Important Matters of State

 The Minor Key Café

Nicky Parsons arose from her desk and walked purposely to the office of Emily Abernathy. As she entered the office, she closed the door.

Nicky: Miss Abernathy, I have important matters of state to discuss with you and we should not be interrupted.

Emily, looking up from her desk: “The floor is yours, Miss Parsons.”

Nicky: Thank you. We have previously made arrangements to go grocery shopping on Saturday. We cannot possibly shop for groceries on an empty stomach. I propose that we have breakfast at the Minor Key Café and then undertake the grocery shopping venture.

Emily: You were correct to close the door, Miss Parsons. We should not be interrupted while we discuss these important matters of state. I cannot believe we overlooked breakfast in making our arrangements.

Nicky: The Minor Key Café, Miss Abernathy. The Minor Key Café.

Emily: 8:00 am Saturday, Miss Parsons?

Nicky: Excellent idea, Miss Abernathy. We might even have lunch near your residence upon the completion of our shopping expedition.

Emily: So, make a relaxing, casual day of it?

Nicky: Brilliant, Miss Abernathy.

Emily: A product of your inspiration, Miss Parsons.

Nicky: 8:00 am Saturday The Minor Key Café.

Emily: Yes, 8:00 am Saturday The Minor Key Café.

Nicky: Splendid, Miss Abernathy. I shall return to my office.

Emily: This was not an interruption, Miss Parsons. This was an important matter of state and I am glad you brought it to my attention.

Nicky: All a part of serving Queen and country, Miss Abernathy. Have a good day.

Nicky Parsons then returned to her office.

Saturday

Saturday arrived and just after 7:50 am, Nicky Parsons made her way to a booth at the back of the Minor Key Café.

There were not many other patrons in the café when Emily joined Nicky a few minutes later.

Emily greeted Nicky: Miss Parsons, I feel it is appropriate that we deal with an important matter of state first, then we can proceed with our breakfast.

Nicky: An important matter of state, Miss Abernathy?

Emily: Yes.

Nicky: Then we shall adjourn eating until this matter is resolved.

Emily: Thank you, Miss Parsons. It will not be necessary for me to purchase fabric softener during our grocery shopping expedition. I have an adequate supply at home.

Nicky: Thank you for putting my mind at rest, Miss Abernathy. I was concerned the supermarket may not have fabric softener for you.

Emily: That concludes the important matters of state, Miss Parsons.

Nicky: Not quite, Miss Abernathy.

Emily: Miss Parsons?

Nicky: Breakfast, Miss Abernathy. Minor Key Café breakfast.

Emily: The most important current matter of state, Miss Parsons.

Nicky: Then we should give it all of our attention, Miss Abernathy.

Emily: Without delay, Miss Parsons.

The women laughed and laughed and then ordered breakfast.

Anyone hoping for some subsequent juicy eavesdropping upon Nicky and Emily would have been sadly disappointed. Breakfast conversation took a very deep dive into the mundane for the enigmatic agents and they were clearly enjoying themselves.

Emily: Another pot of tea, Miss Parsons?

Nicky: Yes, Miss Abernathy. No need to cut this wonderful breakfast short.

More than ninety (90) minutes after arriving at the Minor Key Café, Nicky and Emily were ready for their grocery shopping expedition, energised, in a very relaxing way, by a very enjoyable breakfast together.

The leisurely pace of their morning continued at the supermarket as the enigmatic agents strolled around the aisles, which were largely uncluttered by other shoppers.

Their shopping almost complete, Nicky and Emily made their way to the checkout.

Emily had a little trouble finding her purse in her handbag. Noticing the moment of inconvenience for Emily, Nicky showed Emily the Parsons purse and said:

“Do you need me to help you out?”

Emily had located her purse by that time and when their laughter subsided, Emily replied:

“Lunch is definitely on you.”

They left the supermarket with their spirits high.

After Shopping Cafeteria Confrontation

The weight of their shopping bags a familiar anchor, Nicky and Emily were not far past the automatic doors of the supermarket, when the gaze of Emily sharpened.  It focussed on a scene unfolding near the outdoor seating of a small cafeteria further along the footpath.

Emily kept her voice low as she said:

"Nicky, You need to go and deal with that man. Now. I am going to telephone the police from the public telephone on the footpath over there (outside the supermarket)."

Nicky followed the Emily gaze. A man was looming over a woman seated at one of the tables. His posture was aggressive. The woman looked distressed and her hands were clutched tightly in her lap.

Nicky's expression hardened instantly. "OK," she replied, her voice devoid of hesitation.

Nicky quickly made her way to the cafeteria couple. Her right hand slipped inside her jacket, finding the reassuring grip of her firearm. With her left hand, she moved quickly, firmly grasping the arm of the man, just above the elbow. He flinched, surprised by the sudden contact.

The Parsons voice was calm but serious, as she pressed the cold steel of her firearm discreetly but firmly against the ribs of her new friend and spoke to him:

"We are going to sit in this cafeteria until your friends, the police, arrive."

The eyes of her new male friend widened and his aggression was momentarily replaced by a flicker of fear. He nodded stiffly, allowing Nicky to guide him towards an empty table inside the cafeteria.

Nicky and her new male friend were joined by Emily a few minutes later. Emily fixed her steady gaze on the man as she took her seat. The distressed woman from outside watched this impromptu introduction episode with a mixture of relief and apprehension.

A further few tense minutes passed before two (2) uniformed police officers arrived at the cafeteria. Nicky addressed them with an air of calm authority.

Gesturing to the man beside her, Agent Parsons said:

"Officers, Our friend here, Mr Suit, asked us to wait with him until you arrived. He has a story he wants to tell you."

