I
walked
into
the bar
at
an ungodly
early
hour
because
it
was
the
only place
open
where
I could get
a
cup of coffee
which
wasn’t
a problem
and
there
she was
pretty
in pink
and
famous
as
she could be
a
songbird
sitting
on the floor
throwing
a
handful
of small dice
like
jacks
then
translating
the
outcome
into
words
and
phrases
she
typed into
the
laptop
in
front of her
a
freely
chosen gamble
humming
to herself
and
with
my
hot
coffee in
one
hand
I
sat
down on
the
vacant crate
next
to her
introduced
myself
again
having
met her
once
many
years ago
and
quickly
ran
out of
anything
worthwhile
to
say
wishing
her well
not
wanting to intrude
on
her work
without
cause
but
unable
to move along
without
first
paying my respects.