Letters From Hell (Time Diving Book 1) by Craig Robertson

Author:Craig Robertson [Robertson, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Imagine-It Publishing
Published: 2023-05-22T16:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages [of Man].

As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7, 139-143,

William Shakespeare, 1599.

On a cold, windy Wednesday afternoon, two uniformed New York City policemen entered a nondescript coffee shop on Columbus near West 73rd Street. With poker faces set in place, they removed their hats, tucked them under their arms, and scanned the small crowd of patrons. They were looking for a particular stranger with whom they had arranged to meet. The stranger, a man of indeterminate years and middle size rose explosively halfway to standing and waved his arms in the air frenetically to capture their attention. Once the officers acknowledged his signal, the stranger sat back down and grinned impishly at them as the officers weaved their way to his table. The ghutra the stranger wore on his head contrasted culturally with his light-colored skin. Perhaps since he was otherwise in western dress, the officers didn’t attribute any particular significance to the inconsistencies. As they neared his table, the stranger gesticulated wildly toward the chairs on the opposite side of the table, and beseeched, “Please, geeeentlemen, sit, sit, please.”

The policemen seated themselves somewhat awkwardly given both the bulk of their proprietary gear and the suspicious vigilance they harbored generally, born from the nature of their work. The stranger asked obsequiously, “Please, what may I get you to drink? Or perhaps something to eat?” As if launched from a circus cannon, the stranger vaulted up and darted his head from side-to-side. “Where on earth is that waitress?”

The older of the two policemen replied unemotionally on behalf of both. “Coffee would be fine for us. Black.”

The stranger clapped his hands over his head and called out loudly, “Carol,” for he’d made it a point to learn the server’s name when he first arrived, “please bring two black coffees for my guests.” He started to sit, but was launched back up again as if there was a hot coal on his chair. He added, once more clapping raucously, “And, Carol, please bring some sweet niceties also, a generous selection, please. My guests are no doubt hungry from their herculean efforts on behalf of the citizens of this fair city.”

Only then was he able to sit and address them once again. While they waited for Carol’s delivery, the stranger loudly sang their praises. “It is so marvelous that two busy fellows such as yourselves would take the time to meet with the likes of me, who is your humble servant. I trust you found the cafe with no problem?” Looking impatiently toward the counter, and with overflowing irritation, the stranger asked no one in particular, “Can that waitress of ours have fallen asleep or become lost?” With unbridled scorn, he wondered aloud, “I hope she has not forgotten our order completely.” However, Carol did return promptly.

As she rested an overburdened tray on the

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