True to His Art

I spotted Avner as I approached the coffee shop – he was standing outside and scrolling through his phone. He looked like something out of Edgar Allen Poe: baggy black clothes, ratty messenger bag slung low. His hair, dyed blue at the tips, hung in front of his face. When he looked up at my greeting, I saw that he was wearing eyeliner.

We went inside and got in line to order. I tried making small talk as we waited, but Avner had obviously decided he wasn’t going to say a word. I can handle that, but it gets a little awkward when you’re in a public place and people see you talking to yourself. I was relieved when it was our turn to order.

“I’ll have a large black coffee please, and a…” I looked at Avner. He just stared back at me.

Fine. “I just met him,” I told the girl behind the counter, “but I think he looks like a vanilla milkshake type of guy.”