A loving couple sit directly across from each other.

She smiles through every word she speaks and his eyes don’t move away from her,

even with these people around.

There’s some wear on the cane casually straddled on his right leg.

Whatever his condition, he’s had it for a long time .

Without being condescending they throw a smile to the table behind them, remembering the crazy beauty that was their youth.

A girl sitting at that table with her circle of friends notices and returns the same to their knowing glance.

The friends

two guys, two girls.

Anyone can be a boy but it takes someone cool to be a 'guy’.

It takes a laugh that says ‘Hey, join in with me and learn the vocal intonations of cool.’

It takes spontaneity that the girls can appreciate without being annoyed,

'Because at that moment, I could walk out of here with anyone of you on my arm. Because I’m the guy.' And it’s always nice being the 'guy’...or is it?

Says the boy...

An anonymous presence amongst all the hullabaloo.

Zeroing in on everything with a wide-eyed awareness he sips on his medium sized cafe’ mocha, almost hiding behind that mountain of whipped topping.

Bless the coffee drink makers, for they provide delicious curtains by which we all can hide our glances...

thinks the girl.

The 'girl’, a sweet confection of pink fingers and toes, Victoria’s fragrance and the latest fashion.

Sitting next to the 'guy’, she needs no validation.

But safe as her cool points are, she’s nonchalant about their importance.

‘Ha, ha, ha.’ The group laughter erupts and she joins in to keep from seeming like a total spazz.

She’s been listless for the past few minutes in fact... ever since he sat down.

The boy, his curtain way down now. So is hers...

notices the writer.

Sitting with a black cup of coffee. But there is some sweetness to this life, and tonight it’s in the form of two sugars.

He sits there, table laden with books about aiding in what he already knows well how to do...

to notice.

Bless the coffee drink makers, for they provide delicious curtains by which we all can hide our glances.