She parked the car outside Curl Up and Dye and went in. Danny was working on the head of some chattering lady and he excused himself from the conversation.
"Hi! Charisse darling!" he said as he walked over waving . After a couple of mwah mwah air kisses and pleasantries she asked for the things Henri needed. As Danny went to get them she glanced around the salon for the calendar. Ah, there it was on the wall just behind the desk. It was positioned so that you could only see it if you were in the back four cutting seats or at the desk. Hugo the salon owner had done this so his older ladies weren't offended by it. That was his story anyway, but Charisse thought it was to stop them getting too excited and having heart attacks.
"I think I'll book myself in for a trim while I'm here," she said. "Could I have a look at the calendar?"
Danny passed it to her and she felt a little tingle as she turned the pages. She didn't want to make it too obvious so only went as far as May, the guy with the flag. She noticed his name. Rudi. You're not wrong there she thought!
She booked the appointment, said goodbye to Danny and headed for the door. She heard a familiar voice.
"Came back for another look?" It was the woman from the other day, where had she sprung from? "Erm, I er had to pick some things up" she said holding the bag of Herni's products aloft to back up her story. "I see," said the woman knowingly. After a short pause the woman said "Go for it," smiled, and walked to the back of the shop to the backwash area. How did she know, and who was she?
Getting in the car she chucked the bag of hair stuff onto the back seat and turned the rear view mirror towards her. How did she look? Like normal but with less make-up. She actually liked it and thought she looked younger so nothing wrong there. Would she bother with the hat? No, no point really. Who would be there that she'd know? No-one, all her girlfriends would be doing lunch or out shopping for yet more designer clothes that would just gather dust in their dressing room closets. She started the engine and headed for Edgeley Park.
Pulling into the car park she spotted the ticket office on the left. She parked the Aston out of the way behind a Range Rover and thought 'Why did I just do that?' Walking towards the Ticket Office windows she wondered what she would say. Where would she sit? Perhaps it would be best to ask for advice from the person who served her. The guy in front of her was talking the woman on the other side of the window through what seemed to be a simple enough job but he was making it into some long and convoluted transaction. The woman showing great restraint and patience eventually sorted him out and he walked away so Charisse approached the window.
"Yes love, what can I do for you?" The woman seemed friendly so Charisse explained that she wanted a ticket for the next Sale Sharks game. "Where would you like to sit?"
"Oh, I've never been before. What would you recommend?" The woman turned the computer screen towards the window and explained the areas available.
"Do you watch them?" Charisse asked.
"Yes, I sit in the Main Stand by the players tunnel. I like the smell of the linament!" She laughed with a slightly filthy laugh and looked back at Charisse "Sorry about that!"
"No problem. Is there a seat in that area?"
"Yes, just to the right of the tunnel as you look at the pitch. Is that okay?"
"I'll take it." Charisse passed her card over and then wondered if the woman would recognise her name on it. Nope, she didn't, mind you she didn't seem the sort to spend her time reading trashy gossip magazines. More earthy and direct than lightweight and shallow.
"Right then, There's your ticket and receipt and your card and we'll see you on Friday."
Charisse smiled, said "Thanks," took the ticket and walked back to the car - mission accomplished.
She started the engine and sat for a moment thinking. There, that hadn't been so painful had it? In two days she would be back here to watch a team she had barely heard of play a game she didn't understand. Still, you have to start somewhere. What would she say to Henri? Ah, her friend Jenny was good for a cover story as being an air stewardess she was only around at odd times so that would be her excuse. She could feel the vibration of the engine through the floor of the foot well and it felt soothing. She relaxed back into thesupple leather of the seat and closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
Suddenly there was a knock on the window followed by a man's voice. "Are you alright?"
She opened her eyes and Oh My God it was Mr May. For what seemed like forever she stared at him through the closed window, her mouth slightly open, her eyes like saucers. She must have looked totally gormless and although the words were forming in her head her mouth had lost the plot. He spoke again.
"Are you okay?"
"May." She heard herself say May. May? May?!? Can I make a bigger fool of myself?
She lowered the window and tried to get her brain back into gear. Luckily he hadn't realised what she'd said so she started again.
"Hi, er yes, I'm fine thanks. I was just thinking of erm, Friday's game." She held up the ticket a little too quick.
"Oh, nice one," he smiled and for a couple of seconds his blonde fringe was blown away from his face by the breeze, revealing his baby blue eyes. "I'll keep a look out for you" he said as he opened the door of the car beside hers, threw his kit bag onto the back seat and got in. The engine started, he smiled and waved and was gone.

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