At the corner of 10th and Wessex stands a small café. The streets are not terribly busy, which makes the shop pleasantly quiet, but on the other hand it isn't very busy inside the shop either. Still, the aging wood front indicates this place has been standing for at least a generation and wouldn't be going out of business any time soon. It had a number of regulars, one among them being a rather quiet man who came in every day around noon, bought the same thing, and sat for half an hour reading a newspaper. Sometimes other regulars at the shop would come and talk to him, but not usually. Most days he just sat there, wearing his hat low over his eyes with his trench coat collar turned up to obscure his face.
There was a new hire at the counter today, and she was very disinterested in her work. Unless the manager was present, she was rude to customers, made mistakes, and scolded anyone who asked for her to fix them.
Noon rolled around and this man ordered his usual, a flat white with nonfat milk, please, in his quiet voice. The girl behind the counter sneered at his odd manner of dress and made his drink haphazardly, using whole milk to make a plain latte that filled about 3/4 of the mug she was using.
"Excuse me," the man said, not raising his voice but now looking up more directly at the girl. "That is not what I asked for."
"What do you care? It's coffee, it all tastes the same anyway." She said, not even looking at him.
"That is not what I paid for." The man said, his volume only raised slightly. Sneer on her face, she turned to him and shoved the mug into his hands hard enough that it slopped over the edge and down his front.
"It is now." She snapped, turning away. The man stood for a moment, apparently thinking, then went to get some napkins to dry himself off. A few of the regulars looked horrified or sympathetic, but none bothered the reclusive gentleman. Several wanted to ask if he was alright, or if he was going to stand for that, or go notify the manager, but all found themselves unable to stand.
The man went to his usual table with his newspaper and what was left of his coffee. He opened up his paper but his eyes remained fixed on the girl behind the counter.
Almost inaudibly, so no other patron could hear, he whispered "Look at me." The girl glanced up from her phone, surprised, and locked eyes with him for a moment. Then she shook her head and looked back at her phone.