An older man behind the lunch counter
dismissed initially as a possible seatmate
tiny table in the winter indoor sun
preferable
low key conversation way back
in the market’s deli
discretely held
yet holding my interest
older woman unloading
some comments to a younger person
considerations given
and the gist of it I think
of the audible part….. was about
money
can relate
moving on, finished, paper napkin and coffee cup
shopping needs doing now that the older senior shoppers have gone home and cleared out of the parking lot and now safer to go out there and not have my nice car whacked by a zooming zoomer
after all is said and done
taking a different approach
to turn in dirty tray to deli workers and proceed
an older man, wearing his coat and winter felt cap
sitting straight and tall at the lunch counter writing intently, noticed now
one glance to see his neatness scribed there, a journal maybe
something he does every day
another peek but useless for telling
anymore
most likely he will be there again and I may say hello and comment
about the day and smile or nod at another older writer
like myself
the comments made by the old woman at the back of the lunch counter
something
about money and frustrating people
another
story
An Embarrassment of Freedom 
I don’t think I’d be able to write much in such a public place.
We all have our favourite writing spots. I usually write at home now but when I was in university I wrote several essays in the campus coffee shop amongst my fellow students. No lap tops in those days, imagine!