Joe Pyne

12/14/09

Creative Writing Final Project

"Alicia's Coffee Shop"

As you walk into the coffee shop, you pause, captivated by the almost entirely separate nature the place has from the rest of the world outside its doors. You smell a scent that seems reminiscent of coffee, but not quite… it’s a smell that you can’t place, maybe some sort of spice, yet it evokes nonexistent memories of a cozy home to the forefront of your thoughts. Alicia, the shop’s barista, waves at you, and you give her a small, tired smile in return.

“What do you want me to get you? Looking a little down today, bad news about...?”

You sigh.

“Thanks Alicia, just surprise me. Anything you whip up will make my day better.”

“Alright. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”

“Thanks again.”

You step away from the counter and pause, trying to find a good spot to decompress. Scanning the different sets of tables, chairs, and people scattered around the small room, you decide on a lone, worn down looking chair placed by a solid wooden table, next to a large window overlooking the sidewalk and street outside. You manage to settle into the chair, which, luckily for you, has a wobbly leg. You gaze outside, pondering what to do next; the immense mountain of stress that was the layoff crashes down on you, and you sit there drowning in self-pity, absently gazing up at the faded green floorboards that comprise the ceiling of the shop.

Alicia calls out to you, “Hey Novak, come get your drink - I think you’ll like it.”

You right yourself up, groggily repositioning yourself into a position that enables you to get up and out of the chair easily. You step forward, but suddenly a gunshot rings out---you dive to the floor and cover your head with your arms.