Coffee and Pirates
Driving though an area that has been described as “sketchy “ I decided to check out a local coffee shop.
It was very clean, well laid out and brightly lit. There were a few customers huddled together around a couple of tables in the far corner. I ordered a coffee and sat down at a table at the corner of the room.
It was quiet. I had just opened my newspaper when the main door opened and a group of around fifteen people filed into the room.
They were loud and boisterous with an obvious sense of camaraderie between them.
I instantly knew where the Disney people got their cast of characters to play the unkempt and menacing horde of pirates in their movies.
They circled my table and with what looked like a well-orchestrated set of maneuvers sat around me.
In no time at all my $2 coffee had grown into $50 by virtue of my “voluntary contributions” their various requests for financial help.
I finally plucked up enough courage to tell them I had to leave. As I arose the door opened and in walked another unkempt person who had a thin rope over his shoulder attached to a microwave oven which he carefully dragged behind him.
My puzzled look produced the explanation that the man’s name was Edgar and the microwave oven was Edgar’s pet. That Edgar could not afford a real one.
Sensing another donation ploy I hastily left, with the decision never to return again.
Some occurrences do indeed have an effect on people.
I have learned how to use the “ escape cellphone call” but one thing still bothers me, I keep wondering if my microwave oven is related to Edgar’s one.
