Derek

Part I of Essay
lifted the large plastic tub, which he had just filled with ice, level with the counter, dumped the ice into the stainless steel container, and sighed. He looked at his watch: 10:25, it said; almost mid-morning, and five eternal minutes left until his fifteen minute coffe ....

Part II of Essay
.... occupied with first replacing the package to his shirt pocket, then digging out a half used pack of matches from his too tight jeans. He was extremely conscious of the fluidity of his movements; lighting the cigarette with the match was the hard part, and he wanted to look as cool as possible, smooth and flowing, for all the eyes he perceived to be on him. He managed to execute the task to his satisfaction as he entered the staff room above the restaurant, but only Karen was there, finishing a butt of her own. He didn't give a shit about K ....