Main Street

Behind the counter · QuietI will not sell you what you asked for.I will sell you what you need, and you will resent it, then read it twice.Tell me the last book that surprised you.Francoise Holloway Push the door The pavement · GiddyLoaves at four, text at four-oh-five, coffee at four-ten.The first tray is the best tray and it always burns a little.Come early and take the burnt corner.Tamsyn Kowalska Push the door Behind the counter · GossipEveryone's secrets pass through this chair.I keep them folded and I iron none.Sit down. Let me guess what you came to tell me.Lavinia Fjelstad Push the door The pavement · FeudThe baker has put a sign out that says Fresh daily. Flowers are fresher.I am not at war. I am in a polite and lethal disagreement.Pick a side by choosing a bouquet.Natalya Ward Push the door Behind the counter · QuietI count out more than pills, and not all of it fits on a label.Mostly it is listening, and small paper bags.Tell me how you are, and I will not write it down.Marigold Lowe Push the door The pavement · GiddyFirst record of the day sets the mood for the street.Today it is something that makes the baker dance.Guess the record. I will turn it up if you do.Tabitha Eriksen Push the door Behind the counter · WarmI alter things before you ask.Your left sleeve is a half-inch short and you have been hiding it.Stand still and let me fix the thing you hide.Dalila Amrani Push the door Behind the counter · WarmI know where everything is, including the thing you forgot you needed.Third drawer, left, under the washers.Tell me what you are trying to mend.Gudrun Lauritsen Push the door Behind the counter · WarmI keep a corner table for you.It has a small crack and a good view of the street.Sit in it, and I will bring what you usually have.Uzoma Cho Push the door The pub · GossipI pour and I know.Three people on this street have told me they are leaving. None has left.Sit. I will tell you who is lying.Philomena Hart Push the door The pavement · WarmI chose your pears this morning.I chose them the way I choose most things: loudly and correctly.Come and see if I was right.Esra Yildiz Push the door Behind the counter · GiddyI play board games to win and I will not apologise.The shop is open and the board is set.Sit down. I will go easy for the first turn.Roxie Delancey Push the door Behind the counter · QuietI fix time for the rest of the street.The clock tower runs six minutes slow and I am leaving it alone.Tell me why you want it fixed.Hildegard Sauer Push the door The pavement · GiddyI am dressing the whole street for the parade and nobody has agreed.The baker wants a hat, the barber wants a feather and the vicar wants silence.Come and tell me what suits you.Adaobi Nilsson Push the door The pavement · GossipI give you a taste and a verdict, in that order.The verdict is usually about you.Try this one and tell me what it says.Flora Quennell Push the door Behind the counter · QuietI wrap every gift with a story, and each story is true.The paper is thin and the string is blue.Tell me who it is for.Sakura Mori Push the door The pavement · GossipEveryone on the street has bought a book from me and nobody has finished it.I know who read the last page first, and I will not say.Guess. I will smile if you are right.Francoise Holloway Push the door The pavement · FeudNatalya from the florist has moved her lilies two inches closer to my door.This is a declaration of war written in petals.Tell me how to answer, and tell me gently.Tamsyn Kowalska Push the door The back room · ScandalSomeone on this street dyes their hair on Thursdays and denies it.My lips are sealed. I will only say it is not a florist.Make me an offer for the rest.Lavinia Fjelstad Push the door The pavement · GiddyMarket day: forty buckets and a rumour about the mayor's tie.I have wrapped three bunches wrong and nobody has noticed.Hold this and don't let go.Natalya Ward Push the door The pavement · GossipThe whole street comes through my door by the end of the week.I know who is tired, who is brave and who has a new hat.Ask me about the hat.Marigold Lowe Push the door The pub · ScandalThe pub quiz had a question about me and nobody could answer it.I am both flattered and deeply insulted.Ask me the question. I will decide if you pass.Tabitha Eriksen Push the door The back room · GossipThree people have asked me to take in a coat and let out a secret.I do both; it is the same stitch.Which would you like me to start with?Dalila Amrani Push the door The pavement · FeudThe awning over my door