HIS FAVOURITE TABLE Muldoon sat in the same seat in the window where he liked to see out into

the street at those passing by and also those who entered the caf guessing about them what their names were what they did for a living and if they were a couple he wondered how they were together how they matched together taking note of their clothes the way they walked and the gestures of their hands their heads how they spoke and what they ordered to eat and drink how they ate remembering his mother telling how to eat in company what knives and forks and spoons to use and when and in what order he liked the window seat and got very put out if someone was sitting there when he entered the caf sometimes he lingered about the counter to see if the trespasser was about to leave or he sat in another seat waiting to see if he or she or they would leave and then make his way to his prized seat as soon as was possible he liked it when the sun shone in through the window on summery days liked the warmth on him he liked to order his favourite coffee and have the waiter or waitress give him one shot of coffee and not two he disliked his coffee too bitter or strong some days there was the waitress with the Italian look who spoke with that Italian accent and gave him that look that made him feel hot under his collar and he imagined him and her walking the streets together his hand in hers she wearing something sexy something that turned him on something in red he liked girls in red skirts or dresses he recalled a girl he met at a party who wore the most beautiful red dress that lifted when she did a twirl while dancing and he glimpsed her red panties and how he swooned over that but the day in question it was the thin waitress with the fair hair drawn into a tight bun at the back which drew her face back into a tight mask and she spoke with a drawl drawing out her words as if they were elastic and she had that blankness about her as if her mind switched off when she entered the caf to work he order a one shot coffee and she turned to arrange this and he studied her figure the way her hips protruded rather smoothed out how her buttocks held tight in the uniform seemed uninviting her narrow back gave no hint of tits at the front no bra straps pushed through her hands moved swiftly her fingers slim and long performed the task nimbly he leaned slightly over the counter top to study her legs making sure it didn't appear to obvious to others the legs were thin almost shapeless the black shies were small like those of a child as she turned around he looked away looking at the door where others were going and coming she placed his order on a tray and he paid her and she took the money in her open hands and he walked off toward his table in the window hoping no one would take his seat before he got there and he moved as fast as he could holding the tray steady the coffee swaying slightly on the tray and yes he made it no one had taken his table and chair he had made it he was there.