Cultured

Daily Flash Fiction Prompt: Write a story in which all of the following items appear: a bag of almonds, a green pen, and a pair of chopsticks


Faye Cheng sat at an outdoor café table. Sun streamed down from the heavens and made the young asian woman’s hair shine. A Hello Kitty notebook lay open in front of her, on the small, glass-topped table.

Any passerby might mistake the attractive 20-yr. old for a model. She wore designer jeans that accentuated her petite figure, and a crimson silk top with gold accents. Her brown leather shoes had pointed toes and long slender heels. A thin gold chain around her neck held a ring of expensive jade. Faye had experimented with her hair that morning, and the result was half flowed down her back and half was caught up in an intricate bun, held together by a pair of gilt chopsticks.

Deep in thought, Faye’s pretty eyes stared into space. Elbow resting on table, her right hand dangled a green pen near her lips. Her left arm extended across the table and fingers tapped on a fresh glass of bubble tea.

I watched from across the street and munched nervously on a bag of almonds. Falling in love with Faye had been surprising and swift. When she had first walked into English 304, I couldn’t help falling for her exotic beauty, and later, her unique point of view. I tried learning as much as I could about her culture, hoping it would bring us closer.

It was now near the end of the semester and I still had not asked her out. Now was the perfect opportunity to talk to Faye alone. My heart started to beat faster as I found myself walking over to her table.

“Ni hou,” I said courteously, staring deep into her eyes.

“Pretty good! Hi!” she laughed. “Want to sit with me, John?”

That would do for a beginning.

297 words

FP