THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Dot walked into the café looking like she'd just emerged from a lake.

- A short story by Mollie Kendrick

That storm had come from nowhere. Everything around her had come from nowhere. The park, the streets, the houses. None of them made any sense. She'd been on her way to the marina, knowing all she had to do was walk in the direction of the sea, but no matter how far she walked, the sea never came. There were just these silly houses - rows and rows of them.

But then the café appeared and she recognised it, and realised she must have come out for coffee. She often met Susan here for coffee and a pastry. They'd smoke Lucky Strikes and avoid their mothers.

Inside, people were looking at her. She wished she'd brought her coat and an umbrella. No one else looked like they'd just been saved from a terrible drowning. She went to the counter.

'What can I get you?' the girl asked.

'Coffee, please.'

The girl smiled at her.

'What sort of coffee?'

Dot floundered. What did she mean, what sort of coffee? 'Just coffee,' she said. Then she remembered. 'Nescafé.'

'We don't do instant coffee here. Latte, cappuccino, Americano...'

Dot heard the empty words. They meant nothing. 'Latte,' she said, and hoped it was the right answer.

The girl waited and Dot knew she was expected to pay. The trouble was, she couldn't remember how much the coffee cost here. There was a board behind the counter where she knew the prices were written, but when she looked at it, she was lost.

She reached into her pocket and brought out some coins, then offered them up in the palm of her hand.

She was cold now from the rain, her skin wet beneath her clothes, and had no idea who she'd come here to meet.

The girl took all the money and didn't give Dot any change, then passed her a glass full of milkshake. Dot stared at it.

'Your latte,' the girl said.

'Oh,' Dot said. 'I thought I ordered coffee.'

'It is coffee.'