The Exchange

#SpillTheBeans

The hand-written note under my door read:

"You are invited to a clothes swap next Saturday from 11:00 AM at my place." - Catharina.

When that day arrived, I packed a bag of items and I took two steps at a time up the flight of stairs above my flat. I knocked on her door softly, the way she always did on mine.
I was greeted gracefully by Catharina who was elegantly dressed in a 1950's skirt and blouse. She looked like she belonged in a black and white movie.

I felt slightly disoriented, as I was taken aback. Had I time travelled to an era long before my time I wondered?

Complimenting her look, she told me that 1950's clothing was her favourite style.
She looked the part as a hostess, and I was blown away by her attire.

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Entering her sparse, tastefully decorated flat had a calming effect on me, and her friends welcomed me with warm smiles.
We were an eclectic mix: Catharina, Northern Irish, and her friends were from the Middle East, South America, South Africa, Spain and the UK; I was fascinated by their vast interests, as they were all pursuing Ph.D. studies in Museum Arts at the local university.

In a room of creative minds, nerds, and scholars, were talents on display.

From bread-making, jams, English scones, jewellery, and crochet.

Those were my early years in the UK. Coming from Jamaica, learning to make bread and scones seemed like an exotic hobby. It was normal for me to pop to the shop to buy the bread I wanted, never with the thought to bake my own.
We all sat together, and over simple freshly cooked meals, we chatted and laughed the afternoon away, exchanging cultural stories and experiences.

I'll never forget Catharina telling me a story of what she encountered once on a holiday in Italy. She said she was walking on a beach and because her skin was so pale and delicate looking, passerby's bought her some ice cream, because they were afraid the heat would cause her harm. Something she accepted with humour.

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The Exchange

The main event, clothes swapping unfolded and I made out like a bandit.
Everything was a perfect size, colour, and style for me, which quickly became a big joke in the room. The tradeoff was that I was not allowed to receive designer bags and accessories, but I could have cosmetics; ones that I had only seen on the pages of magazines.

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In the middle of feeding her cat Rupert, Catharina came with a mischievous smirk.

"Would anyone like to have an Irish Coffee?" she asked.

New to me, Catharina told me the list of ingredients.

"Coffee with Baileys!" Yes, please!

Although my tolerance for alcohol was low, I always had a glass of Bailey's, my festive Christmas and New Year's drink.
So, being only one flight of stairs away from my flat, I thought why not? That could not be such a bad fall, don't you think?

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Catharina said indulging guests with her Irish Coffee was a specialty treat, that I would never forget.

I watched Catharina take specific glasses from her cupboards. She lined them along the bench, and while she brewed a pot of coffee, she reached for a bottle which she held onto tightly.

Her blue eyes sparkled and her cheeks glowed with a pleasing smile.

In her strong Irish accent, she said,

"The secret ingredient is in this bottle. My Irish Whiskey."

With expertise and precision, I noticed her from the other end of the room. Catharina presented me with a delightful glass of coffee, Bailey's, double cream, and a sprinkling of nutmeg.

Something that looked just as good as this.

I am yet to make that drink, but I have her recipe in my files to try.

Which ingredient do I like the most?

All of the above, together, double shot, double shot certainly, yes please!

Whenever Catharina invited me to such event, I knew it meant a day of celebrating with a glass of "festive drink."

"Would you like an Irish Coffee?" she'd always asked.

On the tip of my tongue always; "Yes please!"

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To this day, my favourite festive drink is a glass of Irish Coffee😋.

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I would love to hear what your favourite festive coffee is.

Here's the post topic below.
#HostessResponse
Of course, my post does not qualify as an entry but 'tis the season and I'm already dreaming of having Irish Coffees.

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