“Sorry, it’s crowded in here today.”

“No problem, the seat across from me is open. Let me shift my coat.”

Tapping the cafe table’s edge lightly with his cane, Ned manuvered on the chair. Molly, his seeing eye dog, curled beneath the table.

“Terribly kind of you to share your table. Don’t let me disturb you. I can tell you were typing on a laptop and listening to Mozart on your headphones. Classic signs of intense work.”

“Yes, if Salzburg Symphony No. 1 doesn’t move me to finish this article I’m doomed. May I get your order from the counter. There’s a backup at the drive-thru and the undercaffeinated are cheek and jowl at the pickup area.”

“Natives getting restless, huh? The neighborhood is changing, you know. Wrong sort swarming in. No, don’t trouble yourself the boy will bring it. I’m a regular.”

Glancing the stranger over, Jamal returned to his screen. The barista approached with a honeycrisp oatmilk shaken espresso and a warm chocolate croissant.

“Hello, sir, here is your coffee and croissant. Sorry for the delay. ‘Sup Jamal I just wanted to thank you for that book suggestion. Ralph Ellison was dope.”

“Told you brotha some of these old heads be bussin’.”

“Aight, catch you later.”

Turning away, the barista headed in the fray of incorrect orders. Jamal tapped his keyboard’s volume button to slip into precise structure of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Tight-lipped Ned drank his coffee in silence.