The Cafe.... in The Lounge

[Mac380]

The flight across the “pond” had been delayed due to the wonderful British weather and the complimentary hire car upgrade was more of a downgrade, at least that’s what Mac’s lower back was telling him. The early hours on this rain speckled morning had decided to keep up the campaign of erosion against his sanity, by ensuring that every red light brought him to a complete stop or down to that annoying point where you would have been as well stopping anyway. This particular light was obviously on a mission of its own to get Mac into a straight jacket before the sun rose above the horizon.
As Mac gazed across the junction he noticed a faint glimmer of light escaping through the torn paper covering the windows of what the faded sign proclaimed to be “The SRP Coffee Lounge”, he wasn’t sure what the SRP meant but it had Coffee in the name and that was good enough for him.
Finally the red light gave up its mission to drive him round the bend and let him do it himself, the now green light illuminated the parking slots just around the corner from the entrance.
No need to struggle to find a parking place, there was only one other car parked up. Oh well he could do with a quiet one to start with, then see where it goes from there.
Stretching off the stiffness in his back he climbed the steps, the faint aroma of coffee was seeping out through the gaps in the door and the cracks in the glass, “could do with a makeover” he thought “but at this time in the morning anything is good.”
The hinges screeched with a tone that spoke of long gone tins of WD40,staff with polishing cloths loaded with enough Brasso to gladden the heart of any Drill Sergeant and days when they never stopped swinging with the number of customers who had been tempted in by the thought of a fresh caffeine fix.
The hinges finally gave up the lamentations as the door flapped to a standstill, the only other patron slowly spun round on his seat a well-worn mug sitting comfortably in is hand.
“Mind if I pour myself a mug?”

 

[MisterChino]

He would swivel around upon hearing the familiar creeking of the door. As he turned around, his eyes met with a face that he had not recognized. Nonetheless, he offered the stranger a polite smile toward his inquiry, to notice the peculiar accent within his speech. "Go right on ahead. The bar is public space to all of its patrons. There should be enough coffee for at least several more cups."

He continued to observe his company. Allowing the man to settle down, he decided to become acquainted. "My name is Chino," he exclaimed. "It's nice to have your company."

 

[Mac380]

“Good evening Chino, or should I say Good morning? This jet lag really catches up with you.”
Mac took a sip of the steaming coffee then set his mug on the bar as he got comfortable in the seat. The intense aroma and taste of the coffee started to clear the fug that had been clouding his mind, even his back seemed to stop complaining as the caffeine started to do its work.
“I’m Mac” he said raising his mug in salute, “just got back into town and needed something to kick the old grey cells back into action”
Mac swivelled around in his chair to take in the whole of the lounge bar, noting the well-worn but comfortable looking settees, the secluded corner tables and pictures of patrons from days gone by.
“Looks as though this place has a few stories to tell, reminds me of a place I know in Edinburgh!”

 

[Mac380]

Glancing behind him Mac could see the faint glimmers of light pushing their way through the gaps in the paper that covered the windows, motes of dust spiralled through the shafts of light.
The sun was starting its climb to the horizon pushing the rain clouds away with promises of a hot and balmy day, a day that should be spent beside a swimming pool or at the beach, perhaps that’s where all the previous patrons of the lounge had gone.
Finding some cool drinks by the poolside while watching the world go by?