So there you have it

Disclaimer: Characters and places are all fictional.

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“Get up!” my mother practically screams, “you’ll be late for work.”



I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. “Is it time already?”



“Yes, now get up!” she slams the door on the way out.



I didn’t mean to say that out loud, but you didn’t have to go and slam the door. Everything seems so sluggish while I get ready. After I’m ready, I notice the time finally, and see how much time I really have. Great, she could’ve woken me earlier the lazy bitch. I was already late.



“I need a ride.” I tell my mother, since there’s no way I’ll get there any time soon on foot.



“Go on foot.” Every word she speaks is spiteful, “You should’ve thought about it before you overslept.”



Is she really even my mother? Tch… no point in wasting time with her. I check with a friend, and understanding my mother he says he’s on his way. Next I call the café to let them know I would be there soon, and that I’ll explain it when I get there. And go wait out on the curb, just to get out of the house.



After he arrives, I thank him again and complain about my mother on the way to work. He agreed that it sounded like my mother to sabotage my plans whatever the hell they are. I would think she would like it for me to have a job, just so I could be out of her hair. This is just ridiculous. Anyways, I finally arrive at work.



“I’m sorry I’m late. I set the alarm before I went to sleep. I must’ve slept through it.” Nothing’s worse than telling your boss about conspiracy theories about your own parents, so this little lie won’t hurt anyone.



“That’s alright, just don’t let it happen again after your training.” He dismisses it so easily, “Ok, let’s get you started on training.”



Just then little miss clumsy tripped and sent a pair of three cups flying five feet from her. For fear of her cutting herself, I just had to go over. I guess I learned my first lesson. Always keep an eye out for her. The clean up went fairly quick, but that didn’t explain the order. There were only two customers here and they were sipping their drinks while watching the clean up.



“Whose were those?” I ended up asking without really thinking.



“They were ours.” The manager pointed to the corner table. It had various paperwork and manilla folders to sort them out later. “We were going to have a little meeting to get you started. Chloe, go make more cups, and use the tray mother used to use for just us.”



“O-Okay, daddy.” She bowed her head a little first then, “I’m really sorry.”



“Please, remember you’re at work. Call me by my name; you should know that by now. Now hurry; Samantha please be seated.”



Chloe runs off, almost literally, to get the drinks while we sit down, “She’s your daughter?”



He sighs, and pauses for a moment looking towards the back. “Yes…” and that was all he said.



I guess there’s a story to that. After coming here for so long, I couldn’t believe that I didn’t know they were family. I knew a family started the business, but it was so long ago that I never thought of it. It was just a place to come relax at, since it was so quiet. No, it was more peaceful. After Starbucks came in across town, I tried it once, but it was always loud. Just like home. A clutter of noise and frustrated and angry people.



“It’s a beautiful view isn’t it?” He suddenly spoke not even looking at me.



“What?”



“I noticed you were looking out towards the pond.” He was still looking at it.



“I’m sorry. I do that sometimes, when I’m thinking.” It was beautiful, “I didn’t mean to… I was just…”



“Hey, hey.” He looked back at me, “It’s ok. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”



“I know, but I didn’t mean to…” A cup was placed in front of me.



“Didn’t mean to what?” Chloe asked.



“She was thinking about something, and looked out towards the pond.” There was a slight emphasis on the pond. “And I said it’s nothing to be ashamed of, so don’t worry about it. Ok?”



“Ok.” I couldn’t help but look down.



“I guess that’s as good of a place to start out at.” He stretched a little to get in focus, “At this coffee shop, we do more than just give a cup of coffee to caffeine addicts. We…” he paused and held out his hand to showcase the view, “give people an atmosphere.”



He moved on to the view inside the place, “Here, people can talk freely to each other, and also not have others intruding on that conversation. If you will, notice the tables.”



The place actually wasn’t that small, and, on top of that, everything was situated to appear open. It looks welcoming. A place where you don’t have to worry about disrupting someone else. The place looked empty, since no one was here. But it was also like it was alive, so that you weren’t really alone. He was right. This gives off an atmosphere of home. But I don’t have a home, not a real home where I could relax. This place had been more of a home than home was, since the first cup I had at 15.



