And now for something completely different. An entry for a contest on WeBook. Nothing was worse to me than being late. I was running behind by forty five minutes. A late night board game session with some drunken neighbours resulted in a hybrid of Cranium and Balderdash. I had no idea who won. The only thing I recalled was someone molding a pair of falsies out of purple modeling clay and dancing like Carmen Miranda. Nearly tripping over my feet I flew down the stairs and through the lobby. Taxi! Hey,taxi! After three cabs, I finally I had success. Where to? The cabbie inquired. Abbott and First, please. Druckers Coffee Bar. Druckers? You sure? Yes! I barked, Go! We stopped at too many lights. I glanced at my watch; an hour and fifteen minutes late. I felt like an idiot. I knew how important this was,how much this meant to me. And I was going to miss it. The cab pulled up a block and a half from where I wanted to go. Its as close as I can get, bub. the cabbie drawled. Thanks, I quickly paid him and ran down the block. Panting, I stopped a few feet short from the chain link fence.There was no one around. Everyone would have left just after the mayor gave the farewell speech to an old building that was once a cornerstone of the city. One that was past its prime and had to be retired in the name of progress and safety codes. What was left of Druckers lay in a heap of bricks before me. Dust was beginning to settle and construction workers were planning to remove debris. I fell against the fence and mourned the loss of a friend. The worse thing was I felt as if I let the friend down. Left them alone in their moment of need. After all ,hadnt they been there when I was just as needy? For years, I slid into my customary booth, every day after work. Glazed doughnut and coffee,black. I did it so often, the waitresses had it waiting for me right at three o clock. I collapsed into that same booth on the day I was fired. The biscuit coloured laminate of the table was spotted with my cigarette ashes and rings of my coffee cup. There were spatters of ink from my leaking pen when I signed the divorce papers, three weeks after I lost my job. Tears slid down my face as I remembered all the coffees shared with dates,clients and colleagues. I remembered the waitress who wanted to go to music school, the ex-military man who needed a good cup of coffee made the old fashioned way. So many people came through those doors,the ones lying in a twisted mess somewhere beneath that mountain of mortar and brick. Who was I kidding? I couldnt stand there and watch the titanic iron ball smash through the walls of Druckers like it was papier mache. I didnt have it in me. Being late did have its advantages after all. Too bad, huh? I turned to see a brunette lady close to my age. Yeah. Im going to miss it. Me too, she shifted her yoga mat on her shoulder, I used to come here after teaching. It was the only place that served regular coffee. Not this... ...designer drink stuff ? I finished with a laugh. Hah! A kindred spirit! Her smile was slightly lopsided and she had freckles. Whats going in here next? Do you know? I asked. Some joint called Rap-Scalion. A take on the old word,rapscallion except with one l. Suddenly she pushed her mat into my arms. Here, hold this, The next thing I knew she was climbing the fence. Flying over to the rubble pile, she dodged in and out before anyone saw her. Watch out! She chucked something over the fence and in seconds flat, was back on my side. A souvenir, she chortled, a bit out of breath. Stunned, I accepted the dusty brick. Thanks... Lily. Youre welcome... David, I shook her hand. Where do you go for coffee now? Havent found a place yet. Tell you what. When you find a place, let me know on Facebook. Like the Green Bamboo Yoga Studio page. She retrieved her mat from the crook of my arm. Take care. As I watched her leave, I hefted the brick in my hand. The comforting magic of Druckers, it seemed, was still very much alive.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 07:13:26 +0000
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