(flash story)

As he walked into the crowded coffee shop, John noticed a man sitting alone at a table with a sign that read “No free wifi, talk to each other like in the olden days.” John smirked at the irony of the situation, as he pulled out his smartphone and sat down at a nearby table. He scrolled through his social media feeds, barely acknowledging the other patrons around him.

Suddenly, the power went out, plunging the coffee shop into darkness. The man with the sign sat unfazed, sipping his coffee by candlelight, while the rest of the customers panicked and scrambled for their phones. John realized that he was completely unprepared for the situation, and that the man with the sign had been right all along.

Feeling embarrassed and foolish, John struck up a conversation with the man, who introduced himself as Henry. They talked for hours, sharing stories and jokes, until the power was restored and the coffee shop slowly emptied out.

As John left the shop, he couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of the situation. He had gone into the coffee shop expecting to be entertained by his phone, only to find himself truly entertained by a stranger who had encouraged him to put down his phone and engage with the world around him.