It's written in big, black letters on a piece of card stock. It's the second one I've received this week. The first one had three little words on it: I WANT YOU
I called a friend of mine and told her what was going on. I asked her if any of our friends were pulling a practical joke, cause I wasn't finding it funny.
I was a single, young, professional that lived alone and things like this gave me the creeps. The second note kind of confirmed my thoughts about a friend pulling a joke on me. Lord knows I deserved it, but I usually kept my pranks on the up and up, and tried not to scare the hell out of anyone too badly.
"Are you sure no one's said anything about this Lou? Cause this is getting weird. I think I'm going to go borrow Jessica’s rottie dog to keep me company this weekend."
"Angel? Maybe it's some secret admirer! Oh, how exciting! You know, you've been alone too long. You're seeing conspiracy theories on the news... " I could hear the teasing in her voice.
"And your husband needs to pay more attention to you so you can stop reading those trashy romance novels!" I rebutted.
We chatted a bit more before promising to meet up for breakfast with the girls. She'd call half and I'd call the rest to set it up for Saturday morning.
I made a few more calls to clients that afternoon and finished with my work for the day before hitting my favourite sushi place. I had a great book at home I wanted to read and I felt like sushi tonight.
I walked in and placed my order to go. Ordering a cold cider while I waited, I pulled the two pieces of card stock from my purse.
I WANT YOU and TRUST ME... What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Mulling the two statements over in my mind, I sipped my cider. I felt a shiver of apprehension. Who was it? Was this one of my ‘childish' guy friends playing a prank? Or was it serious?
"Miss? Your order is ready." The bartender placed my bento box on the bar beside me.
Reaching for my purse, I asked the bartender, "How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing Miss. Its already been taken care of." He waved my money away.
"Pardon me? Who paid for this?" I questioned him.
"I'm sorry Miss. It was paid for before you came in." Was his only explanation. Shrugging, he walked to another customer, dismissing any more of my questions.
Leaving the restaurant, I paused and looked around outside before stepping onto the sidewalk. Nothing out of the ordinary to my eyes. No one watching me, and I didn't seem to have anyone following me as I made my way home.
I made it home in one piece and settled in for the evening with a glass of wine, my sushi and my book and prepared to get lost in the words and forget about my day. I went back to the kitchen after I was done with dinner and to refill my glass when I noticed an envelope on the floor at the door.
White, heavy cardstock. Ragged edges, just like the notes I received at work. My heart was beating treble time as I picked it up off the floor. Opening it, there was the same writing in big, black heavy letters.
JUST FOR YOU
Now what the hell was that supposed to mean? Just for me? I flipped the card over but there was nothing on the back. I looked through the peephole but could see no one outside. Double checking the deadbolt and locks on my door, I turned to walk back to my bedroom.
A polite tapping at my door made me jump nearly out of my skin. I hurried back to look through the peephole again but this time a white box leaned against the wall across from my door. Fumbling with the locks, I flung the door open to look down the hallway trying to catch a glimpse of anyone that had dropped off the note or package, but to no avail.
FOR ANGEL was printed in the same black lettering on a note attached to the box with a red silk ribbon.
Gingerly, I retrieved the box and made my way back inside. Double checking all the locks on the door once more, I checked all my windows and dropped the shades before looking at the box lying on my kitchen counter.
I stared at it for a full ten minutes before abandoning the thought of opening it and went to bed.
Morning came and I arose cranky and tired. My dreams were vivid and in full color. A jumble of senses, colors and feelings. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what happened but one look at my sheets and it seemed I had tossed and turned all night. No wonder I didn't feel rested.
I splashed water on my face to wake myself up, vigorously brushing my long hair back into a ponytail, twisting the strands around and securing it into severe bun. My friends liked to make fun of my librarian hairdo. I kept telling them I didn't run to impress anyone, and I hated my hair swinging around in my face. Besides, it was Saturday morning. My favourite day to run. I always stopped at a little café for breakfast on Saturdays over on the other side of town. It was my guilty pleasure. I could stop, have breakfast, drink my blessed coffee and then continue on my way.
