a grand day in the food court

As I'm sure you well know, some days are better than others. This particular day of which I am about to relate was destined for greatness. I called in sick to work as I do at least once a week according to my custom. It's not out of cowardness. It is in fact so that I can visit the food court at a time neither before nor after my regular working hours, lunch break not withstanding. This is very important. I might go mad without it.

The food court is a phatasmigorical vision. Everywhere there are lights. Many of them colourful and flashing. The senses are inundated with aromas, hallucinations, and sounds. People idly chatting, cashiers yelling back to cooks, video game noises buzzing from the arcade. I like to sit at a small table for two directly under the skylight. I can look up at the bright blue sky and imagine I'm laying drunk in the park. Something which I can never do on account of the ants.

On cloudy days I sit and read a book or a magazine with my meal. The meal itself is not important. Okay it is important but I'd like to keep it to myself. This day was indeed overcast and I was reading the paper and enjoying my second Dr. Pepper.
As I was ruminating a man at the table just off to my side addressed me. I hadn't even noticed anyone sitting there but I rarely notice anything.

I looked over at a rather rumpled looking gentleman dressed in a pinstripe suit I gathered he had slept in. He was about my age plus maybe 10 years. He leaned over. "I say friend, sure is some awful weather out there."

I looked through the floor to ceiling glass that ran along the north wall of the court. He spoke truth. It was in fact beginning to rain. The rain had only made it half way down from the sky and I could see what that would lead to. Damned if I hadn't left my window rolled down. No matter, my plant needed watering anyway.

"Does look a bit damp", I rejoined.

"I wonder what would happen if all the clouds just turned to water at once and came down like a great lake?"

"Yeah, right on a big tug boat pulling a barge of cocoa powder! Rad!" I really like hot chocolate. I usually find a way to turn any conversation in that direction eventually.