Scraps Of Your Love

Part 1: Dumpster Diver

Tim was smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee on the terrace of his second floor apartment when he saw someone dumpster diving on the garbage bins within his view. He smiled, the person was actually a long haired woman wearing workman’s overalls.

“What kind of junk could this woman be hunting for?”, he asked himself while sipping his coffee. Then out of nowhere, the woman pulled out a dirty teddy bear from one of the garbage bins.

“Yuck, I can’t believe she’s touching that stuff, let alone smell it.” He then felt guilty, “My old girlfriend has heaps of dolls she left behind when we separated, maybe I should give it to her instead.”

“Hey, Hey, I have free dolls for you, and they’re clean,” he shouted at the woman who can barely hear him. But the woman clearly knew that he was saying something to her. She came near the bottom of his second floor terrace.

Part 2: An Invitation

“I said, I have free dolls for you. You don’t need to sort through the garbage.” “What sort of dolls?” “Just like the dirty doll you have just taken out of the garbage bin.”

“You mean you’re gonna give me dolls? What do you want in return?” “Nothing, lady, I just want to dispose of my dolls properly.” “You mean you own dolls?”, she grinned.

“They’re not my dolls, they’re my ex-girlfriends dolls.” “Oh, I see.” “Do you want my dolls or not?”, he said impatiently.

“Okay, mister. I’ll take your girlfriend’s dolls, but are you sure that your girlfriend doesn’t want them back.” “I don’t think so. Her dolls are pretty much junk anyway.”

Okay, I’ll open the door so you can get up to my apartment. “I, get up to your apartment?” “Don’t worry, lady. I assure you, I just want to give you my girlfriend’s dolls.”

Part 3: A Roomful Of Dolls

She entered his two bedroom apartment. He opened the door of one of the bedrooms which he uses as a storage room. “Why, you’ve got a lot of dolls here. Your girlfriend must be a collector.”

“She loves dolls. Look at these, these are unfinished dolls and doll making supplies as well as tools she bought when we’re still together.” “Are you sure you don’t want me to pay for these, mister? These are worth some money.”

“Forget about the money. I just want these dolls to find a good home. The name’s Tim, by the way…” “The name’s Dolly, nice to meet you.” “Dolly?”, he laughed, “I think your name suits you. You seem to be into dolls.” “I’m actually an upcyclist. I restore things that people have thrown away.”

“Well, I’m no upcyclist, Dolly, but I just hate things being wasted.” “That’s good, Tim, it’s hard to find people these days who still find value in discarded and unwanted things.”

“I’m just wondering, Dolly. What would you do with the dirty dolls you just picked up from the garbage bin?” “I’ll clean it up and then remake it into a much better doll.”

“You can do that with that dirty doll?” “Yes, Tim…” “Hmm… Maybe I’ll start saving my trash, Dolly.”

“Do that, Tim, then call me up when your ready to give me your recyclables…” Tim starting collecting his recyclable garbage, he put it in his extra bedroom which he used as a storage area. Dolly began to regularly collect it from him like she does with other people.

Part 4: The Presence Of A Woman

Because of what he learned about recycling from Dolly, he became conscious about waste. He began to have second thoughts about smoking which he realized seriously fouls up the air and just adds to the garbage pile.

He can’t explain it, but the presence of such a woman like Dolly who finds value even in garbage has made him reassess his life. He no longer wanted to smoke or waste his money on unnecessary things. Somehow, thru recycling, he felt a sense that he was doing something positive.

Part 5: Something New

He was beginning to look forward to the regular visits of Dolly to his apartment to collect his recyclables. But something changed, another woman visited him to collect his recyclables. He had a feeling that something big has changed regarding Dolly.

“Where’s Dolly?”, he asked the woman who claimed to represent Dolly. “She’s busy right now. She’s getting married. I’ll be the one’s who will now collect your recyclables.”

His heart sank. It was the first time he realized that he has strong feelings for Dolly. “Say congratulations to her,” he muttered. “Aren’t you coming?”, the woman smiled.

“You mean I’m invited to the wedding?” “Yes, she said that she sent you an e-mail invitation. You’re supposed to be my escort.” “Your escort?”, he said as he suddenly realized how beautiful the woman was in front of her.

“I was too blinded by Dolly, that I virtually ignored looking at other women,” he laughed to himself, “how about this woman? Would I fall for her too?” “Would you be my escort?”, said the woman, “My name’s, Eva. Dolly said that you were a good man.”

“Wouldn’t anyone mind if I become your escort?” “No. none, it’s hard to find single men who go after women who pick garbage.” He begins to suspect that Holly was setting him up with Eva, but he doesn’t mind this at all.

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