"OH hell!" the thought just hit me. I was supposed to be meeting the girls for breakfast this morning. I could always go to my little breakfast spot tomorrow then. So much for my usual Saturday routine.
Now I had the dilemma of going for my run and meeting them or just skipping it altogether and being lazy and driving. Ah, what the hell. I'll just make it a shorter trip than usual. I loosened up my bun and went with a ponytail instead. I'd save myself the trouble of the girls bugging me about my severe hairstyle.
Tossing my sunglasses on top of my head, I grabbed my keys and froze. The package was still on the kitchen counter. Untouched and unopened. It didn't seem so menacing in the morning light.
"I wonder what's inside?" I said to no one in particular. My curiosity was piqued. Just a quick look couldn't hurt.
I untied the ribbon surrounding the box and gently pulled the lid off. The first clicking noise or anything and I would be out the door as fast as I could possibly could run. It wasn't a very large box to begin with.
I'm going to hell and PETA's gonna take me there. I thought to myself. I held up the package and saw the fur bra and panty set I had received.
It was gorgeous and so soft. I giggled outright at the thought of a movie I recently saw. The character is stoned out of his mind off a "Jeffrey"(ahelluvajoint, lets say) and could only calm himself down by stroking and petting a fur covered wall. Pet the furry wall. Ha! Now I understand. It is relaxing!
I rubbed my face against the fur and felt the softness. I had to try it on. Just for a second. Then I'd put it back in the box. No. I had to go meet the girls. I didn't have time for this right now. It'll be here when I get home.
I grabbed my keys and headed out the door to meet everyone for breakfast.
Returning later in the afternoon, I had been sidetracked to go hunting antiques at a flea market with the girls. I was now the proud owner of a Duncan Fife sideboard. An impulse buy, but I reasoned that it was a wise investment. I couldn't turn it down at that price and it matched my dining room set. The gentleman selling it was going to deliver it that afternoon so I better make some room for it.
I smiled again when I saw the box with the furry bra and panty set sitting on the counter. It couldn't hurt to try it on now. I slipped into the bedroom and relieved myself of my clothes, and slid the soft panties on.
"Pet the furry wall." I said, giggling to myself. Slipping the bra on I wandered over to the mirror to take a look.
"Yup. Animal Rights activists all over the world would be painting me in a second!” Who knew it would look and feel so good? I twisted and turned admiring the set. Whoever sent them to me had great taste. It wasn't that trashy faux fur stuff. It fit well and looked great and totally played on my sense of touch. I was still pondering over the thought of some poor bunny or squirrel losing its hide when the doorbell rang.
"Oh blast it! The delivery guy is here already?" Grabbing a shirt and a sarong, I quickly buttoned and tied them covering up my anonymous gift.
"Hang on! I'll be right there!" I called, tripping over my feet in my haste to get to the door. I flung the door open and told the gentlemen over my shoulder to follow me as I rushed back to the dining room to clear a path for my newest addition. Pushing and shoving smaller pieces of furniture out of the way, I made room in no time and was proudly polishing it with a cloth when my neighbour down the hall, Thomas, walked in.
"Wow! That’s a beautiful piece. Did you just get it, Angel?"
"Yeah, the guys just delivered it. I went to the flea market with a couple of friends and I couldn't pass it up. It completes my set." I explained, while rubbing a lustre into the beautiful mahogany.
"Well damn! You went shopping without me. And I have a new movie if you wanted to watch it. It has that same guy in this one. You know... the Jeffrey!" he laughed, holding the DVD case up for me to see.
"Oh!" I giggled, "I was just thinking about that movie today. Where did you want to go? Your place or mine?" I gave him a big wink and swished my hips. He scowled and laughed, slapping at my ass with the DVD and called me a flirtatious tramp.
Thomas and I had become fast friends after I moved in three years ago. We usually spent every other weekend together puttering around town. We both loved good wine, corny movies and hot spicy food and my love of antiques and his penchant for old books would make us a perfect couple, except for the fifteen year age gap and that we treated each other like siblings and not prospective lovers.
A quick run through of my fridge and pantry turned up the makings of dinner.