Blind Reader Wanted

by Georgia Le Carre

“Do you have any tea in your house?” “Tea?” he echoed incredulously, as if I had said, poison. I swallowed a smile. “Yes. Tea. You know, tea bags.” “I know what tea is.” He sounded indignant. “No, I don’t have any.” My smile broke through, anyway. Didn’t surprise me in the least. He struck me as the type of man who would broker nothing less than coffee, black as night, and hot enough to burn. “I love tea,” I said conversationally. “I don’t have any tea,” he repeated. “Not yet you don’t,” I said, enjoying this little experiment in socializing a cross bear of a man who obviously hadn’t dealt with another person in years. “But I hope you’ll change that because I’d love to be offered a cup of tea each time I come to read to you. Perhaps you can consider it as part payment of our agreed fee. $49.00 plus a cup of tea.” He was entirely silent. Even his breath was gone. I waited – anyone who wants to play a game of words must understand the value of silence. “You’re not going to be easy because you’re blind, are you?” he exhaled. I gave him my broadest smile. “Honey, you have no idea.” “I’ll get you the tea,” he said, a mocking edge to his voice. “Although, you might need something stronger to soothe your nerves when you read the book I’ve got for you.” My stomach tightened. He was flirting with me! Who flirts with a blind girl? I had never flirted with anyone in my life. I didn’t know how to. And yet with him, I felt bold and daring. I wanted to touch his face. “Why?” I asked wit...