the silence lasted two whole cigarettes before it became too much. easily the time between auster’s opening and six pm is the worst. especially on days when her schedule is clear until performance time. stefani has spent all day hanging around the old dusty ( in the day light ) bar, occasionally serving drinks when the only bar man goes for a smoke, mostly trying not to concentrate on the sticky floor and depressingly soft piano being played.
out of the twenty five tables only four are occupied. cosmo, busy writing on his lunch break --- no fun. two of the stinky old man regulars and -- a new face stefani has been staring at for one cigarette. it’s finished, stubbed out on the table and her charge is made to the table. she sits across from the other, staring expectantly.
“ please, for the love of god, tell me you’re an interesting person. “