Change with the Coffee

Sitting in a coffee shop milking a refill when this lady gives me the eyeball. At least I think she's giving me the eyeball; she may be just trying to read the artist's name on the painting crucified on the wall just above my head. What ever the case, it behooves me to play non-chalant; go into "sipping Martini mode" -- get the posture up, Dean Martin myself!

It does not take long before she's on the move. Now mind you, this bean emporium is the size of some bathrooms, 5 tables and a counter (ya want a men's room? go across the street to the hardware store), yet it seems to take forever for her to cover the six floor tiles that separate the two of us.

Now, after a vortex of eternity, she's "in my space" and I have turned on the charm button.

"Nice picture," she says, and I look up at the painting... "No, I mean here, on your promo material", and she lifts one of my fliers out of her somewhat well used Gucci. "I've been getting your stuff at my place for a long time now. I like the way you actually look like your picture...I was going to call you, but I saw you here and figured, why not, how nasty could he be? the worst he could say is 'no' and send me to make an appointment at his office."

I allow her a seat.

I'm thinking Playboy moment here just as she chimes in with the "411":

She's into a condo bought in 2004. She's out of a job. She's got trouble. In a nonce, my Playboy moment is gone, and in my mind's eye and I am now flipping through the Economist as I give her the skivvy on ways and means for her.

"God," she says, "What should I do first?" Her voice betrays the butterflies in her gut.

"It is Saturday," I remark, "do your laundry,... groceries,... go to the beach. That is what you should do. Your world is NOT coming to an end; it is just going to change, that's all. We'll talk on Monday."

"Funny," she says, "I feel better, somehow. I'll see you Monday, afternoon OK?"

...and so it goes on this early Saturday A.M. in a coffee shop in Belmont. The waitress took my money and returned with my change. I left it on the table for her as a tip. A lot of change -- for a lot of people.