I never thought I would discover something quite so amazing by accident. I was a chemist at the Amos cosmetics factory in New Jersey, USA, trying to design a new perfume when it happened.
1 was trying out all the usual mix of flowers and things — just like I always did — when I decided to throw in a piece nl the fruitcake Momma had packed for my lunch. I don't к now why I did it — I just did.
I put it into the mix with all the other things. Before long, I had a little bottle of perfume made from the things I had mixed together. I put some on the back of my hand. I thought it smelled nice, but there was nothing special about it, so I put the bottle into my handbag. I couldn't give something like that to my boss. After all, I am a chemist and my job is to make perfumes in a proper way. If I told him how I made this one he would tell me not to be a silly girl. Later, he would probably make a joke about it to his friends at the golf club.
That's the kind of man my boss was. 'Anna!'
It was my boss, David Amos, the owner of Amos Cosmetics. He happened to be walking past where I worked. He never usually spoke to people like me. What did he want? I felt nervous.
'Yes, Mr Amos.' I said.
'You're looking terrific today! Mmm . . . what's that lovely smell? It's like fresh bread and flowers and sunshine all mixed together with ... I don't know - is it you, Anna?'
I didn't know what he was talking about. I couldn't smell anything special. Mr Amos had an expert nose for perfumes. And he knew it.
'Yes, it is you!' he said loudly. All the other chemists nearby could hear. It was embarrassing.
I had never heard my boss speak to-me like that before. Or to anybody else, come to think of it. David Amos is a dark, handsome English guy who would never dream of saying nice things to preferred to be with pretty young models who liked his appearance and his money. When he did speak to the chemists he was usually complaining about something. Was he playing some kind of joke today?
Suddenly he came over right next to me. He spoke in a quiet voice close to my ear. 'You know, Anna, I've never really noticed it before - I can't think why - but you really are a beautiful woman!'
'Mr Amos. I . . .' I tried to answer but I didn't know what to say.
'No, it's true, Anna,' he said. 'I must see you outside this dull factory. Will you have dinner with me tonight?'
'Well, I. . . ' I was still too surprised to speak properly.
'That's great! I'll pick you up at your place tonight at eight. See you then,' he said. He was gone before I could say anything.
As I went home on the bus I thought of the strange situation I was in. My boss, who was famous for going out with beautiful women, had told me I was beautiful and had asked me out! But I know I am just ordinary looking and not his usual type at all. When I got home my Momma was in the sitting room talking to my Aunt Mimi.
Aunt Mimi. I like my Aunt Mimi, but she simply can't mind her own business.
She has wanted me to find a husband for ages. She didn't like the thought of me being single and having a career. She thought it wasn't natural for a twenty-seven- year-old woman like me not to be married. Aunt Mimi thought that the least she could do for me was i о find me a husband. I was used to this by now, but it was srill embarrassing.
Aunt Mimi - how nice to see you,' I saidordinary looking girls like me. He
Aunt Mimi looked at me and smiled. 'Anna, my link 1 girl , . . but look at you: you're not a little girl any more, you're a twenty-three-year-old woman already! How time flies
'Actually, I'm twenty-seven, Aunt Mimi,i said. Slit-always got my age wrong.
'So soon? And you're noc married yet? Your mather was married when she was eighteen. Eighteen! And you were born when she was nineteen!' Aunt Mimi looked sac! as she said this.
She decided to say what she thought at once - as she always did.
'So when are you going bring a nice boy home?' she asked, looking me right in the eye.
'There was that boy Armstrong you saw two years ago. He was nice,' said Momma, trying to help me.
'Momma, Armstrong was the pizza delivery man,' I tried to explain, but Momma never did listen.
'Armstrong was here a few times. I liked him,' said Momma.
'Momma,' I said, 'that was when the cooker broke down - remember? We ate pizzas for almost a week until it was fixed. Armstrong just delivered die pizzas.'
'I don't care,' said Momma. 'I liked him - he had nice eyes.' Aunt Mimi raised her eyes in surprise.
'You mean to say you let this Armstrong boy go? said Aunt Mimi.