“Are you ok?” Chloe suddenly ask, I hadn’t even noticed her sitting beside me while I was looking around the place. Her question confused me, but she noticed, “You were starting to cry.”



“What?” I notice the tears and wipe my face, “I’m so sorry. I hadn’t noticed. I didn’t mean to…”



“Calm down.” His voice was always so kind now that I think about it. Everything about this place made me start to act so differently. I didn’t know it at the time. “Breathe for a minute and tell us what you were thinking about.”



“I…” I take a deep breath in, “It feels like home.”



He just nods.



“But it’s a home, I’ve never really known.” Pausing for a second, I gain control of myself again. “That’s all it was.”



“And that’s what we sell.” He continues in a more professional tone. “The coffee may have a price, but it’s that feeling that’s what people are really paying for. And I know some know that.”



“There is more however.” He hands me a piece of paper. It looks like a list. More than a list, a log of what someone has ordered.



“What is this?” I look at it in astonishment.



“Your record.” He pauses, “Everything you’ve ordered is here. It’s not to intrude or anything, but, if a person constantly buys something, we take the liberty of making it when they come in. It adds to the mood. Even though we have this, we hardly look at it. This is so new employees can get into the flow of this place.”



“I don’t always order the same thing.” I said not looking at the list.



“We are well aware of that, but you do have your favorites. We know them all.” He takes the list back, and puts a pen to it. “Here, this is to show what your training is.” He hands the paper back with different marks for one of each different order. “They indicate which type you prefer with certain moods. This is your first test.” Test? I’m taking tests? “Tell us which moods are associated with what you order.”



“Umm… well,” I look at the list closer.



“It’s not for right now. Keep the record, and tell us when you know.” He paused, and Chloe got up without saying anything. “And there’s something else I’d like you to do. It’s personal.”



Wondering what it was, I look up. I can figure the list out later. He was no longer professional. It was something big most likely. It made him look… old. He always looks so young, but he was older than he looked I guess. It showed now.



“It’s my daughter.” I thought I knew where he was going, “She has no friends. I was hoping you could be a friend for her. She’s really a nice girl, but no one comes near her. I don’t know why. I know she’s not very adept; and, I would like you to look out for that as well, but I’d rather you just look out for her as a friend. What do you say? I don’t mind if you say no. Everyone else does.”



I just look at him. I can’t even speak. All those times I got annoyed at her. I felt ashamed. I don’t normally feel ashamed about it, even with other girls. She did help me get a job. I guess she could be sweet. It’s not something I’m very good at. I normally wouldn’t do anything like this. It must be the place. That’s what I thought, but it’s more. I didn’t say anything then. I never did.



I stood up and thought about going to the back. I wanted to see it to get acquainted with the place, “I’m going to get a feel for the place.”



He said nothing, and sat while I went to the back holding the paper he gave me. Chloe was cleaning up the place. It was one thing she did well. Watching her back, I noticed that was more confident like that. She didn’t bump into things, and was actually graceful for once.



She noticed me watching her and stopped for a second, “I’m here to look at the place.”



“S-Sure. Do you want me to help you?” Her smile was off.



“I…” I try to find the right words, “I guess.”



The smile came easier, I guess I found the right words, “Ok. Come here, I’ll show you everything.”



Chloe moved around and showed me all the different types of coffee machines they had. Because of the wide selection of types of coffee, they needed multiple machines just so they could make anything in a rush. Even though it hardly happened, her dad told her his favorite motto, it never hurts to have more, just in case. They hadn’t always had so many, but, as they came to afford it, they bought more.



I’m not known for being domestic. In fact, everybody who knows me knows I don’t belong in there. The most domestic thing I can do is go into the kitchen open up the fridge and find a drink or snack to munch on. So, doing this job won’t really be that easy for me. Her explanations just go right over my head, and the only things I can think about are: how am I going to do this, look at all this stuff, and how is it that she’s able to do any of it.



