He was a man who liked coffee most. He was around forty then and knew a thing or two about this life. When he had been young there was a moment when he had to choose - just as we all have - what way to follow. At that time he fancied mathematics and decided to give it a try. His family didnt keep him from acting on his own and let him enter Princeton. He liked the university, mathematical puzzles had never been an obstacle to him. He had a natural ability to see the connection between distracted facts and notions. He had a few friends but most part of his mates treated him as a weirdo. I think that was because of his awkwardnes: he never actually tried to fathom the schemes profesors offered and could sometimes find a solution to some equation when everyone else puzzled in vain over it. And nobody knew how he did that.The isolation didnt affect him a lot. Every now and then he went to the cafe in the next street to enjoy a cup of coffee. I think that was the time when he came to like it. All in all he probably liked the solitude first and then coffee - its instant companion.He graduated from Princeton and it was his father who talked him into accepting a prospective proposal of a government statistics agency. He took up the offer and got hold of the job quite fast. It was a bit monotonous but had allowed him to save up some money to buy a detached house he lived in now. Besides, if it hadnt been for the job he would have never known what it was to be free. Strange though it may seem that was true. He didnt mind working, he never had to force himself to get down to his duties when there appeared a need, and his colleagues and his bos, in their turn, appreciated his compliance.So there he was now - a prosperous member of a prosperous society. Still he felt an eagernes towards something he couldnt quite define. He somehow knew his life had been and introduction to something more. In the strange course of his habits coffee played the main part. Why? He didnt bother finding that out. He had always thought that the best thing to do is to to avoid the knowledge you have an urge to get. He worshipped moderation.One day he took his usual espreso in his favourite cafe. He knew the procedure in detail. The barman turns on the coffee machine, the coffee is ready in a minute, a waitres serves the cup. He sipped and put down the cup. When he raised his head, his eyes came to rest upon a woman in front of him. She apologized for having interrupted his lonelines and introduced herself. They talked literature a bit, and in ten minutes he knew almost everything a man should know about a woman to take interest in her. She was pretty too. She was really interested in him as well, as perceived it. But he couldnt betray his freedom; he thought he would if he let that woman enchant him. He put down her phone number and promised to phone her soon. She waved him good-bye and he left knowing he would never see that woman again. He drove home where he had a cold supper and coffee again.I think he was a man who liked coffee most.

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