'But he was only the pizza delivery man,' I said, weakly.
'Then he was. By now he probably owns the company!' said Aunt Mimi, 'And you let him go! Anna!'
It was no use arguing. I knew they were not going to listen to me. So I changed the subject.
'That fruitcake was nice, Momma,' I said.
'Aunt Mimi brought it,' said Momma. 'But don't change the subject - your aunt has something to say to you.'
Oh no! She's trying to find a husband for me again!
Aunt Mimi began, 'I've found the perfect boy for you, Anna. Well . . . he's not exactly young, but neither are you any more . . . and he's still got his own hair. . .' I decided I had to put a stop to this - I didn't want to meet Aunt Mimi's 'boy' even if he did have his own hair.
'Thanks, Aunt Mimi,' I said. 'But I'm already seeing someone tonight.'
I hadn't meant to tell them but I had to do something to stop Aunt Mimi. It certainly surprised them. They both looked at me with their eyes and mouths wide open like a couple of fish.
'Yes,' 1 went on. 'I'm going out with my boss, Mr Amos. He's picking me up at eight.'
That certainly surprised them!
Momma and Aunt Mimi were very pleased, of course. They went off together to plan the wedding and left me to get ready for the man they hoped would be my future husband. I was beginning to wish I hadn't told them. After all, I had no idea why my boss had behaved towards me in that way. He had never even noticed me before now. However, he had noticed the perfume I had been wearing. Lately I had been wearing a perfume called Intrigue. It was
made by another company and I actually preferred it to the perfumes we made. Mr Amos did have a very good nose for perfumes. Perhaps Intrigue was so good he just couldn't stop himself. Who knows?
Anyway, I had to get ready for my evening out. Although I couldn't explain why Mr Amos had suddenly found me attractive, I really wanted to find out. In my own way I'm as bad as my Aunt Mimi, I guess. The funny thing was, I don't really like men like Mr Amos. But I wanted to find out why he had changed.
So I put on my best black dress, lots and lots of Intrigue and my one pair of high-heeled shoes. The handbag I use for work is the only one I've got because I don't go out that often. I took it. Then I heard the doorbell ring.
Momma and Aunt Mimi were at the front door before I could move. They wanted to see my date. Both of them were trying to get me to hurry up. They had big smiles on their faces.
I opened the door. 'Hello, Anna.'
It was Mr Amos. He looked very handsome. However, he was quieter than before and was looking down at the floor. I could hear Momma and Aunt Mimi behind me. I could tell they liked him. It was embarrassing.
'Hello, Mr Amos,' I said.
I was expecting him to say something friendly, like 'Call me David' or something. But he didn't.-
I managed to get him away from my Momma and Aunt Mimi without too much trouble. I guess they thought we
should be alone together if they had any hope of hearing wedding bells in the future.
He hardly said anything in his car, either, apart from polite conversation about how nice I looked. I could tell he didn't mean it. Men have a way of calling you 'nice' when they really mean they don't care how you look.
Anyway, he drove me to an expensive French restaurant where we spent some time having drinks and ordering food. All the conversation was of the polite kind, but I could tell he was getting ready to say something. Then he turned to me with a serious look on his face and spoke.
'Look Anna . . .' he began.
I knew it! He'd changed his mind and was trying to think of some excuse to get out of our evening together.
'. . . about today, at the factory,' he continued. 'I don't know why I behaved like that.'
'I thought it was because you found me attractive, Mr Amos. And because you liked my perfume,' I said, wondering why the Intrigue I was wearing didn't seem to be having any effect on him. But it was obvious he hadn't been listening to me.
'You see, Anna,' he said, 'if we can see this as . . . as. . .' 'As what, Mr Amos?' I asked.
He suddenly put on a smile. As a reward for all your hard work at the factory. After all, you are one of our best chemists. It's the least I can do to show how much I value your efforts. Have this meal on me! I'll pay for it!'
If the meal had been there it would really have been on him - I would have thrown it at him! So he had changed his mind and now wanted to get rid of me. I didn't believe
for one moment that this meal was a prize for being a good little chemist. I needed to be on my own to think what to do.
