day six: the free pound

The phone ringing woke me up. I looked at the number then put the phone down without answering. It was one of my labels, in town from Europe and anxious to meet. I didn’t have my game face on yet, so I opted not to speak to them. I climbed out of bed and sat on the edge and rubbed my eyes and yawned. I checked my phone again to make sure they left a voicemail then I yawned and stretched again and went to the kitchen to make some coffee.

We were out.

I did some math in my head and came to the conclusion that in my depressed economic state it is not prudent for me to buy individual cups each day, I needed to get a full pound then get it ground and make my own, that would be the fiscally responsible thing to do. I'm all about being fiscally responsible these days.

I went to the bathroom and took a piss. Looked in the mirror and wiped the drool from my face. Ran my head under cold water. Stuck my tongue out and caressed my crows feet. I'm a horror in the morning. A foul breathed, crease faced, on edge horror. I’m amazed any woman would permit themselves the experience of waking up next to me more than once, let alone each morning for 5 years. Were the tables turned, I might have went running a long time ago.

I pulled on some clothes, multiple layers to reflect the sky’s gray, grabbed my wallet and my keys and lumbered out the door. The streets were largely empty, which is always strange in New York. You expect to see old drunks milling in front of their apartment buildings. Cops slowly patrolling the corners. Taxpayers on their way somewhere important. But it seemed to just be me and a few tired shop owners. On the walk my face is dotted with light raindrops, the warning trickles of a storm. The coffee shop wasn’t far and I didn’t put up my hood, I figured if anything the cold wetness would help me wake up.

At the coffee shop, behind the counter, was a school chum of mine. A girl, very nice, who I talk to when we are on class break. She seemed either really excited to see me or really jacked up on coffee because she screamed my name from across the shop and began beaming when I acknowledged her. We made idle chat and she gave me my pound of coffee for free. I tipped her three dollars and wished I could tip her more. She didn’t seem to mind either way. I told you she was nice.

When I left the light rain had let up a little and I rolled myself a cigarette. Then I walked home slowly feeling pleased that I took the initiative to leave the house so early. So far the day has gone ok, I’ll let you know tomorrow if it ended that way.