The eyes of the taller of the two officer seemed to be assessing the situation and he nodded as he responded to Nicky:

"Thank you, ladies. Mr Suit can tell us his story at the police station."

As they placed handcuffs on the now subdued Mr Suit and prepared to escort him away, the two (2) male officers turned to Nicky and Emily. "Have a nice day, ladies".

Emily turned her attention to the woman who had been the focus of the initial altercation. "Will you be OK?" she asked.

The woman nodded and said: "Yes. Thank you both. Really."

"Ok then. We will leave you to enjoy the rest of your day" Emily replied.

Emily then spoke to Nicky: “That lunch we planned to have together will be very welcome.”

Nicky: “We will stop off at my apartment, of course. It is not far away. Do you want to stay for a cup of tea, before we head to your home to drop off your groceries?”

Emily: “A cup of tea at your house is a good idea.”

Crosstown Traffic

Several weeks after the outdoor cafeteria confrontation interrupted their pleasant day of shopping and socialising, their MI6 Boss contacted Nicky Parsons and Emily Abernathy, as well as Agent Harriet (the stuffy shirts) individually and invited them to his office simultaneously.

When the three (3) stuffy shirts arrived in his office, The Boss addressed them:

“Ladies, I have a task for you. I want you three (3) to travel to the area near the train station Harriet uses to travel to work, collect something for me and bring it back to the office.

This is not a disciplinary exercise, this is an opportunity for you to enjoy yourselves. Have lunch, have morning tea, have afternoon tea, even do some shopping.

Just come back to the office before closing time and bring me my delivery.

Think of this as a reward for the good work you do.

Of course, you could always stay in the office and work. The choice is yours.”

Parsons: A trip to Harrietville?

Boss: Yes

Emily: For work?

Boss: Yes.

Harriet: Make a day of it?

Boss: Yes, and bring back my package.

Parsons: And what would be that package?

Boss: The only jeweller near the entrance to Harrietville train station is cleaning a family heirloom brooch I propose to give to my wife for our wedding anniversary. The jeweller tells me the brooch is now ready for collection.

Interested, ladies? Or am I going to visit that jewellers?

Emily: That is a pretty compelling argument for us to spend a day in Harrietville.

Harriet: Most compelling.

Parsons: I would not want to insult you by rejecting your offer, Sir. I am happy to accompany my colleagues for you.

Emily: It is the least we could do.

Harriet: I will happily be Officer-In-Charge of Travel Arrangements.

Boss: I will telephone the jewellers and let them know that you are coming to collect my package.

Do you have any more questions, ladies?

The 3 Stuffy Shirts: No.

Boss: Thank you. Enjoy your day.

As soon as the three (3) stuffy shirts left the office of the Boss, Harriet said: “Ladies, collect your handbags and coats and meet me in my office.”

Nicky and Emily: “See you in 10 minutes.”

When Nicky and Emily arrived in the office of Harriet with their handbags and coats, Harriet said: “Ladies, to the train station.”

It was a very pleasant walk to the train station and upon arrival, Harriet guided the stuffy shirts to the correct platform for their journey.

As they were waiting for their train, Emily seemed to be focussed on their destination station.

Emily: Harriet, your station is four (4) stations from our station, if one takes a cross town train.

Harriet: I never thought about it like that, but yes.

Parsons: Four (4) stations?

Emily: On a cross town train.

Harriet: More stuffy shirts tea and muffins?

Parsons: Not just tea and muffins, more stuffy shirts adventures.

Emily: Splendid.

Parsons: This was an unexpected consequence of running the errand for the boss.

Emily: And a very good one.

Harriet: This is our train now.

The three (3) stuffy shirts then boarded the train en route to the Harrietville jeweller.

When the train arrived at Harrietville station, the three (3) stuffy shirts alighted and Emily led the trio to the ticket and enquiries counter. Emily asked for a timetable for the crosstown train from Harrietville station to her station.

When the train station staff member returned with the requested time table, Emily asked: Can you make it two (2) timetables, please. I think my friend would like one.

Harriet then joined the conversation: Could you make it three (3) timetables, please?

The train station staff member then provided the three (3) stuffy shirts with a cross town train timetable each.

Nicky Parsons then spoke to Emily and Harriet:

”If we go straight to the jeweller from here and collect the package for the boss, the rest of the day is ours, until we have to return to work.”

Emily: I like your plan.

Harriet: So do I.

Harriet then led the way to the jeweller and when they arrived, she dealt with the store staff.

Harriet: Our boss told us you have a package for us to collect for him.

Store staff member: Good morning, ladies, We were expecting you. Here is the package for you.

Nicky: Could you please telephone our boss and tell him we are in your jewellers and collecting his package? The package seems important to him.

Emily: Good idea.

Harriet: Yes, Good idea.

Store staff member: OK, wait here while I telephone your boss.

Five (5) minutes later the store staff member returned and spoke to the stuffy shirts:

“Your boss said he was grateful for your caution and to enjoy the rest of your day.”

Nicky: Thank you. We will take the package now, if that is convenient?

Store staff member: Yes, here is your package. Enjoy your day.

Nicky took custody of the package and the three (3) stuffy shirts each said to the store staff member: “Thank you. Have a good day.”

Once they were outside the store, Nicky said to Emily and Harriet: “Ladies, the day is now ours.”

Emily: Looks like you are the tour guide for today, Harriet.

Harriet: Shopping first or a pot of tea?

Nicky: If we share a pot of tea, you can tell us what is available in your neighbourhood.

Emily: A pot of tea seems to be the preferred option.

Harriet: Then ladies, let us adjourn to a cafeteria and discuss our options over a pot of tea.

The three (3) stuffy shirts had a lovely day in Harrietville and made sure they returned to the office well before closing time, so they could give the boss his package.