One Duty Done.

I finally got around to telling the woman in the coffee shop that her irrepressible niceness seemed authentic, and that such a quality is not as common as one might reasonably expect in the catering trade. (Well, there are certain things you just have to do when you have reason to suspect that the grim reaper might be coming too close for comfort.) She assured me that it was, and demonstrated the fact by confiding that people find her chirpiness irritating first thing in the morning.

Such a short and superficial conversation, but still a minor obligation discharged. And if it does transpire that I’m to carry on regardless, maybe it will serve as a signal to start a little bridge-building.