Chapter 17

Set against the back wall was a sofas and armchair in various stages of disrepair. The most coveted seats however were those in the window, providing an unspoiled panorama of Curtain road. Nothing in particular ever happened on curtain road but even nothing in particular is worth looking at. People love to watch people, Toby often thought to himself as he’s stood at the counter watching as people came in through The Bean’s front door and gazed hopefully and then usually disappointingly in the direction of the occupied window. The street through that glass window was like a magazine in motion, with set perimeters beyond which the view was obscured, and with each passing person, or thing or situation or event, a new page was turned. Often people don't bother reading a magazine Toby often thought, rather they tended to be content to flick through the pages, staring at the pictures, occasionally in detail, but more often than not with a casual glance. The same could be true of the window where generally nothing more interesting than someone grabbing a sandwich or racing across the street was on view. But occasionally, something strange might happen, someone unusual might walk past. Toby often found himself staring out through the window when he wasn't busy, watching, observing. He really hadn't thought about this aspect of the work when he'd decided to get a cafe job. He'd thought of it purely as a way of earning some money and perhaps getting himself out of the house. But his café seemed to attract an almost unparalleled cross section of society. It had it's regulars, it's one off-errs, the guy who lives nearby and wants somewhere to hang out. One particular guy, Mark someone or other always came in at five to eleven, ordered a large cappuccino and sat alone at one of the tables at the back of the room. He didn't read. He just sat there, nestling his coffee in the palm of his hands like a small bird. He would stay until the lunch crowds started to arrive at half past twelve when he would politely pay for his coffee and leave. Sometimes he had hardly touched his coffee at all and had just sat there, staring into nothing. Perhaps he craved a bit of peace and quiet Toby thought.

It was the kind of place that seemed to attract practically everyone. Perhaps by being as simple as it was it hadn't managed to alienate anyone. Local designers with their painfully trendy jobs and low pay, students from the nearby fashion school each trying to out do each other with their own takes on fashion whilst all looking painfully similar, builders with their never ending apetitie for sandwiches. Once in a while someone in a suit would suit would wander in looking mildly uncomfortable and find a quiet corner to escape for the clutches of the city for half an hour or so which always made Toby smile.

‘pretty busy I guess’ said Alex, though I'm not too sure as it was my first day and I probably buggered everything up and took twice as long as was necessary to do everything. Paul was pretty nice though. He's pretty laid back isn't he.’
‘he's practically falling over but he's very good value. So how often are you working here?’ Toby asked. ‘hey do you want a coffee’
‘No it's all right I’ve had about three this morning all ready. Paul seems to be constantly bubbling more milk. But yeah, I guess I’d like to work full time, if I can. I'll have to wait and see how my trial goes I suppose.’
‘I wouldn't worry too much about that. So long as you don't poison anyone you should be ok. So what have you been up to before this.’
‘Nothing spectacular. I read history at Uni here in London and then I’ve spent the last year or so working for the library on Old Street but they ran into cash problems recently and had to let someone go. It was between me and one of the ladies who has been there for about a billion years so I suppose it was fair enough. Anyway I thought I’d get a bar job or cafe job. Hopefully it's only temporary. I'm getting married in three months so I thought it would just be easier to do something more temporary until then.’
‘I thought I spotted a bit of bling, come on give me a look. Ah very nice. So who's the lucky boy then?’
‘He's called James. We've been going out for about four years, and anyway we're getting married in September.’
‘Say it with a little more enthusiasm’ Toby said laughing before immediately feeling as if he may have overstepped the line. ‘So what does James do when he’s not being your fiancé?’
‘He's an insurance broker for Lloyds.’ Alex said with a little more enthusiasm forced to her voice. He works not to far from here near Moorgate circus, do you know it?’
‘Sure do. I used to work in a law firm around there but gave it all away for the love of coffee.’
‘Rubbish’ Alex said looking at Toby with suspicion.
‘No it's true. I thought I had signed up to become a Barista but ended up as a Barrister.’
‘You're taking the piss’ Alex said laughing. I’m not being rude but come on, look at you.’
Toby had let his hair grow since leaving Parkers and certainly didn't look the part of a city worker. He'd also forgotten to shave this morning, as he had yesterday so he got her point.
‘No honestly, I went to law school, and then worked for a while as a paralegal while I was waiting for my training contract to come up. In the end I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do so about three months ago I quit.’
‘So you've given that up to work in a café?’ ‘Yeah. I actually gave it up to become a struggling writer. I spend the mornings writing and then the afternoons working here.’
‘You're serious?’ Alex said looking rather bewildered.
‘Absolutely. At the moment I’m just hoping to get some pieces published so that I can apply to some newspaper groups. I've also applied to the BBC for their graduate recruitment programme, but it's bloody difficult to get in, so I’m not holding my breath. I've got to say though it's a huge relieve having left the city. I spent a good couple of years there knowing that it wasn't what I wanted to be doing but also not know what it was that I wanted to do instead.’
‘So what made you decide in the end’ Alex said after a brief interruption from a customer ordering a bagel and coffee.
‘My girlfriend actually. I think I knew it was what I wanted to do but couldn't make the decision. In the end I think she was getting sick and tired of my complaining about work and she basically told me what I needed to hear. She works just around here actually. She'll probably pop in this afternoon so I can introduce you.’
‘Great, so how's your writing going.’?
‘It's ok. I'm getting a few little things printed at the moments. Mainly small publications but just getting in print seems to be the key. I'm just trying to build up enough of a portfolio so that I can approach some of the newspapers. I'm really enjoying it though I have to say. For the first time in a couple of years I feel like I’m doing what I want to be doing.’

