The empty chair at the café

Every Thursday, Sam worked at the same café table. One chair for Sam, one chair for a bag. The bag had an excellent social life.

One rainy morning, a stranger hovered nearby with a cup and a book. Every other seat was taken. Sam moved the bag before the stranger had to ask.

They did not have a profound conversation. They discussed the weather, the terrible traffic, and whether a cookie counted as breakfast. It did, they decided.

The following week, the stranger arrived first. Sam’s usual seat was empty. Beside it sat a cookie.

A note said, ‘For the bag’s replacement.’ Sam laughed, sat down, and found that the table had become a little bigger without changing size.