Granted, this is her life. She has been at it for a while most likely, since it is her family’s business. And, not to mention, she’s the domestic type. She just looks like it, and dresses like it. She has almost every quality of every girl I hate. She is different from them though. She always nice, and polite. People would say she would be a good wife, if she weren’t as clumsy, since she was obviously devoted to what she was doing at the time.



“Is there something on my face?” She looked at me puzzled.



“I’m sorry,” I didn’t notice that she finished explaining, “This isn’t really my line of work.”



“Oh…” she sounded disappointed, “Maybe with a little time and you’ll get used to it?”



“Maybe.”



“I-If you want…” she suddenly got nervous, “I… I could try and teach you after hours.”



“Really?”



“Yes!” Her face brightened, “It wouldn’t be too much of a problem for me. If it’s ok with you.”



“Sure, but I don’t think you’ll like it.” My mother tried once when I was younger, and always got upset if I didn’t do exactly as she said.



“Thank you!” She’s a little quirky if you think about it.



Noticing the time, I ask, “When do we break for lunch?”



Oh,” She looked at me as if she were apologetic, “We don’t really break. I don’t think we have enough workers to. Normally we fix something in here and eat a little between customers. And unless we have customers still here after 11pm, we eat after they leave.”

I look back up at the clock and Chloe notices it too saying, "Since it's only 11:30 we'll be making lunch soon. Let's go ask dad about it, ok?"



"Ok.” As I head out, I look down and begin to think a little.



“Dad?” Chloe stops after seeing her father. I look back at her and see her face. Quickly I turn my head toward the spot she’s looking. He was still sitting in the same spot looking out the window at the pond. However now he was touching the tray Chloe used. She probably forgot to take it to the back when she left.



We walk closer to him, but he doesn’t notice. Deep in thought he runs his finger across the tray irregularly. What’s on his mind I don’t know, but it must be something bad since his face looks exactly like it did when he talked about Chloe. It must depress him greatly.



“Dad,” she reaches out and touches his shoulder, but still no response, “David snap out of it right now!” With her tone completely different, I just get completely shocked. How could she speak like that to him? He’s her father. It didn’t sound like her at all, but… he responded.



“Yes, dear.” He looks back at us, “Oh, hello there. Sorry about that; my mind just drifted.” He looks down at his hand on the tray, then his watch. “Looks like we’ll have lunch early today. Here Chloe,” he hands her the tray, “don’t forget to put this away.”



“Okay, Da-David.” She takes it, then looks at me. “Let me show you were to put it, if I ever forget to put it up again.”



I can only nod, and follow after her. While we were in front I kept watch of David, he was busy picking up all the paperwork. Instead of stopping in the back, we head upstairs with the tray.



“I-I’m sorry you had to see that.” She said in the meekest voice I’ve ever heard. How she could sound like she did a moment ago is beyond me. “I can’t believe I forgot the tray again.”



As she puts it down, I notice some tears, “Chloe?” I ask slowly, “Are you ok?”



“I’m sorry,” she turns around and holds me around the waist and begins to cry on my shoulder.



Shocked out of my mind, I hesitate to hold her. But, when I do, she slowly gets a hold of herself, “It’s ok, but I need to know what just happened.”



“It’s my mother,” she stifles down to a sniffle, “she’s only been dead for four months. My dad hasn’t been handling it well. Truth be told; neither have I.”



“Just forget about it then.” I said a bit roughly.



She moves back from me, “It’s not as easy as that.”



“It’s the best thing to do if it’s bothering you. I know I’d be glad to forget my parents.” I spoke before thinking.



“H-How can you say that?” She begins to tear up again, “They’re your parents. Don’t you even love them?”



Hitting a sore spot I tell her off, “Love. Them? Who could ever love those two? But if you care about your parents so much, why did you snap at him just moments ago?”

With that she did cry turning her back on me, “I did it because I do care about him! He always does that. He doesn’t think that it’s me when I do, do it. My mother always told him that. She kept him from thinking too much. It makes him depressed.”



She quiets down, “He may not look like it, but he gets like that often. Whenever he’s around people, he’s fine. He always tries to make them feel welcome. He’s the kindest person I know.”



“I’m sorry,” ashamed, I can’t even look at her, “I didn’t mean…”



“I’m going back down.” She quickly goes back downstairs. I can’t help to think she’s still upset.



