"Archie"

< click on photo to enlarge>

everything was as usual. Mary sat with me and we chatted about the weather and our week. she took my order, brought the paper and a black coffee. we laughed a bit. halfway through breakfast she slipped a note to me printed on a napkin.

he was a happy man, retired. he had recently had some problems and wanted to have the operation before his son came home in march.

i couldn't finish breakfast, spilled coffee. i went to the cash were i met Mary. i said, "that is were he always sat." she said, "his cup will always be there." we couldn't look at one an other, both of us crying. i left, Mary went back to work.