
At the same time, Danny showed Matt the two candies in his palm that he had saved up for his brother.
“Matty picks the green one.” Matt took one.
“Danny picks the yellow one.” Danny happily took the other one.
The two munched together.
Ivy rolled up her eyes and thought, “Twins sure talk via brain waves.”
The light at the cinema dimmed and the movie was starting.
Matt softly grasped Ivy’s hand. She fell on his shoulder and enjoyed the movie.
“Yo.” Matt whispered and opened his mouth.
Ivy peeked and passed him the bag of candies.
“Nah.” He shook his head and kept his mouth open.
She chuckled and fed him one.