Second Chances by Lincoln Cole

grabbed a stack of
Styrofoam cups and disappeared.  He eyed the dispenser for a minute. “How
heavy can it be?”
    It turned out that it could be quite heavy.  He
staggered back down the hallway with it, holding it like a giant baby. 
    Fully filled it was incredibly awkward to carry, sloshing
liquid back and forth and throwing him off balance. He grunted and staggered
his way back to the lobby.
    Halfway down he noticed a large sticker on the side recommending
it not be moved while there was liquid inside.
    Nevertheless he got it to the table, panting and out of
breath.  The place was starting to fill up and about half of the chairs
had people in them now.  A few newcomers were milling about, munching on
donuts and conversing.
    “Thanks,” Jason said, biting into a chocolate frosted monstrosity. 
People flocked to the coffee dispenser within seconds of it being set down,
filling their cups and pushing Richard aside.
    “Things heavy.”
    “Yeah,” Jason said.  “I usually ask Jon to bring it
out. He’s a body builder.”
    “Ah,” Richard said. “I’m definitely not.”
    “Oh, a bear claw!” he heard someone say behind him.  It
sounded like Marlene.
    He turned quickly, realizing he’d forgotten to separate his
donuts out, and watched Marlene pull a bear claw out of the box with her
hand.  He hurried to the box and glanced inside. 
    It was almost empty already, and the other bear claw was
missing.
    He looked up just in time to watch her take a big bite out
of his donut.  “Oh god, I  love  these things,” she said,
mouth full and rolling her eyes up in exaggerated pleasure.  “Greatest
things in the world.”
    Richard let out a long sigh.  “Yeah, they are pretty
good.”
    She stopped chewing.  “Oh, sorry, did you want one too?”
    He waved his hand in vague annoyance.  “No, it’s okay.
I got those specifically for me, but it’s alright. Enjoy it.”
    “Oh,” she said. “Sorry.”
    “It’s okay,” he said.  “Not a big deal.”
    “Ooh, try that one right there! The one with apple in
it.  Practically the same thing!”
    She walked away, leaving Richard to stew in his
annoyance.  He blew out a deep breath and ran his fingers through his
hair. 
    “Not even  close  to the same thing,” he
mumbled to himself.  “Just one night. I only have to survive one night.”
    A large woman came over to the box and glanced inside. 
She had ruddy cheeks and big jowls and was wearing a flamboyant pink
dress.  She eyed each donut, sizing them up like a predator, and then
selected one with cream filling, little chocolate flakes, and cream cheese
icing on top.  She took a dainty bite and then seemed to notice Richard
for the first time.
    “Hi,” she said.  
    “Hello,” Richard replied. 
    He grabbed one of the Styrofoam cups and poured himself some
of the coffee.  The first sip made him wince. Too strong and a terrible
aftertaste that would probably linger for hours.  
    “I’m Angelina.”
    “Richard,” he said. 
    They shook hands. Richard set his coffee on the table,
glancing around for a trashcan to toss it in.
    “I haven’t seen you around here.  Are you new?”
    “Something like that,” Richard replied.
    “How long?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “How long have you been sober? I’m at seven months.”
    He stared at her.  “Do I  look  like an
alcoholic?”
    “No, you look like an asshole,” she said, flashing him a
quick smile.  “But we don’t judge here.”
    She wandered away.  Richard decided to move away from
the table with food on it.  Too many people were congregating at it and he
didn’t feel like conversing with any of them. He retreated to the chairs
instead.
    He took the one beside his brother and checked his
watch.  “How long ‘til this thing starts?”
    “A few minutes,” Jason said.  “Once people finish
eating.”
    “Good,” Richard replied.
    “How were your bear claws?”
    Richard only sighed in response.
    The chairs filled up as the