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an old man sat at a table edged into a corner his back to the room

as if he was a bad boy

his head was up

he seemed to ponder the twisted copper strapped sculpture hanging above him off the knotty whitepine paneled wall  alien tentacles imploring help  transcending misery 

or promising a horrific death

the chair beside him at a small oval café table was the only one remaining unoccupied

the young man watched several customers preceding him eye the room briefly they rested their gaze on the old mans corner but when serviced they didnt take the seat rather wore pinched expressions as if the old man smelled or had done something to offend them

he was a shoo-in

aint nobody in the line ahead of him going to drift over an excuse themselves to ask the old man if the chair beside him was free

the old man wasnt holding it for anyone

he probably outlived everyone he knew or cared for

his aloneness was palpable

finally
        ordered purchased poured he had his stark white porcelain mug of black lacquered sidamo in hand an made a beeline to the corner agilely sidestepping the jamokes who suddenly pushed their chairs back into the illformed aisles or flailed  wild arms talking with their hands animated and oblivious

 

the beeline would have been less treacherous if they opened the eyes in the back of their heads or took regard that they werent the only person in the room

that would be a stretch 

Excuse me I know this is your world Im just trying to live in it

sage advise he lifted from a good friend who was bound to a wheelchair

the old man didnt acknowledge him when he stood at his elbow despite his shadow darkening the corner

he obstructed the accent spotlight overhead meant to illumine the sculpture

he addressed the old man

he could make out his eyelids bat his head recede between his shoulders as a turtles would into its shell

his clothes crinkled like newsprint

then he turned slowly  deliberately  towards him like a counterclockwise sweep of a confused lighthouse beacon

he said something sounded more as if he was clearing his throat said something in a voice unaccustomed to speaking

he asked  Sir might I sit beside you

he said Sir with respect a supple invigorated meaning not as a slur or derogatory or irritated which perhaps was its usual impatient delivery(or directive)

he could hear the mechanics of his tenacious musculature tendons slip an whine the clicks and clatter of his vertebrae tilting up and back back  back  raising his face and eyes to where the voice emanated looked into his face

--   Aah

finally a sound he recognised

--   May I sit please
 

--   You ah you care to ah to sit

with me

 

he smiled

--   Sir Perhaps youre unaware but youve cornered the market

 

If I may

You could probably ask money for it if you wished he said changing the timbre in his voice ridiculous more playful

You dont wish to do you

his laugh bubbled up silver through spiderwebs 

then
--   Youre funny

--   Then I may sit

--   If you would

--   I would I would

Seems to me by the expression set about your eyes and mouth youre funny too

--   Im a riot

--   I thought

--   A quiet riot though

--   I wouldnt think  Not really At least I dont think so once you got going

--   Havent gone sorry to say in a long time

A long time

--  Well times come again

Try as you may to avoid it

Sitting here in this corner

Staring at(he averted his eyes up) wha . .

--   Disgusting isnt it

he sipped his coffee then wiped his lips an moustache with a paper napkin

Then it isnt

The darker the day the better it looks I think

--   Sinuous

--   I think  Alive

There(he motioned) In the twist of its guts  An there

An eye or eyebud I think

--   I can see that

--   I think it can see you too

  

I like it

Disgusting or not

Obscure

Like I am to most of the clientele here

The seat you took is rarely filled

Honestly I cant remember the last time ah a young woman I think ahDared I think She stammered  Keyed up
Left Fled

Im not old you see

I am ancient

Old they tolerate

Ancient they despise

I feel their Christ die already

I have half a mind to die here ooze out of my pantlegs onto the floor

The money Ive spent here an in the newsmagazine kiosh outside

I own at least the floor and a wall

--   This corner definitely

--   Yes yes ahGoes without saying

An yet

Here you sit

--   If I stammer would I make you feel better

--   You dont stammer

--   No

I dont

--   I like this corner

Look(he did) to the left (a plateglass window  ceiling to floor)

I can see up to the street

Most approach from there Pedestrians

Those who come in their vehicles enter from the right I assumethey certainly havent passed from the left 

 

Im blind to them

     

They dont interest me as much

Pedestrians interest me  hohum

They carry their baggage visibly

Take it out for a walk

Try an leave itabandon it

Nevertheless

It sticks to them gloms on

But they tried didnt they

They did try

I like that they try

--   Interesting

--   You walked from there

--   I did

--   Though you seem   unencumbered

--   I am

--   Not  I would suppose the word is dramatic 

Youre not dramatic

--   No  Not dramatic

--   Be that way youll grow ancient too

--   A soothsayer

--   No  Inspired . .

--   . . by the little things

--   The little things   Yes

--   Yes                                                           

I agree

--   There(the old man was looking left)

Some rumps on these girlsThere  That one

She could break my nose

--   Break your nose

--   You said it

--   Break your nose as in

Break

Your

Nose

--   Howd she break your nose

--   Probably the same way shed break yours

I was confirming we were on the same page

--   An my back too

--   Well  you said it brother

I do enjoy candid repartee an coffee

So  Youll excuse me if I askbecause I have to ask  Aside from the little things

to what do you attribute your longevity

--   What would you say

--   Say  Not so much

 

Rather why I asked

he laughed clear as a bell as if he were a boy 

the boy inside him

cloaked in their age

--   My boy he said shaking his head

Head

Head before mornings coffee

Give

An take

the old man looked him in the face

took in his expression

smiled
        No no  Unfortunately not for a long time

then he pointed a finger to his temple
In here

I remember as if it were yesterday

 

  

     

       

1206,  Saturday,  12  12. 15

1053,  Sunday,  13  12. 15