vicky’s name for december and christmas time is sakura. she has no clue who sakura must be, but she likes to pretend that she does, after inquiring to me who sakura can be. i prentend that i have a clue, too, and tell her she must be some manga character. good looking ? vicky wants to know. i smile. i bet she is, i say, all manga female’s character are anyway. i wink. one of my bosses has given vicky that name, stating that it was perfect for her. vicky had looked a bit puzzled. you know who it is, right ? my boss had asked. of course, vicky had answered. but two days after the fact, she’s still clueless.

vicky is asian. i would place my bet on chinese, although i have never asked her. her accent is strong and we often have to ask her to repeat herself, because she makes no tangible effort being understood. she reminds me of phoene, who’s been raised in the french deepest country and has no asian accent whatsoever, but would imitate it perfectly, while mocking the waitresses of take-away chinese restaurants. phoene would have me laugh so hard that i would soon shake and almost cry with hysterical laughter when she joked like that. that would happen just minutes before she would prentend to find out for the first time how ticklish i am. but she wouldn’t have to tickle me or imitate any asian accent she could to make me laugh. most of the times, just being around her would light a sparkle in my eyes, and bring a smile on my face.

vicky wants to know rumours and gossips, and although i have just been working at the shop for a year, i know some. i try to speak on a low tone, aware that we’re just near the caf?, where people sit at the tables to read some books they will never buy and leave on the first shelf they’ll find on their way out. the scent of their caf? latte is about to drive me nuts. vicky asks me to talk louder. i guess i don’t mind anymore, and soon, she can’t believe her ears. i’m just playing over and over my role of the naughty kid, and i feel quite like one, since every one of my buddies calls me harry by now. hey harry, how’re you doin’ harry, harry, i needed a magic trick with that customer, where were you ?
but i don’t mind the least bit. most of them know why one of my bosses has thought about calling me harry potter. you two are…alike, aren’t you ? vicky asks. i look at her above my glasses. you bet, is what i answer.

vicky must be in her thirties, early thirties. i come to think that she’s guessed pretty much more about me than i could guess about her. i don’t know if she has a husband, or a boyfriend, i don’t know if she has any kids. the only personal thing that i recall about her, is that time when i came into our locker’s room and saw her crying on the phone, in a rush of undescribable anger. but at her counter, vicky only seems bored, and always has a quick smile when we greet her.

vicky is lost in her thoughts. how do you think i could find out who sakura is ? she asks me thoughtfully.
go ahead and find the manga, i suggest. she’s off now, she thanks me for the gossips which i know she’ll soon spread, despite her swearing that she won’t. not that i mind, gossips are meant to be passed around as long as they’re not really nasty, aren’t they ?
i come home and make a quick research on the internet. except the usual porn sites, i find a cool drawing of a young cheesy magician, or princess, with blond hair and honey eyes.
this isn’t vicky at all, but i’m sure she’ll be glad to know that sakura is a pretty chick.