home ? b. allen ? (discontinued)

C H A P T E R  Z E R O

s t a t u s
unedited
w r i t t e n
02.10.16

THE AROMA OF COFFEE was drowning me slowly. It was everywhere, probably attaching itself to my clothes in an attempt to make my day even worse. It's not that I don't like coffee -- I do. It's that it was a reminder that I was lactose-intolerant.

Yes, I could get a coffee with soy milk or almond milk, but nothing is the same as the delicious, immune system wrecking taste of cow milk.

I waited in line for nearly ten minutes, only wanting a muffin. That was it. One muffin.

But, no. Of course, everything had to be prolonged, because the idiot that was in front of me took forever to decide what he wanted -- and then he didn't have enough money.

"Can I borrow a dollar?" He asked me, turning around with a pleading look in his eyes.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"It's just a dollar!" He said. I gave him a back off look, but he was either oblivious or so selfish that he didn't care. "Please?"

"A whole dollar?" I asked, exasperated. I needed that dollar. "And it's not even borrowing! I'm never going to see you again!"

The cashier, a woman probably in her early twenties, was grinning at us, amusement making her glow. "Barry, just ask someone else."

The guy, Barry, sighed in annoyance.

"Please." He begged one last time.

I huffed and grabbed my wallet from my back pocket. I opened it and pulled out a wrinkled old George Washington, handing it to Barry.

"Thank you." He said, finally relaxing a bit. He handed the cashier the money, grabbed his coffee, and hurried out.

The girl looked at me, still smiling. "How can I help you?"

Give me a dollar, maybe.

"Um,"

I looked down at my wallet again, then up at the menu on the wall. Nothing for $2.39 or less.

"Does this café give out free waters?" I asked, embarrassment threatening to redden my face.

"I think so." She said, confused. "Let me check."

She walked into the back of the café, and I waited, putting my wallet back in my pocket.

Moments later, she came back, grabbing a plastic cup, a lid, and a straw on her way.

"We do!" She said with a smile. "You learn something new everyday, I guess."

I gave her a weak smile, graciously taking the cup of water once she was done.

"Have a good day!"

Doubt it.

☼☼☼

so that was fun.

I hope you liked it!
this story is probably going to have more of
an upbeat yet slightly depressing vibe.

☼☼☼