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From: Lachlan Rennard
To: Scarlett O’
Subject: I fancy a date
Hey there Scarlett,
Well, aren’t you the creative one! I stumbled across your copy of To Kill a Mockingbird a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t read it since secondary school and have been loving this trip down memory lane. It’s always been a favourite of mine. I mean, ‘It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived’. It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
Finding your note in the back, however, was the real icing on the cake. How did you come up with such a gallant idea? I’ll tell you what, Tinder has some stiff competition!
I would love to take you out to discuss all things Scout Finch and Boo Radley. Have you been to the Night Noodle Markets? I hear the ramen is top notch.
Cheers,
Lachy
From: Scarlett O’
To: Lachlan Rennard
Subject: Re: I fancy a date
Hi Lachy,
Thanks so much for your email. I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying your journey through 1930s Alabama. Isn’t Harper Lee a genius? I’ve had Go Set a Watchman on my to-read pile for far too long now!
How did I come up with this idea, you ask? Well, I happen to work at a bookstore with my best friend, Cat. Working there is like being cocooned inside one big book. After a day of rearranging bookshelves, I leave work smelling like the pages of a paperback. It was actually Cat’s idea to find some way to use books to find a boyfriend (or a new member for our sad little book club of two).
Did I mention Cat’s expecting? In fact, I just accompanied her to her first ever antenatal class. The same antenatal class that my ex and his NEW and PREGNANT girlfriend attended. Oh, and just randomly, there was this other guy that I was dating, just BY THE WAY. I’m totally over him, but just thought I should let you know that HE CHEATED ON ME! Well, to clarify, I was the other woman. He had a girlfriend the whole time! The nerve. Am I right?
Look, I’m sorry for ranting. I’m not usually one to Harper on (get it?). Despite every attempt by my mother to encourage me to ‘talk about my feelings’ and tell me that ‘a problem shared is a soul renewed’, I prefer to hide my thoughts in a tiny box and lock it in the Fort Knox I call my heart. Sorry, it’s just been one of those days. Oh, and I just downed an entire bottle of red.
But there’s nothing like a bowl of miso to cheer a girl up. Next Thursday work for you?
Frankie (my real name) xxx
To: Scarlett O’
Subject: Re: Re: I fancy a date
Looks like you have a lot on your plate at the moment. Perhaps we should leave things for now.
Lachlan
From: Scarlett O’
To: Lachlan Rennard
Subject: Re: Re: Re: I fancy a date
Lachlan,
I have no idea what got into me the other day. I’m mortified by my totally inappropriate and unjustified over-share. And I definitely don’t usually drink during the day (alone). I completely understand if you’re no longer interested in meeting up.
But for the record, I really am totally over my ex.
Let me know if you change your mind.
All the best,
A deeply ashamed fellow bookworm x