The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven

“I see the loaf is from a bakery.” He offered me a false smile, hoping it would be enough to start a conversation.

“There is one next to my workplace. I go there from time to time. Oh! Will you excuse me for a moment? Feel free to pour the tea when you are ready.” I ran out of the kitchen, hoping to find my phone so I could call my employers. The rainstorm would mean I would not have to go into work later in the day, but I wanted to have confirmation with them.

I was gone for more than five minutes, mainly because I had to call my other three employers. The last one was quite adamant for me to come in, stressing the fact that the storm could not last forever. I assured him that I would give him a ring in another two hours, considering the weather could drastically change by then. By the time I walked into the living room, Teddy had finished his lemon loaf and his tea cup was empty. “I was gone so long.”

“What were you doing? I heard your voice.”

“I was talking to my employers.” I sat down on my chair, and hoped that the teapot was good enough to still retain some heat. “But the last one wanted to have an argument with me.”

“I understand.”

My hand rested over the side of the teapot, seeing it was still hot enough for me to enjoy. I fancied it would be strong in taste, and not feeling like a bitter cup of tea, I raised myself from my chair and decided to have a cup of instant coffee instead. “I hope you weren’t bored.”

“I was tempted to look around,” he confessed. “But I thought it would make a bad impression.”

My back was to him as I poured out the hot water, watching it swirl around the sink. The wind was still fierce outside, but it was nice and warm in my apartment space. I filled the kettle with some fresh water and clicked it on before I returned to my seat.

“You have a lot of family portraits here.”

“Yes.” I looked over my shoulder, seeing the closest one was against a wall beside me. “We are very close.”

“Do you live in close proximity to your parents?”

“In a different town,” I admitted. “And my brother is working abroad. He is living in Boston right now.”

“So far away.”

“Have you ever been to America?”

“No. Have you?”

“I haven’t,” I told him in truth. “But I think it suits my brother more.”

“Have you no interest in visiting him?” Teddy asked with all politeness.

I took my first bite into the lemon loaf, realizing how cold it felt once it was placed inside of my mouth. I would have to do better next time, but then again inviting Teddy up here was a rather spontaneous decision.

“Sela?” Teddy urged, since I did not answer his question at first.

“No, he comes here,” I answered him with a stuffed mouth. I used my hand to cover the front of my mouth with embarrassment.

The kettle suddenly popped, so Teddy took the liberty of starting up my coffee. He must have watched me earlier, for he knew where the spoons were and scooped the appropriate amount of instant coffee into my mug. “You drink this stuff,” he commented, while trying to disguise his disdain.

“I don’t enjoy it, but it works.”

“I guess we all can’t have elaborate coffee machines.” He looked over his shoulder to make eye contact with mine. “I like to collect antique things.”

“I noticed.”

“I like old stuff,” he continued. His hand was raised upwards to pour hot water into my mug. “I don’t know why I do. It is a rather expensive hobby.”

“You could open an antique store,” I teased him. “Or you could even sell your car.”

“Yes, it is a bit out of date,” he laughed. “Would you believe me if I told you that I don’t even own a cellphone?”

“You don’t?!”

“No.”

“How do you live?”

His smirk was broad and mischievous as he answered me: “I have no idea.”

Teddy made his way over to me and placed my mug down on the table. It was only then that I realized he was serving me in my own household. “Ummm.” I let my fingers tap against the side of the mug. “Thank you.”

“You mind if I take a bit more lemon loaf? It is quite good.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“And turning off the fan overhead,” he added. “I don’t want to catch a chill.”

“Do you want a blanket?” I watched him head over to a switch I pointed out to shut off the light and ceiling fan at the same time. The living room descended into darkness, but fortunately the windows were wide open to let the natural grey lighting seep through. In normal cases I would have been scared, but oddly enough I was not. “Teddy?”

“No, I will be fine.”

