the threads in her head

He noticed how she had been looking at the little crystal dog, how her hands had gently picked it up, her finger sliding smoothly, gently across it, before putting it down wistfully, almost a little unwillingly. He looked on, as she moved on to other displays, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as she moved just the slightest bit such that her eyes could linger on the little crystal dog for a while more.

Hands in pocket, he sauntered to the aisle where the crystal dog was located, and picked it up, feeling the comforting weight in his hands. Fingers snugly wrapped around the little dog, he moved on to the counter, flashing a satisfied grin as the nimble fingers of the shop assistant wrapped it up in a lovely batik-patterned paper.

Whistling, he walked out of the store door, and scanned the area for a familiar figure. Spotting the red turtleneck sweater just ahead of him, he did a quick short run. His tunes slowly faded into silence as he got nearer, and his steps got slower and more hesitant.

One step away. "Um, hi"

She turned to meet him, her eyes holding the softest question mark. Before she had even said anything he had stumbled on, "I um, noticed that you were looking at this crystal dog just now. And um.. um. Um, may I be your friend?" He looked away, feeling a warm, almost uncomfortable but not quite sensation on his cheeks.

A gentle laugh greeted his ears, and he looked up to see a merry glow in her eyes, and a grin on her lips. "So, let's start this with me getting to know, at the very least, your name, shall we?"

It's his turn to be surprised, a little taken aback, that a stranger was so accepting to such a queer proposal on the streets. He looks on in wonder, dumb for a while, as he ponders the odds and mysteries of the world in a few fleeting thoughts, for one magical moment.

She smiles again. "Or perhaps, you would like me to start with my name first?"

He smiles back. "Yes please. Ladies first"