Seated in the Cafe, Watching from 6:53 p.m. - 9:55 p.m., On Davie and Burrard, December 13, 2006

Seated in the cafe,
Watching from 6:53 p.m. - 9:55 p.m.,
On Davie and Burrard,
December 13, 2006

Spy it. 10 O'clock. In the corner. Sitting in the corner. Head swiveling at a lurch a second. Takes off jacket and lays it across chair adjacent. He pulls it back. Reluctantly. Wanting to give comfort. To someone barely known. But still removes it knowing that a stranger will demand. The spot. And phone rings. Answers. Meeting place changed. He blindly chases a blind date.

Empty for a while

Adjacent now holds woman. Smiling with phone. Chats. Smiles. Taps outer thigh in humour. Hangs up. Reachs for paper. Leaving seat.

Empty for a second

Elegantly reads. Man enters. Glances and walks on. She removes her jacket. Inspecting the paper still. Flipping pages elegantly. Another man passes. Glances and sits opposite the room. A lot of reading happens. Man feigns to read whilst his body turned sideways in his chair watching her from above his book. She fiddles with earrings. Oblivious. Licks finger. Turns page. Oblivious. She adjusts shoulder strap through shirt. Oblivious. Pretending to read is fun. Ring. She talks into phone flirtaciously. Her jacket now of the original chair. Adjacent. Hangs up. Smile from the other end. Still dances on her lips. It fades into the paper again. More reading. (I hope there is some parable to this and it's not all in vain). He's here. And her jacket is back on. As well as her smile. Her feet point to him. And his at her. He puts his hand over his mouth. But his eyes betray that he has a smile. Both chairs full. Conversation. Unheard. He speaks with his hands. Like he's hold an orb. That grows as his stories do. Loud laughter from her. Twice. (As an observer I feel creepy). She plays with her nails when she thinks. Pulls off her jacket halfway. To expose covered breasts. "I need to find a guy". (It's funny how selective our hearing can be). Man with book looks on annoyed. Man in chair leans back suggestively. Girl looks him over. And motions with her head they should leave. The seats empty. They go. As friends.

Empty for a moment

Frumpy man sits. Stirs coffee. Unzips pocket. Phone. Sits. Eats. Watch cars pass. Drinks. Seems content. Goes to garbage.

Seat Empty

Returns. Resumes the above. (I start to realize how boring and ultimately quick you have to be to observe someone). (It tries my patience but I force myself to continue). Still nothing new. Still nothing. (I kind of want him to explode). (That might be more interesting. (But only a bit). Now he is staring at the sample girl. Kind of green eyed. She hasen't offered to him yet. She walks outside. He seems less content. (Maybe he wants to explode now too). But now he eats. Content again. (Makes me want to explode). He's made a stack with his garbage. The coffee stick a pole. Without anything to preoccupy him. He sits. Cross legged. He's changed which leg a couple times. (Plot Twist). Foot shaking antsy. Reflective. He bops to the jazz beat. He's resting. Not resting. Leaves.

Empty again
For a long time. They sure look comfortable. No. Deny yourself. (Don't publish this). (People will laugh).

-Matthew Koutzun