I’m so stupid. I always get defensive in this type of situation. It’s one of the reasons why my friends never come to me about this. If you want to rough it up, or try to forget about it. I’m the one you go to. I’m definitely not sensitive, and I know it. I don’t mind it most of the time, but I also don’t like feeling helpless. It always reminds me of my relationship with my parents.



He was making lunch when I was heading down finally. I let them know that I was sorry for looking around; that my curiosity got the best of me. Everything seemed to be ok. He liked it that I checked around, actually.



I was the one that stayed out in the front watching for customers. In my spare time, I looked at the paper with what I ordered to try and figure it out. I can’t remember the times when I ordered any of them. None, except yesterday. So, I marked that one and put it up for the day.



It started out slowly during lunch, but afterwards. It really amazed me how many came. It was easy enough. I took charge of bring out the drinks, so we didn’t have to worry about cleaning up Chloe’s mess. When I brought out the drinks, everyone welcomed me. I guess they’re all regulars. They liked seeing a new face, and joked about getting a replacement for Chloe.



I let them know she was in the back, and they said that they knew. It was just a joke. Everyone is so easy going. One time I thought we’d have trouble because a couple was arguing outside the door. One of them ended up giving up and motioned to go inside. It never fails though. The moment they came in; it was like they never were fighting. They still did argue a bit while drinking, but it wasn’t anything like outside.



The day rolled on to night, and another worker came in. He was nice enough, if he didn’t hit on me all the time. They let me know I could go. I didn’t really want to go home, so I just stayed there and had a cup. Too bad it was the same as yesterday’s. The worker came and sat with me for a while since no customers came in. Thankfully a friend of mine came in.



He ordered, and sat by me like he was my boyfriend. The worker stopped after that, so I thanked him. After he finish his cup, we went out to have some fun. He asked how it was. And, of course, it’s hell of a lot better than being at my place. He hated my parents almost as much as me. I think he was genuinely glad that I was working there. He told me that I was much calmer.



Everything is going to work out for the better now. I let him know that I need to be back at the café shoppe by 11:00 to work on actually making the coffee. He laughed of course at the thought of me in the kitchen. We joked about it for a while, then went to play some arcade games. Of course, I beat him, but he seemed to be getting better. That wasn’t it though, he asked me what was wrong, because he felt it was different than normal. I said I felt fine, but he didn’t believe me. He thought something was up. And maybe it was, but I told him to let it go.



After that we went out to eat with more friends. It was all fun, but it seemed like it went by too quickly because I was already headed back to work. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all. Learning how to do something in the kitchen always made me feel uneasy. And this time wasn’t any different. He wished me luck and went on his way.



It was a slow start. Chloe always got in the way and messed me up. It wasn’t all her fault though. It was funny though, so we laughed a bit. I couldn’t believe that I was okay now. I didn’t feel uneasy at all. It must’ve just been my mother. I probably should’ve realized that earlier, but, with someone like my mother as a supervisor, it really did seem like it was your problem.



She gave me a lot of hate, and I let it slip up while working. Saying how much more fun it was with her than my mother. I ended up telling her, and she began to understand why I hated my parents a little. I even made an example of this morning about the alarm clock. I didn’t notice I was saying it. It must be the place, I keep telling myself.



It was 1am before I knew it, and I hurried to clean up to get back home. Chloe helped out using the same grace she always uses when cleaning. It was the best thing she could do. When I arrived home, it was more than just a little late, so I tried to be as quiet as I could opening the front door. It didn’t help though. My mother was waiting in the dark ready to pounce me like some tiger.



Chloe let me know that they told my parents I would be a bit late when I was leaving, so I was worried the whole way home. I didn’t want her griping right now. It was actually a good day. But it never fails, I try to tell her that I needed to learn how to make coffee. She wouldn’t believe me, and ended up trying to get me to make her some. I knew it was the wrong thing to do, but I just blew her off. I don’t care how she feels, but it was time for bed. I also needed to get up even earlier tomorrow. I found a spare alarm and hid it from my mother, so at least I might be able to get up.



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