A Typical Case

After working with this young woman, who is a secretary at a very high end brunch place and ballet classes, in the city, who is constantly going after the problems she's been facing with her boyfriend. At the beginning, a year ago, she's all up in his face about his insanely snobby attitude, his complete lack of work ethic, and claiming that he needs to make some changes in his life, if he wants to have a relationship with her. She has tolerated him the year, with silent sorrow, at first, and eventually, she had to start standing up for herself and leave him.

Now , with a year old, empty desk in front of her and coffee husks staining her fingers this morning, she quickly pushes through the doors and looks around the room. There is only one other customer at the time, a man in his mid-forties, who has just taken a sip of his much needed coffee. He is also looking for a new wife.

The young woman's eyes start to wander around the room. The place is filled with pictures affiliated with the wedding industry. A professional looking large man sits at the table next to a young woman in tears. There is a bridal magazine in the center table, as well as open wedding magazines of the latest marriages. Finally, the young woman sees her missing boyfriend, at a magazine rack.

She quickly walks up to him, grabs the magazine and blurts out, "you're not my boyfriend".

"Who said anything about you being my girlfriend?" The man yells back.

"I know you're married to this," the young man is pointing at the picture the young secretary just saw of a young man wearing a tuxedo, holding up a beautiful bride in front of a huge white wedding chapel.

"I'm not married," the man says, defiantly.

At this point the manager of the store walks over. A woman with a facial expression of unhappiness, a square jaw and two, clenched fists, holding the wall, on her hips. "Please, this is a family store," in an attempt to calm the two apart. She turns to the girl who is trying to protect the magazine with the front towards her and a shocked look on her face.

"You need to leave, obviously he doesn't want your help," the manager says to the girl. "I'm sure you have some place to be and you're going to be late for a meeting," the manager says, as if reading the young woman's thoughts.

Still holding the magazine, the girl walks right out of the store, through the doors and into the sunlight.

She looks at the magazine in her strong and thin hands. "What is the cover today?" she asks herself, with the magazine in front of her. "Oh, look, the male supermodel. I wonder when this picture was taken, before or after he got his real modeling gigs," she says with a soft squinting of her eyes. ''I wonder if he-"

Her thought is interrupted with a tap on the shoulder. She jumps a little and quickly turns.

"I am sorry to interrupt. But, I heard what you were saying and, could I please have my magazine back?" the man asks with polite tone.

"You're married?" the young woman asks and then blushes, realizing what she has just said.

"Just give me the magazine back. He is not interested and you can go now," the young man yells back, with a surprising amount of force.

"But, I'm-" the girl starts to say before she is again interrupted.

"Exactly what are you doing in a place like this? Don't you have a big office nearby? One of the biggest buildings in the city?" the young man asks with a sarcastic tone, now turning his attention to the girl.

"Yes, I do," and then looks at him with a shocked look on her face. "If I may ask, who are you?" she asks, not knowing how to continue the conversation. After a moment, she says, "you look familiar."

The young man looks at her for a moment, a shocked look on his face and says, "I think I know who you are."

"Well?" the young woman asks now, not wanting to take her eyes off of the man, who is a complete stranger to her.

"Well, I'm one of the biggest models in the city," the man now points out. "But, I'm not a supermodel. I'm a top model," the man says with a smile. "My name is Graham James," and then turns back to the girl and asks, "and you are?"

The girl's face goes from shock to a soft smile, "my name is also Graham."

"You're a model too?" Graham asks, now himself caught off guard that this beautiful young woman is in his face.

"I wish," the girl says with a small laugh and goes on, "I'm only a secretary in this office," and then looks down at her hands and back up at the man again.

"Why are you working here?" Graham now asks.

"I can't get hired in other places," and then her face turns to a softened smile as she says,

"I don't have a husband to help me get a job."

"Where do you live?" Graham now asks.

"I live in Queens, with my aunt and uncle," then turns her attention to the window and says, "I don't get to see my boyfriend that much," and then holds up the magazine, "I wonder if we can talk about this case?

"How about we step outside, grab a quick coffee, and get a better look at that magazine," and then looks around to see if there are any witnesses.

"What's a better look at the magazine mean?" Graham asks.

"The answer to a few of my questions," the young woman now says.

"Alright, let's do it," Graham says and looks around once more. "I'm sure even if you were hired in this store, and some family event happen and you had to work here, that there has to be some pictures of you at the nuptials," and then turns to the magazine and says, "right, where's the picture of you?''

"Right, I see what you are getting at. I have been made for this," the young woman says with a smile and then walks to the magazine rack.

As she walks, her long, ankle-length gown catches the eye of both Graham, who is now at the window, and the owner of the store, in the back room. She says,

"I love this one," and then turns to Graham and asks, "you want a copy of this one to print out?"

Graham quickly looks at the woman once more and then walks over to the magazine rack holding his own copy of the magazine in front of the woman.

"It's a beautiful dress," Graham now says. "One where I would be happy to make copies. But, these pictures in your magazine, I want to make copies of myself."

The woman now looks at Graham for a moment and then looks at the picture in front of her.

"It's a beautiful dress," Graham says a few more times, "but I guess your husband doesn't have a sense of style."

"No husband," the young woman says, with a smile and walks out of the aisle to wait for Graham.

"I'm sorry that this meeting will turn out to be short," Graham says, as he waits for the young woman, who is talking on her cell phone with an old, narrow, silver phone.