she surveys her path
rehearses each movement
inventories her items
in preparation for her trip
through the coffee shop
maze of scattered tables
to the door marked Ladies
across the busy room
should she leave her jacket
draped over the chair
mark her place occupied
prevent table being cleared
iced latté being thrown away
will her umbrella be prey
for the steady April rain
of this Tacoma afternoon
This cofee shop is the Starbucks in the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Tacoma's Lakewood mall. The coffee shop is located by the rest rooms at the back of the store.