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