'Excuse me for a moment, Mr Amos,' I said, getting up from my seat. 'Of course,' he answered, looking less nervous than before.
I went to the ladies' room. I felt like breaking the furniture or something. I was annoyed! I had my pride, after all! And why hadn't my Intrigue worked? Perhaps I hadn't put enough on, even for his expert nose. I decided to put a lot more on. Perhaps that would work. I looked in my handbag - it wasn't there! All that I could find was that bottle with the fruitcake in it that I had made at the factory. I didn't care, I put it on. I used up half of the bottle. Then I went outside again.
As I was walking back to the table I almost ran into the waiter who had served us. He stopped and looked at me with a stupid look on his face. Then he remembered he had a job to do, walked on and knocked down a ta
ผมไม่คิดว่า ผมจะค้นพบสิ่งที่น่าทึ่งมากดังนั้น โดยบังเอิญ ผมนักเคมีที่โรงงานเครื่องสำอางโรงแรมอมอสโคในนิวเจอร์ซีย์ สหรัฐอเมริกา การออกแบบน้ำหอมใหม่เมื่อมันเกิดขึ้น1 พยายามออกมาปกติผสมของดอกไม้และสิ่งซึ่งเหมือนจะไม่ได้ — เมื่อฉันตัดสินใจที่จะโยนใน nl fruitcake แม่ของมีบรรจุสำหรับอาหารกลางวันของฉัน ฉันไม่кตอนนี้เหตุผลที่ฉันไม่ได้ — ฉันไม่ฉันใส่มันไปผสมกับการสิ่งอื่น ๆ ก่อนที่จะลอง ผมน้อยขวดน้ำหอมที่ทำจากสิ่งที่ผมได้ผสมกัน ฉันใส่บางที่ด้านหลังของมือ ผมคิดว่า กลิ่นดี แต่ไม่มีอะไรพิเศษเกี่ยวกับเรื่องนี้ ดังนั้นฉันใส่ขวดในกระเป๋าของฉัน ฉันไม่ให้บางสิ่งบางอย่างเช่นเดียวกับที่เจ้านายของฉัน หลังจากที่ทุก ฉันเป็นนักเคมี และงานของฉันคือการ ทำน้ำหอมในแบบที่เหมาะสม ถ้าผมบอก วิธีทำเขาหนึ่งนี้จะบอกไม่ให้ ผู้หญิงโง่ ภายหลัง เขาจะคงให้เล่นเกี่ยวกับเรื่องเพื่อนของเขาที่กอล์ฟคลับนั่นคือชนิดของคนที่ถูกเจ้านายของฉัน 'แอนนา'เจ้านาย โรงแรมอมอสโค David เจ้าของโรงแรมอมอสโคเครื่องสำอางได้ เขาเกิดขึ้นเพื่อจะเดินผ่านมาที่ฉันทำงาน ไม่เคยจะพูดกับคนอย่างผม เขาไม่ได้ต้องอะไร ฉันรู้สึกประสาท'ใช่ โรงแรมอมอสโคนาย' ฉันเคยพูด' พักยอดเยี่ยมวันนี้ Mmm...กลิ่นน่ารักคืออะไร เหมือนขนมปังสด และดอกไม้และแสงแดดทั้งหมดผสมกัน... ไม่ทราบ - เป็นคุณ แอนนา?'ฉันไม่รู้ว่าเขาถูกพูดถึง ฉันไม่สามารถกลิ่นอะไรเป็นพิเศษ นายโรงแรมอมอสโคมีจมูกการใช้น้ำหอม และเขารู้'ใช่ มันเป็นคุณ ' เขากล่าวว่า ดังนั้น ทั้งร้านขายยาอื่น ๆ ในบริเวณใกล้เคียงอาจได้ยิน อายได้ฉันก็ไม่เคยได้ยินเจ้านายพูด-ฉันเหมือนก่อน หรือกับใครอื่น มาคิดว่า มัน โรงแรมอมอสโค David มืด หล่ออังกฤษคนที่จะเคยฝันว่า ต้องการสิ่งที่ดีให้กับสาวสวยรุ่น ที่ชอบรูปลักษณ์ของเขาและเงินของเขาได้ เมื่อเขาได้พูดคุยกับร้านขายยา เขามักจะถูกบ่นเกี่ยวกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง เขาถูกเล่นตลกบางประการวันนี้ก็เขามาด้านขวาติดกับฉัน เขาพูดในเสียงเงียบสงบใกล้กับหูของฉัน 'คุณทราบ แอนนา ฉันไม่เคยพบมันก่อน - ไม่คิดว่า ทำไม - แต่คุณจะเป็นหญิงสาวสวย'' นายโรงแรมอมอสโค I . . .' พยายามที่จะตอบ แต่ไม่รู้จะพูดอะไร' มันเป็นความจริง ไม่ แอนนา เขากล่าวว่า ' ต้องเห็นคุณอยู่นอกโรงงานนี้น่าเบื่อ คุณจะเย็นกับฉันคืนนี้? "' ดี ฉัน ' ผมยังประหลาดใจที่จะพูดได้อย่างถูกต้อง' ก็ดี ฉันจะรับคุณที่พักคืนนี้ที่แปด ดูแล้ว เขากล่าวว่า เขาได้หายไปก่อนอาจพูดอะไรเป็นผมกลับบ้านบนรถคิดสถานการณ์แปลก ๆ ของ ผมอยู่ใน เจ้านายที่มีชื่อเสียงไปออกกับผู้หญิงสวย มีบอกฉันว่า ฉันสวย และมาขอผม แต่ฉันรู้ว่า ฉันมองเพียงธรรมดาและไม่เขาชนิดปกติเลย เมื่อฉันกลับมาถึงบ้าน แม่ของฉันอยู่ในห้องนั่งเล่นพูดคุยฟมิมิป้าของฉันป้าฟมิมิ ชอบฟมิมิป้าของฉัน แต่เธอก็ไม่รังเกียจธุรกิจของตนเอง She has wanted me to find a husband for ages. She didn't like the thought of me being single and having a career. She thought it wasn't natural for a twenty-seven- year-old woman like me not to be married. Aunt Mimi thought that the least she could do for me was i о find me a husband. I was used to this by now, but it was srill embarrassing.Aunt Mimi - how nice to see you,' I saidordinary looking girls like me. HeAunt Mimi looked at me and smiled. 