The café had one table marked RESERVED. For three mornings, Lina arrived at nine and found it empty.
On the fourth morning she asked the owner, “Who keeps booking that table and never coming?”
“Someone who comes every day,” he said.
At 9:15 an elderly man entered, placed a newspaper on the table, and walked straight back out.
Lina watched him through the window. He sat on the bench outside with his coffee.
“He reserves it for the newspaper,” the owner explained. “If it gets windy, he comes in to finish the crossword.”