GIVR – The First Timer in Blue
Watching a screen disguised as a broadsheet newspaper, I reclined against the green cushions of the late Victorian style sofa, resting my arm against the gold brushed arm. The screen displayed the Key Teahouse main entrance that opened onto West Boulevard, and through it a man in a blue velvet waistcoat walked, causing the little brass bell above it to tinkle lightly. He licked his lips slightly in perhaps a sign of nervousness or anticipation and I knew, almost instantly, that he was a first timer and a client. After a while you just get to know.
I flexed the broadsheet in my hands audibly, causing one client on a different sofa to look to me for a second away from his waitress, but he soon returned his interests back to her. A bubble of my own anticipation was starting to simmer, I loved first timers. Breaking them in was delicate, but ever so satisfying in its own way. The fact was that, with my repertoire of characters on the menu too, statistically he was going to be mine. To push the odds even more in my favour I decided to escort him personally to the sitting room. One last glance at the broadsheet showed him approaching the reception where Katy stood, his eyes already on the red menu. Flashing a smile to myself, I also stood and prowled over to the oak wood door, sliding through it into the front room.