'Anna, my link 1 girl , . . but look at you: you're not a little girl any more, you're a twenty-three-year-old woman already! How time flies'Actually, I'm twenty-seven, Aunt Mimi,i said. Slit-always got my age wrong.'So soon? And you're noc married yet? Your mather was married when she was eighteen. Eighteen! And you were born when she was nineteen!' Aunt Mimi looked sac! as she said this.She decided to say what she thought at once - as she always did.'So when are you going bring a nice boy home?' she asked, looking me right in the eye.'There was that boy Armstrong you saw two years ago. He was nice,' said Momma, trying to help me.'Momma, Armstrong was the pizza delivery man,' I tried to explain, but Momma never did listen.'Armstrong was here a few times. I liked him,' said Momma.'Momma,' I said, 'that was when the cooker broke down - remember? We ate pizzas for almost a week until it was fixed. Armstrong just delivered die pizzas.''I don't care,' said Momma. 'I liked him - he had nice eyes.' Aunt Mimi raised her eyes in surprise.'You mean to say you let this Armstrong boy go? said Aunt Mimi.'But he was only the pizza delivery man,' I said, weakly.'Then he was. By now he probably owns the company!' said Aunt Mimi, 'And you let him go! Anna!'It was no use arguing. I knew they were not going to listen to me. So I changed the subject.'That fruitcake was nice, Momma,' I said.'Aunt Mimi brought it,' said Momma. 'But don't change the subject - your aunt has something to say to you.'Oh no! She's trying to find a husband for me again!Aunt Mimi began, 'I've found the perfect boy for you, Anna. Well . . . he's not exactly young, but neither are you any more . . . and he's still got his own hair. . .' I decided I had to put a stop to this - I didn't want to meet Aunt Mimi's 'boy' even if he did have his own hair.'Thanks, Aunt Mimi,' I said. 'But I'm already seeing someone tonight.'I hadn't meant to tell them but I had to do something to stop Aunt Mimi. It certainly surprised them. They both looked at me with their eyes and mouths wide open like a couple of fish.'Yes,' 1 went on. 'I'm going out with my boss, Mr Amos. He's picking me up at eight.' That certainly surprised them!Momma and Aunt Mimi were very pleased, of course. They went off together to plan the wedding and left me to get ready for the man they hoped would be my future husband. I was beginning to wish I hadn't told them. After all, I had no idea why my boss had behaved towards me in that way. He had never even noticed me before now. However, he had noticed the perfume I had been wearing. Lately I had been wearing a perfume called Intrigue. It wasmade by another company and I actually preferred it to the perfumes we made. Mr Amos did have a very good nose for perfumes. Perhaps Intrigue was so good he just couldn't stop himself. Who knows?Anyway, I had to get ready for my evening out. Although I couldn't explain why Mr Amos had suddenly found me attractive, I really wanted to find out. In my own way I'm as bad as my Aunt Mimi, I guess. The funny thing was, I don't really like men like Mr Amos. But I wanted to find out why he had changed.So I put on my best black dress, lots and lots of Intrigue and my one pair of high-heeled shoes. The handbag I use for work is the only one I've got because I don't go out that often. I took it. Then I heard the doorbell ring.Momma and Aunt Mimi were at the front door before I could move. They wanted to see my date. Both of them were trying to get me to hurry up. They had big smiles on their faces.I opened the door. 