johnny smith woke up.
he was still himself, and he was still alone in his little room, which he was lucky to have.
he was nobody, and he had nothing to do and nowhere to go.
he had enough money for a cup of coffee and a donut or a danish pastry, so he decided to get up and go out and get them.
he left the room, and carefully locked the door behind him even though the lock did not work very well.
he took the stairs down to the street.
it was dark.
he headed to the coffee shop on the corner.
he ordered a cup of coffee and a raspberry danish pastry and took them over to a table and sat down.
a woman came over to the table. she was not old or young, fat or thin, good looking or ugly.
she had gray eyes.
are you eddie brown? she asked johnny.
no, he replied, i am johnny smith.
the woman considered this for a couple of seconds.
even though you are johnny smith and not eddie brown, she said, perhaps you can help me.
she sat down.
what is your name, johnny asked.
buy me a cup of coffee, she replied.
i will buy you a cup of coffee if you tell me your name, johnny said.
that seems like a fair exchange.
and i will buy you a donut if you tell me your life story, johnny continued.
you have yourself a deal, pardner.
let’s shake on it.
i do not shake hands with strange men. i am not that kind of person.
you refer to me as a man but yourself as a person, why is that?
those are the rules. take them or leave them.
excuse me while i buy you a cup of coffee and a donut.
give me the money and i will buy them myself.
johnny gave the woman with gray eyes three dollars.
she got up and fled into the night.
johnny was not surprised.
it was the story of his life.
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