“Let me know if you need anything else. I am not a good hostess.”

you think?” he asked from the darkened part of

“I feel incompetent.”

of his footfalls as he made his way over. He passed me, moving behind my chair to pull up the last of the blinds. He went over to the second set of windows to perform the same task, letting me see the bleak grey skies with clear

chair and went around the living room to retrieve one. “Where should

nicely,” he said with utter civility.

neatly, and then walked around the countertop to bring myself

pull it outwards and retrieve it. I could feel that heated stare again. “I can light it

I drank it down anyways. Teddy slowly made his way over to me, and brushed past his chair to light the candle. He was such a tall man, so much so, that he had to lean over and bend his long back to place the blazing match against the long wick of the candle. It took only a moment for the room to brighten, the small candle casting enough of a glow for me to see Teddy’s face more clearly. “Light,” he murmured from the back of his throat. The match was blown out, and only then did he

awful spell that threatened to consume me. A large hand was placed over the back of his chair and

cast a warm orange glow about the table, illuminating our faces with an alluring light that I was not prepared for. I watched Teddy slice the loaf into smaller pieces, desiring it to be in small equal parts before he could place it into his mouth. His peculiarities were subtle at times, but the more time I spent with him, the more I

as he uttered: “I suppose you

I noticed the sudden stiffness to his

way you can go out gardening in

tell my manager

back, taking on a haughty air about him. “Maybe

my head at him quite adamantly with an instant regret of ever making that suggestion to him. “Please

can’t have my gardener catching

his chin upwards, absolutely pleased by my silent

my eyes. I forced myself to look downwards, knowing it was at my peril

I was the first to abandon my seat, and looked around the room for a welcome distraction. Teddy followed my movements, bringing himself across the table to be at my side. I avoided his gaze,

in a soft, murmur. “I will let

“I have nothing that will

like many things,” he whispered, almost impatient for me

music,” I suggested. “And books. We

the television,” he quickly

“It bothers you?”

the energy that radiated from it made me glance upwards immediately.

it wasn’t until he was standing in front of me that I realized he was deliberating where

to stare at the rugged circular

am not

“Yes.”

I could play an instrument like you, but I have tried and failed multiple times. I

said quite gruffly. “Yours is working the

“So is yours.”

grass, but when I saw you working in the corner of my eyes, it encouraged me to carry on. I like the fact that Luna takes an interest in you as well. She must

a fish a few

what changed your

interact with it. They are pretty to look at,

grave understanding. “I

have any pets as

eyes. “No,” he said from the back of his throat, all

so cats and dogs were out of the question. We had some finches when we were growing up, but they died by the time I entered my teenage

He inquired, trying to fend off the

am now.” I shrugged my shoulders at him. “Quiet and I like to keep to

“A hermit,” he taunted.

as much as

thrown a wrench at me, and I have suffered for it.” He stared in front of him, taking in the bleakness

it over the top of

but some things do,” he warned, with a mysterious look to him. His eyes ventured downwards, focusing on my hand that was still

to us, wanting to have some light in that part of the room. By the time I settled down, Teddy had opened up a photo album that I had left on my coffee table. His finger rubbed over the corner of the photo album, while he took in photos of me as a toddler. “You are adventurous,” he

is my brother, Benjamin.” I let my finger smooth over the front of his chest fondly. “He’s an athlete. You should see him!

is playing football

good at every sport. He is fond of

“They have American football.”

too.” Teddy flipped the page to see me atop of a horse. “You

begged them to sign me up for horse

“It’s never too late.”

He returned his gaze back to the portrait, staring at the image of my father with me at his side. “My father liked to be in nature

a swim too, I

is wearing his swim trunks,” I giggled. “You are very

delight as he added: “It means

“Yes, I can swim.”

would like to test it out,” he quipped. “How about

my couch, hardly believing

you wanted to see

“You really are incurable.”

nervously.

not

back-tracking now, realizing he made a dreadful error. “Nothing more

I think about