catalogs addressed to the former tenant. I thought of the
note I'd had yesterday, the beautiful paper and the words
written in that fine hand. What had it said to do? Make a
list of flaws and strengths? I thought of it as I ate my toast
dry because I had no butter or jam.
You wil write a list of ten. Five flaws. Five strengths.
Deliver them promptly…
From the junk drawer next to my fridge I puled a yelow
legal pad and a stub of a pencil with a point rubbed to
softness by the creation of many lists. Chore lists, mostly,
or grocery. I'd never used it to detail my flaws and
strengths.
I tapped the pencil against my lips as I thought.
Proud
Stubborn
Independent
Independent
Smart
Curious
Determined
Conscientious
That was it. As far as lists went, it didn't feel complete, but
I couldn't think of more than that. So much for the ten, I
thought as I put away the pen and paper.
And the real question was, which had I written? Flaws or
strengths? Couldn't they sometimes be both?
I looked again at the tablet on the table. It had made me
think hard about myself, though it hadn't been meant for
me. I hoped the person it was meant for had better luck.
Chapter 06
I finished my shopping just before noon. I had only two
smal bags of groceries, the bare minimum to get me
through until payday. I'd left a few bucks in my walet on
purpose, though, for one reason. I didn't need a large
coffee with extra cream and a gooey cinnamon bun, but I
wanted them.
Located in the building adjoining Riverview Manor, the
Morningstar Mocha teemed with people out for a caffeine
fix. A few joggers, bundled against the cold, filed travel
mugs at the smal stand in the corner holding the sweetener
packets and jugs of milk and bins of creamer containers.
And in the corner, my corner, the seat I took because it
was in the smalest table and I was usualy alone, sat my
elevator eye-fucking buddy, Mr. Mystery.
Was it synchronicity? Or serendipity? His wasn't the only
familiar face there. I spied a few people from my building,
one or two I recognized as Mocha regulars, and of course
I knew the girl behind the counter. Her name was Brandy,
and you couldn't miss her. She chewed gum like cud.
I deliberately tried not to stare at him while I ordered my
