Character Sketch #2

The man in the red ear muffs.

Elderly and weary, ear muff man sits by himself working at the table across the way. Clad in a
checkered flannel shirt and thread bare jeans, he labors with a crossword puzzle. Muttering a mantra to himself, while he puzzles out the words, he is oblivious to the world around him.

Adorned with shooters ear muffs to block out the everyday noise and distractions, he sits in his own world unaware and uncaring of the coffee shop and its bustling crowd around him.

Who is he?

William lost his wife five years ago. She suffered with cancer for her last eight months and he took care of her until she needed a hospice. He spent every day with her until the end. They worked puzzles together. And listened to music. Their music.

Now he sits and puzzles alone. Wearing the muffs, he blocks out the world around to bring back the good memories of his wife. Sometimes he listens to their song on his portable CD player.

He's not one to socialize- he hides himself in the crowded coffee shop and chants his mantra to drive people away. He wants the company of others without them. He wishes to be alone while not being alone. Sometimes when you have a good thing, like William and Mary did, it steals your life when it's gone.

William is alone in a crowd. He prefers it that way.