Random drugstore conversation and traveling to Nottingham, UK

I stopped at my local drugstore yesterday to pick up a three-pronged converter for my electronic devices for my upcoming trip overseas. As I waited in line to pay (in the queue, in British English), I was wondering if I’d selected the correct one for the United Kingdom. 

There were many three-pronged converters available and it could’ve been any one of them. Just then, I heard a woman’s voice behind me say, “I’m from England.” I thought she had overheard my thoughts. Perhaps I had wondered out loud?

When I turned around, I saw an older woman talking to the man behind her in line—not me. As soon as their conversation ended, I met her deep blue eyes. This was more than a coincidence. I’d been to this drugstore hundreds of times, and I’d never bought a travel converter for England, and I’d never met someone who could read my thoughts.

“Not that I was listening or anything, but did you just say you were from England?”

She returned my gaze and spoke with a fairly strong, British accent. “I certainly did.” 

I happen to live in Southern California, where many people in the world think we have southern accents. But here, of course, we assume everyone else in the world speaks differently. Not us. Her clipped accent sounded exotic. I was starting to really look forward to my upcoming trip. With that in mind, I quickly showed her my converter. 

“I’m going to England in three weeks and I need to buy one of these. Do you know if this is the right one?”

She inspected it carefully. Was that nostalgia I saw in her eyes? She flashed me a warm, reassuring smile. “Yes, honey, that’ll do just fine. Where are you going to England, if I may ask?”

My intuition told me she probably moved to Southern California a while ago. The reputation I’d heard about British people was that they could be a bit standoffish. She certainly wasn’t.

“Nottingham,” I replied.

“Nottingham?” Her eyes opened wide as she held her chest. “I’m from Nottingham. Why are you going there, of all places?”

“I’m going to a book festival. I’m presenting my new book.”

She cracked a wide smile. “Oh, you’re a writer?” 

I nodded. I love it when people ask this question. Though years ago, I hated that question. I didn’t know how to answer it. It seemed so personal. I was perpetually struggling with the craft of writing, taking classes while working on stories, articles, and manuscripts. Now that I had published my first book with Bold Strokes Books, and the sequel was on its way, I had a different perspective.

Her blue eyes lit up. “Lovely. What kind of books do you write?”

I gulped, wondering what she’d think of me now. “LGBTQ+ fiction. Contemporary lesbian romance, mainly.”

Her eyes widened even more. To my relief, they started to sparkle. “I see,” she said. “That’s fantastic.”

She seemed sincere. I certainly hoped so. I never know what people are going to say when I tell them what my writing genre is. I feel so lucky I’ve found a great home with my publisher, Bold Strokes Books. Everyone is professional, inclusive, and friendly. I was really looking forward to our BSB Book Festival in Nottingham and I hardly thought I’d be explaining it to a stranger—from Nottingham no less—in my local Southern California drugstore. It was my turn in line. I bought my travel converter and sadly bid her farewell. 

“Have a wonderful trip, love.” She sounded convincing. Just like an eager tour guide. “You’ll enjoy Nottingham. Especially the tea!”