The man with the marble carried his marble wherever he went. In times of stress, or boredom, he would reach into his pocket and swirl the marble between his fingers. The small glass orb, like a tiny planet, made him feel large for a change like he held whole earth in his hand.

“Ow! Dang it!” The coffee, black and bold, burnt Judith’s lips and tongue. She hadn’t been paying attention to what she was doing. “Let it cool off a bit.” Roland nudged the steaming cup a few inches away from her. The diner just opened and they were the first customers.