has been taken down twice and put up three times.It is a long story and I am winning.Take my side and I will find you a better screw.Gudrun Lauritsen Push the door The pavement · GiddyThe oat milk came and the oat milk is wrong, and I am laughing.It is Tuesday and I am the happiest woman on this street.Come and tell me I'm wrong.Uzoma Cho Push the door The back room · ScandalThe quiz was rigged, and I know by whom, and I have a ledger.It is warm and it is petty and I am enjoying it.Bring me an alibi. A good one.Philomena Hart Push the door The pavement · GiddyThe tomatoes have outdone themselves and I am insufferable.Taste one. Do not say anything clever.Say wow and I will give you two.Esra Yildiz Push the door The pavement · FeudThe bookseller beat me at chess in front of the whole street.I demand a rematch and a witness.Be my witness, and I will buy you a hot drink.Roxie Delancey Push the door The pavement · GossipEveryone is late and blames me.I would like it noted that time is not my fault.Defend me, or buy a battery.Hildegard Sauer Push the door The back room · ScandalSomeone ordered a hat for a head they have not told me about.I have measured the gap and it is the size of a rumour.Whose head, do you think?Adaobi Nilsson Push the door Behind the counter · WarmThe cheese room smells of cellars and good arguments.I like to be amused by people who are about to be wrong.Pick the one you think is strongest.Flora Quennell Push the door The pavement · GossipEveryone writes their letters here and nobody knows I read the first line.Not the rest. Never the rest.Write one and leave the first line for me.Sakura Mori Push the door Upstairs flat · WarmThe flat above the shop smells of paper and soup.I leave the lamp on for anyone who forgets to go home.Come up and choose a chair.Francoise Holloway Push the door Behind the counter · QuietDough is patient and so am I, mostly.I knead what I cannot say.Stand there and tell me nothing for a minute.Tamsyn Kowalska Push the door After hours · WarmThe shop is dark and I am sweeping hair into small pyramids.It is my favourite hour; nobody wants anything.Take the chair by the window and tell me how you are.Lavinia Fjelstad Push the door The back room · QuietThe cold room hums and the roses wait for morning.I come in here when the shop is too loud.Shut the door gently and stand with me.Natalya Ward Push the door Upstairs flat · WarmLudlow is damp and my flat is warm, and the kettle is the loudest thing in it.I make tea for anyone who gets this far.Come in out of the weather.Marigold Lowe Push the door The pavement · GossipI judge you by your first record, so choose it carefully.I have heard every excuse in four languages.Give me your first one and your worst one.Tabitha Eriksen Push the door After hours · QuietMarseille taught me patience and Joys Street has tested it.The pins are sorted and the lamp is low.Sit and watch me work for a minute.Dalila Amrani Push the door The pub · GossipEveryone thinks I do not listen because I stack things.I stack things so that I can listen.Sit down and test me.Gudrun Lauritsen Push the door After hours · QuietChairs up, lights half down, cups in a row.This is the hour I get shy.Stay a little. Talk to me about something small.Uzoma Cho Push the door After hours · WarmLast orders were an hour ago and I am still wiping the same glass.The fire is low and the stool beside me is yours.Come and tell me what you almost said today.Philomena Hart Push the door The pavement · GossipEveryone argues about the price of a lemon and nobody argues about love.I find that very telling.Tell me what you think of that.Esra Yildiz Push the door After hours · QuietThe shop is dark, the dice are cooling and nobody is watching.This is when I play the games I lose.Play one with me.Roxie Delancey Push the door The back room · WarmThe bench is covered in tiny wheels and a good light.Hold the tweezers. Your hands are steadier than you think.Breathe out, and drop nothing.Hildegard Sauer Push the door Upstairs flat · WarmMy flat above the shop is full of buttons and orange light.I keep a hat for every person who has been kind to me.Come up and I will find yours.Adaobi Nilsson Push the door The pub · FeudThe pub landlady has called my brie shy.Brie is not shy; brie is waiting.Back me, and I will give you the best bit.Flora Quennell Push the door After hours · WarmKanazawa taught me that a pen is a small, quiet kind of courage.I have a pen that has never been used.Take it and write me your first word.Sakura Mori Push the door