CoffeeShop Blues
water until I couldn’t pretend that the water had any warmth left in it
whatsoever. Then I stayed just a little longer until there was no doubt
that it was definitely cold.
I stepped out of the tub, vigorously toweled myself off,
peeked into the kitchen, where Fidel had fallen asleep next to the
blue gas flame. I quietly walked up and turned the burner off and
then snuck into my room. I pulled out the sleeping bag, quickly
hopped in it, as in a competitor at the start of a sack race, then
bounced over to the well used red chair, slithered up on it, freed a
single arm to loosen the back and reclined. I closed my eyes and
gratefully let the sadness sink into my conscious like a low,
melancholy lullaby.
Even the sunshine has a grey tinge in London. A stark light
grey sunbeam cut through the cold winter morning air. There was no
snow, but it felt like there was; it was as if you were existing in a
giant industrial freezer. I wandered into work and began to count
down the hours. I could not relax completely as Bajuetta was
working. She was half West Indian and had perfect everything. I
tried to play it cool and pretend I didn’t notice she was pretty, but
whenever I tried to be normal I freaked out, clammed up and began
dithering, stammering and taking my innate awkwardness to exciting
new highs. I could crack her up a little but most of the time just
snuck quick peeks at her and marveled at how beautiful she was. She
was, as they say, way out of my league and belonged on a fashion
magazine cover.
On these cold cold days I often frequented a baked potato
shop that was only a short walk down the smooth stoned, cobbled
grey street. It was bright red, the inside seemingly inspired by an old
school English telephone box.
There was something cozy and very comforting in a baked
potato on a freezing London day. It just felt right and British to be
greedily digging into a potato filled with cheese and whatever you
had imagined might taste good. Those steaming hefty lumps of
goodness provided both tremendous sustenance and also a second
heat source.
42