Nick at Night

(A short story by Mary M. Isaacs)

The coffee shop owner looked up as the door opened. When he saw who had come in, he grinned widely. “Hey, Nick, how’s it going?” and then he glanced at the clock on the wall. “You just barely made it on time! I was about to lock up.”

The young man walked to the counter. “Sorry, Mr. Collins, but I was kept late at work. I’m glad you’re still open. How many were turned in today?”

The owner opened the cash register. From underneath the till he pulled out several laminated red cards. “Eight, Nick,” as he handed them over. “All coffee drinkers this time. Pretty nice guys, too—they all said to tell you ‘thanks.’ Oh, and I wiped those down for you.”

“Eight?” replied the young man. “There should be a couple more. I wonder where they are? I hope those guys are okay…” He looked worried.

“Maybe they’re saving them for some time special. Maybe they didn’t see them and left them behind. Maybe they got lost.” The coffee shop owner spoke cheerfully, trying to inject a positive note. “They’ll turn up, Nick.”

“Maybe so.” The young man took the cards and then rummaged in his pocket. “I hope I have enough to cover these, Mr. Collins. Payday isn’t until tomorrow.” And he started counting out bills onto the counter. The coffee shop owner watched the process anxiously.

The young man finished counting and looked up apologetically. “Gosh, Mr. Collins, I’m so sorry. There’s not enough to pay for them all. I should try to plan things out better. I guess I’m not very good at budgeting.”

“Don’t worry about it, Nick. I know you’re good for it.” The owner gathered up the money and put it away in the till. Then he shut the cash register drawer. “Are you going out again tonight?”...

...continued

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Mary M. Isaacs--

copyright, 2019

*all rights reserved*

("Nick at Night' is included in the Holiday Stories collection; it previously appeared in the book, Hidden in Plain Sight. Both books are featured on the right sidebar.)