InsaneJournal

Freddie Strong worked hard and was well liked. In his profession, compassion and patience were very important virtues to have, working with special needs young people, to give them a better life. Freddie arrived early and went home late, filled in for his coworkers at short notice, was never seen to lose his temper or get frustrated with the people he worked with. When he arrived and his manager said, “Oh thank God you’re here, I need you,” that was really what made his whole day.

The other thing he never missed was his morning coffee, always the same order, always the same time, always the same place. The baristas chatted to him as they worked, because he was friendly and he tipped generously. They also might have noticed that while he waited to the side for his coffee, he looked around at who was coming in, and when one guy in particular walked in the door, Freddie’s expression brightened, and he stood a bit straighter. Sometimes he said, “Nice morning for it,” and the other man nodded vaguely, more focused on his caffeine fix than anything else. And sometimes Freddie held the door for him on their way out. And that was it.

“Why don’t you introduce yourself?” asked Sasheer one day, nodding towards the handsome Indian man coming in the door, and Freddie just smiled and shook his head.

“Oh no, I- The timing isn’t right,” he said with a shrug. But this time, he paid for the other man’s drink as well as his own, leaving before he could be thanked.