Astonishment

And this was about 25 years ago-. Once said this sentence, something clicked on Daisy's head. While she continued to describe to his journalist friend how was like having Sundays' breakfast back in her village in her childhood, her mind started another conversation with herself. 25 years ago? How is it possible to remember things happened a quarter of century before? For the first time after her birthday, she realised she was getting old. There is a moment in every woman life when the so called biological clock starts to sounds louder and louder. Turning thirty and being alone put in place a peculiar mechanism, something that can be called survival instinct. She starts to give up the wait for the infamous Mr. Right, or Prince Charming, and she starts to look for a father. A father of her yet unborn children.

While this conversation was carrying on in her head, they kept on strolling along the river. Dublin was shining brightly after the morning shower, and the trees' leaves dropped once in a while a bit of water, just to remember that sunny days are not the usual condition for a dubliner afternoon.

Even if she thought she was speaking normally, John realised that something glitched in her mind. As a investigative reporter, as he pleased to think of himself, he believed to be able to notice any change in his interlocutor expressions that can lead to a discovery.

Anyway, this time he preferred not to ask was going on in her friend's mind, and settle instead to propose to stop for a coffee beside the Liffey. They choose a little kiosk with a nice view of the Ha' Penny bridge. People were nicely converging on river side, families strolling together, children running, taking advantage of the shining day.

-What would you take?

-A latte, as usual, John, thank you.

John left for ordering the beverage, and Daisy amused herself in observing the humanity gathered there. A lovely blond child caught her attention. He was climbing the fence of the river, crying to get his mother's attention. The woman was sitting on the bench, chatting with her friend about an interesting broken marriage of another friend of them. She did not pay too much attention to the evolution of the young climber.

Daisy was more interested than her, lead by her new discovery of a maternity desire. The little boy gained the top of the fence, and in an adventurous mood tried to catch a butterfly flying a few inches of his face. The distance was bigger than he tough, and suddenly he fell in the river with a capriole. Finally he get the mother's attention, she screamed fearfully. John, coming back with the coffees, throw them away without hesitation and jump in the river to rescue the boy. He took him between the waves after a short struggle, and applause were coming from the viewers above. He never seemed more attractive in Daisy's eyes.

-What happened to you? It's the second time I'm calling you. Daisy woke up from her daydream and looked in John's eyes. Everything was calm, beside the river.

-Sorry, I was lost in a reverie. What were you saying?
-I just receive a call, I have to go
-What happened?
-A boy fell down in the river few bridges from here. They are trying to rescue him. If I make it on time to eyewitness the rescue, maybe this time my editor will give me the headline story at the newspaper.
He said in a hurry, and left. Daisy stare at his back as he was running away, astonished.