Suzie’s House 460 : Coffee with the Soldier

“We really have to stop meeting this way.” Drew pulled up a chair at the sidewalk table at a small, State Street café. He caught the eye of the waiter to order a coffee.

“But you found me.” Walter grinned.

The old man sat with a coffee and a Danish in front of him. That was a good sign. He had his head together enough to buy something. He also wore some beat up old army fatigues. Oddly enough, they didn’t look completely outlandish on the trendy, college-town street – just a little incongruous.

“Sheer luck.” Drew grumbled. “You did something with my GPS tracker on your phone, didn’t you.”

“A man is entitled to a bit of privacy.” Walter nibbled delicately at the edges of his Danish.

“Not when he hired someone to keep him out of trouble.” He glanced up quickly as the waiter walked up. The young man didn’t seem to have overheard anything as he set down the black coffee.

“That was my nephew who hired you. Not me.” Walter only waited until the waiter took the order. He seemed completely unconcerned by what anyone around them might overhear.

“You begrudge my job?” Drew took a sip.

“No. no. Nothing like that.”

“So what are you doing here?” He leaned back in his spindly chair. It wasn’t likely they’d be going anywhere anytime soon.

“I’m waiting for that band to show up in Peace Park. The one with the cute girl who wears a bag over her head when she sings.”

Drew raised an eyebrow.

“I’m a fan.” Walter lifted his chin and smiled smugly.

“You mean Malaprop? They won’t be playing here again for a while.” Drew kept to himself that the band might never busk on State Street again. Either making the album would destroy the band, or make it so popular they didn’t have to play for loose change.

“They aren’t?” Walter looked mildly alarmed. “Is something wrong?”

“They are busy cutting an album. By the time they’re done, school will be in session. They might not have time for State Street anymore.”

“Oh.” Walter looked torn. “So I might not see them play anymore but I could buy the album? I don’t know whether to cheer or cry.”

“Yeah. Me neither.” Not that Drew was the least bit perplexed. “Alright, hand me your phone.”

“Why?”

“So I can fix the GPS tracker. You don’t really want to make it so I can’t rescue you, do you?”

Walter handed the phone over grudgingly.

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