A few of my favourite things…reading “A Hot Chocolate on Thursday” by Michiko Aoyama
An unexpectedly lovely moment.
“I’ll have a hot chocolate, please.”
You repeated back my order with a warm smile. “Yes, a hot chocolate”.
I was waiting in line at Coventry Bookstore in South Melbourne, ready to buy a different book, when another book caught my eye, or rather, called my name. Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama. I wouldn’t usually spend $35 on books placed near the cash register. I normally consider all my book purchases carefully (there are so many I want, I need to restrain myself). But it was Thursday, and cold, and hot chocolate suddenly sounded like a great idea. Before I knew it, the book had leapt into my hand, then onto the counter, and was mine within a minute of meeting me. Cheeky bugger.
Back at our borrowed apartment, I made myself a hot chocolate and sat on the balcony overlooking the hustle and bustle of South Melbourne Market. Taking advantage of a rare quiet moment, I opened to the first page. I expected nothing, and, at first, I wasn’t overly impressed. Lukewarm. But as I kept reading, and it’s a quick read, it warmed up to a nice drinking temperature. It felt like a friendly chat with a stranger, an embrace from a friend, or a sip of a hot chocolate.
The main character, if there is one, drinks hot chocolate, apparently a very good one. Mine was made from chocolate from Atypic, sold just across the street at the market. I finished the book that afternoon and soon after felt a small sadness that the gentle embrace was over. Nothing revolutionary or life changing, but a lovely moment I’ll fondly remember.