I am sitting at Coupacafe eating breakfast and reading a graham green story about the Eiffel Tower.

I have a New York Times folded, on the table, ready to be read.

On my left, a father and son. He reading from his handheld, the boy playing video games. To my right , very young mother— in the powder room, her sister, two young kids, one on her watch, one on a ipads sized game box. the elder —still in late teens, scrolling.

I am doing this, ironically.

final tally six humans six devices, no conversation a guy talking to himself assuming no one is listening to him. what a dog waiting for more scraps or more interactions human or canine.