Coffee

I pushed through the curtain of fog as I made my way across the street. I had to get my daily caffeine fix otherwise I would never get through the day. The sky was the color of dirty dishwater. The heavy gray Spring morning rain slowed down the bus this morning, now I'm late. I could just leave the coffee and still be in time for work, but I decided against it. Coffee is more important.

I pulled my raincoat tighter around my body to try and keep out the chilly wind. They never predicted showers of rain for the City of Gold, yesterday. I wonder where the rain came from? Some meteorologist definitely miscalculated. I weaved through the cars to get to the local Caltex Gas Station shop, Bon Joir. I wanted to run, but my body was frozen stiff and couldn’t move easily.

As soon as the sliding doors opened when I stepped in front of it, the welcoming aroma of hot coffee hit my cold red face. The noise of the traffic disappeared with the closing doors and locked the cold outside. The inside was comforting and warm.

I shambled to the counter. My body was still fighting against my early morning escapades in the cold. Luckily it wasn't that busy and I was the next customer to be served. As I waited for the patron to help the customer in front of me, I couldn't help to feast my eyes on the line-up of delicacies in the cold glass display.

The different smells was consuming my mind. Cinnamon from the hot apple pie and yeast from the freshly baked bread. I could smell sweet burnt sugar on a chelsea bun and could already taste the raisins in my mouth. My favorite of course. Salivating I stood staring at the wide choice of eats.

I could feel my belly felt happiness laying at the door. Lurching impatiently, he knew a warm embrace was coming on. Not knowing what I wanted, a shiny bagel covered with seeds, cinnamon and coconut covered twists, donuts with a dash of icing or a brown wholesome bun with melting butter. Oh! And don't forget the Bon Joir house-coffee that brewed automatically in the pot.

When I heard the crinkly, brown paper bag being handed to the man in front of me I knew it was my turn. All the alluring aromas made my stomach to audibly growl. Eloise quietly chuckled and asked, "What will it be today, Bernadette?"
"Mmmmm. Let me see." Like every morning I looked up at the huge coffee menu above my head. I never take the same coffee two days consecutively. What would it be? Espresso, latte, americano, cappuccino, hot chocolate, Milo and even tea? "A large cappuccino with fresh cream and one sugar please, Eloise."

My belly growled like a wild cat this morning. As soon as she handed me my cappuccino I took my first mouth watering sip. It was satisfaction in a divine and fulfilling way. Holding the cup to warm my hands I placed my order. "A chelsea bun please. And a cinnamon and coconut covered twist, two donuts, one with chocolate and one with caramel icing."

Raising her eyebrows at my large order, I say, "What can I say? I'm hungry!" Before I could take another sip of my heavenly cappuccino, I saw Elouise's eyes widen in fear and all the blood drained from her face. I felt something stab into my back.

Choking, I turned around and saw a pair of brown, wild eyes. He looked frightened and stressed out. "Please, don't make a move. Nobody has to get hurt."  He was pointing a gun at me. Well, I couldn't see the gun because he was hiding it in his jacket pocket. I could however, see something protruding from inside.

It sent my thoughts soaring. I could chuck the coffee in his face and run. My eyes flicked to my cup and up to his face again. "Don't even think about it. What do you think is quicker?"

"The gun?" I asked, the air thick with anticipation. He just nodded. My belly twisted in knots, not feeling happiness anymore. I saw him shooting like a crazy person and dead people lying strewn all over the shop. I saw it happening like an unrehearsed play. "Are you robbing the place?"

"What do you think, baby?" Now, I wanted to chuck the coffee in his face. I'm not his, baby! But to keep the situation calm, I kept my thoughts to myself. Tension pushes people over the edge. And I don't want anyone to get hurt. He looked over to Eloise and made his demands, "One cappuccino with cream, please." He said, smiling the sweetest smile I've ever seen.

"Wait. What? Are you robbing this place for a cappuccino?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Who said anything about robbing the place?"

"But... but... you've got a gun!"

"What? This? Oh, no, sorry. This is my bike's keys." His eyes smoldered jokingly.

"Meet my brother, Stephen. Don't take anything he says serious, Bernadette. He thinks he's a comedian. Always joking around"

"I could have hurt you, you know. This cappuccino is really hot."

He could hardly hold his laugh. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I wanted to meet you for a long time, but you always seemed so preoccupied."

"This is a crazy way of meeting people." I blew out a sigh of relief with mixed but delightful emotions. I agreed to go out with him tomorrow night, before he paid for my order and left. When I left the shop a brilliant double rainbow sat smiling at me in the sky. "So, the joke's on me, hay?"