Cold Night, Warm Talk

It gets busier and busier with each passing week at the Coffee Shop. Instead of sitting at a table like I usually do, I am forced to sit at the bar. It’s later than usual and not many people seem to be studying this time. It’s not surprising though. It’s cold outside and it’s warm in here. Even I have traded my iced tea for a hot earl gray.

From the amount of non-studiers, I’m guessing that things are starting to calm down in their classes. There is a lot more chatter than there normally is.  But that could also be attributed to there being some study groups in here as well. But hearing talk is better than listening to silence.  It is easy to tell that the students are excited. In three weeks, we get a week long break. Though, I expect it will get very silent again after that week as students will only have a week before finals begin. I expect this place will be packed like it was during midterms and now. More than likely, it will be even harder to find a place to sit than it was tonight.

The ones who seem more focused on studying are in the middle of the main area. One pair looks to be a study group. Two others sit alone. All four have laptops open in front of them. A group of three looks like they’ve finished and are now just hanging out and getting ready to leave. One of the single students looks like he’s done studying as well.

Every week, it’s been a different crowd of people in the Coffee Shop. With every week that has passed, the faces have changed, except for a few of the baristas. The last time I saw John was when he had met Jimmy and his friends here a few weeks ago.

Come and go, that’s how things work in here. Some come and get a drink and leave. Other stay and do homework or chitchat. Though, there does seem to be more chatter than studying. I wonder how many are tired of studying.

The pair must be done with their schoolwork as they are leaving. There are only a few dedicated students left. One sits at a large table in the middle of the room, two are at a table behind me, one of which has left, two more are in a small area to my left and then me at the bar. Though, anyone who sees me might think that I am writing an essay. Other than that, it’s all chatter as friends hang out in the warm room. Not that I blame them. It can get depressing being on campus all the time.

There’s so much chatter that I don’t think people can hear when their orders are being called. On the other hand, it’s hard to hear what is chatter and what is study talk. I also have a speaker right above my head which makes it hard to hear. But the patrons seems to be enjoying it.