People of the Bookstore Cafe

It's kind of fun to sit here and just people watch. As long as it looks like you're occupied with a book or a laptop, and provided you are not Creepy Old Guy, it's not hard to pull off unnoticed.


Kid sitting next to me:
Yes, I see that you are reading. Good for you. But it is not necessary to pretend to stop reading for a moment to observe the book cover, feigning great interest. You're not fooling anyone. Honestly, you'd look like less of an idiot if you had just turned to me and proclaimed loudly the title of the book you were reading, instead of just slyly turning the cover towards me and sneaking glances in my direction.

But I am impressed nonetheless; Harry Potter is right up there with Dostoevsky and Dickens.


Girl in the faux-bohemian green striped top:
You want one of the comfortable chairs, a desire to which I can relate. There are probably a dozen of them in the cafe, alongside two or three couches. People are coming and going all the time, so at any given moment there are probably 4 seats freshly occupied, 4 seats used for some time, and 4 about to vacate. Unfortunately for you, i'm still in the middle 4 (although learning towards the third 4). I'm sitting here, trying to write and relax, and having you come by and glare at me every 20 seconds isn't making it any easier. Do you have some special connection with this chair? Too bad. I'm annoyed now.

Oh. damn. The seat next to me opened up.
You win this time.


Guy who left not too long after I sat down:
Damn it, you gave little miss anxiety your chair. But, I suppose it is for the best. You were making me sort of uncomfortable just being here. You were flashing your book around for all to see, just like the little wizard next to me, but... Why? For the love of god and all that is holy, why? You're not even reading anything remotely pop culture. Your book, which reads from right to left (cough, cough), doesn't even have any English text on the front for someone else to recognize. Sorry, pal, but I don't think anyone around us reads Kanji quite like you do.
We all, however, recognize the international symbol for two females, covered in soap suds, making out.

Which, coincidentally, is two females, covered in soap suds, making out.

Classy.