Canadian Nemesis

I woke up extra early this morning so I could beat my nemesis, Bob, to the coffee shop and to my favourite chair.

Whenever I'm on the island, I make time to visit my favourite coffee shop in Sidney, Serious Coffee, to get some writing done. It's a veteran-run establishment that is as opposite to Starbucks as it is opposite to Starbucks. In true Starbucks fashion, there's a Starbucks across the street.

Serious Coffee is comfy and unpretentious and attracts those very same people, including my nemesis, Bob. Bob is a gentle-looking fellow, and I don't have a fix on how old he is. He's timeless and unassuming. His clothes look as comfortable as he is. Quiet and nestled.

Now, Bob is not really my nemesis. I quite like Bob. But I feel it adds just the right amount of drama to the start of my day if I have one, or at least think I have one. Every time I come here, I come five to ten minutes earlier to see if I can beat Bob. The shop opens promptly at 7:30 a.m.

In the past, I have arrived at 7:31, and Bob was already in the cozy seat by the fire. The next time, I showed up at 7:20. Bob was there, waiting in a chair beside the door. This has been going on every month or so, whenever I swing into town.

Last time I was in town, I arrived, breathless, at 7:05. Bob was there, sitting in the chair beside the door, smiling. Not smiling at me as I gasped and wheezed and leaned against the pillar, wondering if he was a wizard. Just smiling quietly to himself, watching the morning build.

"Morning," he said serenely.

Today was the day I would beat Bob. I showed up at 6:45. No shop lights were on as I turned onto Beacon Avenue. A full moon was casting shadows, and there was no Bob to be seen. I pulled up to the curb, turned off the car, breathed in the sweet taste of victory, and looked out my window before getting out. Shit. Bob was hidden in a shadow. There he sat, beside the door, with a bemused look on his face.

Later I would learn that he arrives early to help set up the outside seating for the café. I still have no idea how early he gets there, but this is Bob's thing. This is Bob's morning ritual.

So now I'm short a nemesis.

It's hard to keep a nemesis who is nice and neighbourly and does good things for society without a fuss or asking for recognition. Everyone says hi to Bob as they get their coffee, add their cream or sugar, or find a reason to drift past and say hello. He says hello back, and he knows everyone's name. There isn't any small talk, just friendly greetings and regular people having coffee and starting their day a little closer together before the day pulls us apart.

He's Bob. And he can have whatever chair he wants.