1 The café is full. Anna stops beside a small table with her wet coat in her hands. A man sits there alone. His big bag is on the other chair.
2 "Can I sit here?" she asks. "Of course." He moves the bag under the table. It makes a loud sound. "Sorry. Books," he says. "A lot of books."
3 Anna orders tea. The man drinks coffee and looks out at the rain. On the table, beside his cup, is a small shopping list. Anna can read the first word: milk. Then bread. Under the list is a receipt from the bookshop.
4 "Is that your shopping list?" she asks. He looks down. "Yes. I work in the bookshop across the road. I bought these books after work. But I still need the milk." His name is Ben. Anna tells him her name.
5 They talk about the shops in the street. Anna is new here. She likes the little food shop, but it closes early. Ben tells her about another shop near the station. It is open until nine.
6 The rain stops. Anna puts on her coat. Ben picks up the bag with both hands. "Do you want to come for a coffee another day?" he asks. "Without the books."
7 "Tea," says Anna. "But yes. Wednesday?" They agree on four o'clock. Outside, they walk to the food shop together. Ben needs his milk, and Anna needs something for dinner.