he sat down to take a load off

he figured itd take him an hour and a half to walk to the coffee shop where hed try out the Matchdotcom match hed been finagled to pursue I dare you. funny how a dare continues to work to be fair hed ignored it five years 

                                                                                                            Whadahell  give it a go thatll get him off my backgetting him off his back would be worth the venture

an hour thirtyfive he was still twentyfive minutes early

he went inside used the restroom returned outside and took a chair at small bright yellow café table

from a canvas bag he carried over his shoulder three books inside a tablet and pens he took the tablet out and began to scribble a thought that occurred to him  not a thought rather an incident

                                                                            he stopped earlier that morning at the market

had to stand in line he was five deep market has seven cashier aisles but only two were operating  Ah corporate America YOU CAN FUCKING WAIT Hell widdem he always carried a book the gal ahead of him sighed turning over her left shoulder she said This drives me nuts.  he smiled Why I carry a book   You look familiar. she said   he looked in her face  she looked familiar too  shed be mortified   Where do I know you from?   suppose he was going to mortify her I work at the liquor store in the Target strip mall  she tilted her head like a cat listening to the earth for gophers   aah a glimmer coming into herface  Tar get it emerged slowly  Mmm all.   Your twentyfirst birthday   OH  MY.   Actually that oughta be Ohmy Ohmy goodlookin girls  Ya certainly ticked off your little friend  she was outraged you were flashing men that night  Colour looks good on you works well with your curly blonde hair freckles   I’m so embarrassed.   Yawerent Made my evening It seemed as you were leaving you were off to continue having a good time  It was a good timeyes   Yes, yes it was.   Were only twentyone once were allowed our crazy  I streaked a girls dorm on my twentyfirst  One of the coeds caught me  See  we all have storiesbetter havehuh Its better than not I was honoured Annow I can say thank you to your face   AWJEEZ, couldn’t resist could you?   Nope its nice to see you again

the three customers before her evaporated  

Your turn kid

Oh. she turned saw it was I suppose . . nice to see you again.

My pleasure

her colour deepened

 

a woman approached him

                             Joe.

she didnt look anything like her picture

                                          he stood to greet her Candy

Yes. Ohmy. suppose she had to say it given hed scribbled about the twentyone year old

Yes

You look exactly like your picture.

Thank you

I don’t look like my picture . . I can’t help myself it’s a favourite snapshot of mine. I should post one more recent.

Yes A cup of coffee a croissant muffin biscotti I understand their bakery is very good

Yes, please, a biscotti too would be nice.

Cream sugar

Yes please.

Ill be right back don let anyone take off with my bag

when he returned he saw a bright penny on the patio underneath the table before where they were sitting

he set Candys coffee plate of biscotti several creamers sugars down his black coffee down excused himself and doubled back to the penny

she watched him pick it up

returning to the table he remarked he was a penny wealthier

Do you often stop to pick up pennies?

Since I was a kid they could get ya something back then 

                                                             Habit

I can’t remember the last time I did.

Any idea why

Oh I don’t know, I suppose because it’s only a penny.

Might be a lucky penny a harbinger of something good coming your way

I don’t believe that.

I don believe in religion

                         Good to have limited beliefs Wha do you believe in 

Well, I do believe in church, and religion.

Where ya stand on sex and politicsmight as well knock off the big three which people urge others not to share in mixed company or when meeting a first time

It seems you, seems you haven’t baffles, no restraint.

Nope Occurs in my head comes out of my mouth  Were adults

Yes. Adults. However . . I must say I’m . more . . reserve.

I have no reservations

                        Look at us not even half our coffees sipped           

Maybe it wasn’t a lucky penny after all.

                                             Are you superstitious?

Not being religious knocks out superstition  No I am not

However you called it a lucky penny.

Turning a phrase nothing more

                                 Got any small talk I like foreign films black and white films noir

I’m not a fan of foreign films.

swing and a miss  

walkingreading on his way home after Candy and coffee he found a onehunred dollar bill

                                                                                                 lucky penny

approximately 1400hrs,  Thursday,  27  1. 22

1703,  ReggaeFriday – April Fools,  2022