nevermore

“Thanks. Are you going to eat that? --Kidding.”

“Not at all, please– sit.”

“Thanks... I’ve been meaning to um, talk to you anyway.”

“Thanks. I was beginning to think I was going to have to stand and eat my bagel.”

“Not at all, darling. Though not sure why you’d want to sit with me.”

“Well, the place is kind of packed so.”

“Well, I was gonna sit but I like the second idea better.”

“Oh- wait, I can grab you one.” he ducked under the counter for a minute and come back up with a pen and packet. “What did you want to apply for?”

“Thanks,” she said, grabbing the paper and pen from him. She half shrugged. “Whatever position you need, I guess. Do you mind--?” she asked, gesturing towards the bar stool so she could maybe just fill the application out there.

“Not if you don’t mind Cheerios.”

“Cereal’s my favorite food group.”

        “No it isn’t – you can have it if it will make you stop pacing around. You’re making me nervous.”

“Sorry - combination of not sleeping in 3 days and drinking my body weight in coffee.”

“Yes it is,  by  the  future  you.   The three seconds from now   future you”

“You could have just said no, you goober.”

“No, please, fell free to take a seat.   seems like this place seems to be   popular, or is  this many  people a   one time thing?”

“With half the town closed, people didn’t really have another option.”

“The last person who was sitting there had an unfortunate accident.”

“Right. Well I can find a different seat.”

“Ah, no?” 

“Shush and scoot over, Swan.”

“No. You’re more than welcome to join me if you wish.”

“Thanks. I just-- well, i didn’t want to sit alone so.”