Twilight Java

Chapter 4

Aha!

I scrambled to retrieve my phone so that I had as much time at the cafe as possible. The maps app swiftly loaded and I hurriedly typed in 'Woodwork Cafe' into the search bar. My leg paced impatiently, as though it would somehow propel the app into loading my route quicker. I felt a sense of relief when the cafe showed up to be half of a mile from where I currently was. Gathering myself, I quickly headed back into the current of people walking down the sidewalk, following the trail my phone had set up.

After about fifteen minutes of brisk and stressful walking through a busy city, I finally arrived at the more secluded area that the Woodwork Cafe resided in. Stepping into the still atmosphere of the cafe was when I realized how windy it was outside and that I probably looked like a disheveled mess- Wild hair, bag sagging over my shoulders, tank top rising up to my belly button and flannel slipping off my shoulder. I tousled my hair and straightened my clothes out after sharing eye contact with the barista who looked slightly startled. A gentle melody was playing by a female guitarist that I hadn't seen yesterday.

It wasn't until I took a step forward that I realized how strange my plan was: An unknown college girl coming into a cafe asking to take pictures of the musicians. I guess worded like that, it didn't seem that strange and normally I would just take pictures but this setting felt much more personal and enclosed despite the size of the cafe. Plus they might've had a "No photography policy" for all I knew.

With a deep breath I stepped forward and approached the cashier, planning what I wanted to say in my head. Approaching the mid twenty year-old man still slightly out of breath, I decided to place an order before I asked about the pictures.

Asking for a cup of coffee with a hefty amount of milk and sugar then paying for it, I began to ask.

"Um, before you start my coffee, I was wondering something,"

He looked confused but went with it. "What can I help you with?"

"I need some pictures of the musicians singing and I wanted to know if that would be allowed? It's for my college newspaper."

He looked unsure, but continued. "That's not really up to me, so I'd ask them if they'd be fine with that. We don't have any rules on photography but just make sure there's no flash."

I brightened up, delighted at his answer. "Thank you so much," I glanced at the stage, noticing the girl sway while she played. "Should I ask them right before they start? Or is there a room they're in before they play."

He smiled politely. "We're not a recital hall with special rooms for players, people just come in and play if the stage is open," I blushed realizing how ridiculous my question was. "They usually come at certain times so they sort of make their own schedule."

"Alright, thank you so much."

"No problem, good luck with the picture-taking. Oh, and your number is fourteen."

"Thank you," I said, then embarrassed for my lack of common sense. I found a small circular table near the stage that I thought would give me the most interesting angle for the paper, and most flattering angle for the singer.

I untangled myself from my camera and backpack, laying them on top of the table. Turning on my camera, I made sure to check everything was working and I had my preferences correctly saved. After I did that, I realized I didn't have any questions for interviewing. I didn't want to seem unprofessional if some of them did agree to the interview so I would have to come here once again.