Monday, he comes into the restaurant. Oversized ears, nose bristling with hair, and a surreal wrap-around smile that reminds me of the Mad Hatter. Older, 70's, and in an English accent asks for a cup of coffee. Crystal bright blue eyes.
He's a lunatic, deranged, you can tell, good natured enough, but his eyes, appearance, there's no one home, no one at all. He sits with a big grin on his face and asks about little pastries and cakes and I refer him to the bakery across the way.
He's jolly. He drinks his coffee, unblinking, livid blue eyes, a madman, his smile is perpetual, stuck on as if he's looking into the void, I'm amazed - to all superficial appearances, normal, but - no, he's barking mad. He tells me he's paid for his coffee, and I pooh-pooh it, "On the house" I tell him, it was an older pot, thank you for coming in and all that, and he leaves, for such an unremarkable visit he's made an impression...