Toby enjoyed the easy pace of a cafe. There was almost always something to do but there was never a rush or deadline. The hours tended to take care of themselves, slipping by with casual indifference and generally he was struck by how quickly his shift was over. When he had nothing more urgent to do, which was quite a lot of the time, he could read the papers, jot down a few notes or just chat away with whoever it was that he was working just as he was doing now. He liked having customers, not clients. He never even saw the clients when he was working in the law firm. They were simply some name followed by a client number to be billed as heavily as possible. A succession of ´Dear so and so's all wanting something to be done as a matter of urgency. Whereas here he saw their faces, heard their voices, noticed their peculiarities. He could build up histories about them, wonder why they sat every day looking as if they were expecting someone who might walk in any moment, but never did. He could see their moods, their choice of newspaper, whether they liked to vary their lunch or as one of his regular customers did, order the very same ham and cheese sandwich every day, week in week out.

‘Hey Toby Paul said I should finish up at two’ Alex said slightly nervously as the last of the lunch crowd began to trickle out of the door. ‘Is there anything that needs to be done before I finish?’

‘Why don't you finish up now’ Toby said grinning. I'll give you a sterling recommendation when I see Paul tomorrow. Fancy a smoothy before you go.’
‘That would be great.’

‘Sorry we're closed’ Toby said shouting over Alex's head at Saffron who had just walked through the door and was shaking off her umbrella which was sodden from the rain which has just started coming down heavily outside.
‘Very funny smartarse, now hop to it and make me a coffee.’ Saffron said approaching the counter where Alex was standing and looking a little awkwardly firstly in Toby's direction and then at Saffron, not quite sure of what she should do or say.
‘Hi I'm Saffron’, Saffron said extending her hand towards Alex. ‘Excuse my boyfriend, he has absolutely no manners.’
‘Saff this is Alex, she has just finished her first day. Be nice. I'm just making her a smoothie. Do you want one too?’
‘Perfect. Would you like some company Alex, Saffron said smiling. ‘He can deliver the drinks to the table.’

Saffron and Alex sat in the now empty window, rain rolling down the glass in short bursts. ‘I love this window’ Saffron said. ‘But it's usually impossible to get a seat here. You'd think that going out with the staff would carry some weight but alas. So how do you like it here?’
Saffron and Alex sat chatting away idly in the window for half an hour or so before both standing up and approaching the counter to say goodbye to Toby before leaving.

‘Nice smoothie’ Toby enquired casually as he stacked the coffee cups which had just finished their cycle in the steamer on the shelf.
‘Horrible’ Saffron replied.
‘Right, thanks for the company Saffron, and thanks for the smoothie Toby. I'll see you tomorrow?’
‘Same time same place Alex. Thanks a lot Alex enjoy your afternoon.’

‘She's lovely’ Saffron said to Toby as Alex slipped out the door and into the street.
‘Yeah she seems cool doesn't she?’
‘Look I hope you don’t mind but I invited her to come along to Andy’s gig on Saturday.’
‘Really? Nah that's fine.’
‘Cool. We got chatting about the weekend and she mentioned that her fiancé is going to be away with work and that she doesn't have any plans. She seems quite young to be getting married don't you think?’
‘Yeah I was a little surprised myself. Bring her along then, Andy’s band can do with all the support they can get.’
‘They're not that bad are they.’?
‘They're certainly different’ Toby said laughing. ‘Nah, you know I think they're great, they're just an acquired taste that's all. So is she going to meet us there or what.’
‘I said she could come round to ours first. We can grab a drink at the Duke and then wander down together. That ok with you?’
‘Perfecto’
‘Right, must run. Behave yourself and I’ll see you at home. Give the place a bit of a spruce before I get home like a good boy! Saffron said kissing Toby on the cheek before rushing out into the rain.’