Normally I am the first one in the place when it opens at seven. This time, however, a woman my age or a little older was already sitting at the seat that used to be my usual. She had medium length red hair and was dressed like she hadn’t thought about money in a long time.

I got my coffee and sat in my newer usual seat in the corner, but turned a bit so as to not be facing directly at her; simply out of respect. When there are only two people in a place there is no reason to be so insensitive.

As soon as I sat she frantically got up and went out to her car to get her phone, then came and sat back down. She was sniffling a lot and it seemed like she had been crying. Immediately, she got into a texting conversation with someone on her phone which was clearly trying for her. She mumbled to herself and went through a range of emotions. She put down her phone and opened her wallet to take something out. Then continued on the phone.

There was a respite from her phone interaction, during which she leveled an almost accusatory look directly at me and held it for an uncomfortable period of time. Her phone demanded her attention again and it seemed something was resolved, but certainly not to her liking.

She put the thing back in her wallet, went to the restroom, came back, and in a herky jerky emotional way cleaned up her area, collected her stuff, and left. On her way out she appeared ready to kick some ass and take a few names.

A very peculiar start to a day.