Upperkirkgate Chapter One: That Wilfully Seeks Her Own Salvation, Part 4

     “I would hope so,” she said severely, finishing her coffee and looking out at the rain. He did not like to speak further, slowly getting up and zipping up his fleece again. She raised her furled umbrella, almost like a conductor’s baton. She pointed with it at the door, which he opened.

     The rain was a shock, pelting after the warmth of the bookshop. They walked up Upperkirkgate, towards the corresponding bus stop, back to King’s. “That is some building,” said Alison appreciatively of Marischal College, facing them, in the Gothic style, more austere than King’s. The bus came shortly and they climbed in, the windows still misted up. Alison sat by the window again. Jack looked at her, and with fingers that shook reached past her and drew, “J 4 A”. “How about lunch?”

     “Is that a proposal?” she said lightly.

     “Well… we haven’t seen much of our other friends recently.” He nearly mentioned Claire, but wanted to make the day bearable. The bus returned to the High Street, its wheels rattling on the cobbles. The couple dismounted, Alison’s hand firmly in Jack’s, his neck cricked again beneath the tyranny of her umbrella. They returned to the QML before going to lunch. Jack cleared his throat. “There’s the… certain matter of my card.”

     “Jack of clubs now?” They arrived at the entrance area, she closing up her umbrella. She fished in her pocket, and produced her own card. “Now…” It occurred to him to take it, but that was hardly good behaviour. He stared at her coat pocket. He would try tickling her.

     Quite suddenly she swiped her card through the turnstile, and went to the other side of the barrier. She had dropped her umbrella, which he picked up. A student behind him clicked his tongue as Jack kept him waiting. A librarian on the other side approached.

     Alison stood on her side of the barrier, waiting. Jack’s card held to her mouth, a vivid smile playing on her lips. “Come here,” she said.

     The librarian frowned. “What’s this about?”

     “Oh, my boyfriend’s just got some… access problems,” she said, bursting into laughter. “He’s got some decisions to make.”

     “Don’t worry,” said Jack to the librarian from his side, “my girlfriend’s just solved them.”