Elaine & Me

- Chapter One – Our First Meeting -

I had two weeks to go before the final degree exams and I was working hard. Perhaps too hard, because I desperately needed a break from the hours and hours of revision. It felt like I just couldn't take in any more detail about Quantum Mechanics or Solid State Theory. My brain had reached saturation point. It got so bad I had even dreamt about strange mathematical symbols and equations that just didn't seem to make any sense.

For the last few weeks, I had been slaving away going over my old lecture notes in a bid to secure that much coveted Honours degree in Physics. That does it I thought, time for a break whether I could afford it or not. It was bad enough dealing with this stuff during my waking hours but to dream about it as well. That was just too much.

My revision had gone quite well but as usual there was always something else to study and right now I just felt tired and desperately in need of a break. It was a Friday evening so I phoned my brother Frank and I suggested a night out on the town together.

He was agreeable and we agreed to meet halfway in the centre of Edinburgh before we went on our usual slow pub-crawl along Rose Street looking at the local talent.

We met up at 6:30pm and started on our first pint of 80/- ale (see Authors notes at the end) and we turned to face the potential prospects in the bar. In the corner there were two women chatting closely. One was dark-haired and pretty while her partner was a stunning blonde and obviously much taller.

The two were huddled together having a deep conversation and had almost finished their drinks when my brother and I approached.

"Can we buy you two ladies a drink?" my brother asked never being one to hold back.

"We were just about to leave," smiled the brunette, "but I suppose another Chardonnay would be nice."

Her partner politely asked me for a gin and tonic and held up her now empty glass with elegant fingers. We returned to the bar and queued to buy the drinks.