I met Pippin at the Toronto Reference Library on Yonge Street. I go to this library on an almost daily basis because it allows me free access to the World Wide Web, where I do research and write new postings for my web log.
I felt an immediate connection with Pippin and, I’m certain, she felt the same towards me. We struck up an awkward conversation, maintained in spite of our shyness toward one another.
She was plain spoken and wore her red hair in pigtails. She had studious looking spectacles and a smattering of freckles on her nose. I was smitten.
Smitten, but soon disappointed. First of all, she already had a man in her life. And second, she was on a short term visit to Toronto, planning to return to her home in the countryside near Edmonton.
In my time Edmonton was known as Fort Edmonton, a fur trading post in a vast area controlled by the Hudson’s Bay Company called Rupert’s Land.
I myself am of rural origin, having grown up on a farm in southern Ontario.
I remain somewhat hopeful of a relationship of some kind with Pippin. She asked me to walk with her to the subway station, and our final parting seemed reluctant for both.
This was three months ago, and I have learned that she will be returning to Toronto in the coming days.