'Hello, Anna.'It was Mr Amos. He looked very handsome. However, he was quieter than before and was looking down at the floor. I could hear Momma and Aunt Mimi behind me. I could tell they liked him. It was embarrassing.'Hello, Mr Amos,' I said.I was expecting him to say something friendly, like 'Call me David' or something. But he didn't.-I managed to get him away from my Momma and Aunt Mimi without too much trouble. I guess they thought weshould be alone together if they had any hope of hearing wedding bells in the future.He hardly said anything in his car, either, apart from polite conversation about how nice I looked. I could tell he didn't mean it. Men have a way of calling you 'nice' when they really mean they don't care how you look.Anyway, he drove me to an expensive French restaurant where we spent some time having drinks and ordering food. All the conversation was of the polite kind, but I could tell he was getting ready to say something. Then he turned to me with a serious look on his face and spoke.'Look Anna . . .' he began.I knew it! He'd changed his mind and was trying to think of some excuse to get out of our evening together.'. . . about today, at the factory,' he continued. 'I don't know why I behaved like that.''I thought it was because you found me attractive, Mr Amos. And because you liked my perfume,' I said, wondering why the Intrigue I was wearing didn't seem to be having any effect on him. But it was obvious he hadn't been listening to me.
'You see, Anna,' he said, 'if we can see this as . . . as. . .' 'As what, Mr Amos?' I asked.
He suddenly put on a smile. As a reward for all your hard work at the factory. After all, you are one of our best chemists. It's the least I can do to show how much I value your efforts. Have this meal on me! I'll pay for it!'
If the meal had been there it would really have been on him - I would have thrown it at him! So he had changed his mind and now wanted to get rid of me. I didn't believe
for one moment that this meal was a prize for being a good little chemist. I needed to be on my own to think what to do.
'Excuse me for a moment, Mr Amos,' I said, getting up from my seat. 'Of course,' he answered, looking less nervous than before.
I went to the ladies' room. I felt like breaking the furniture or something. I was annoyed! I had my pride, after all! And why hadn't my Intrigue worked? Perhaps I hadn't put enough on, even for his expert nose. I decided to put a lot more on. Perhaps that would work. I looked in my handbag - it wasn't there! All that I could find was that bottle with the fruitcake in it that I had made at the factory. I didn't care, I put it on. I used up half of the bottle. Then I went outside again.
As I was walking back to the table I almost ran into the waiter who had served us. He stopped and looked at me with a stupid look on his face. Then he remembered he had a job to do, walked on and knocked down a ta
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