1 black coffee

Opening Shift

The sky was light this morning. The sun had risen an hour before opening, so Karl wasn't walking to work in the dark. The air smelt of faint rain, and birds sang their morning songs.

Fall hadn't quite hit yet, so the last of the summer bliss still hung on the streets. The roads weren't too packed, as it was only six am. Karl got to the coffee shop, on the street across from the mall that was primarily used my middle school children who had no money. He opened the door and punched in the code. There was half an hour until opening. So Karl got to work.

"is it so difficult to wipe down the tables?" he muttered to himself, finishing the tasks the closer forgot yesterday. He turned on the oven, filled up espresso beans, then began turning on the main lights. He opened up the front door, and placed the sandwich board outside. Then he began usual tasks. Starting coffee, serving early costomers, and waiting for the seven am rush.

Just before the rush started, quackity ran into the store. "SORRY I'M LATE BUT I HAVE A GOOD EXCUSE" he announced loudly. The panting boy then told him about the cool raccoon he saw. They continued talking all throughout morning rush. Discussing animals, local drama, and laughing about grumpy costomers.

As the morning rush died down into the mid morning calm, Karl realized they hadn't seen one of their regulars yet. "hey Q, did Dream come in while I was doing the garbage run?" quackity thought for a moment, before shaking his head and returning to the espresso shot he was pulling. Karl shrugged. Dream usually came it at eight thirty am. Sometimes he brought his friend George, but he always came in on weekdays like today. But now, on a Wednesday, at nearly ten am, Dream had yet to arrive.

The lunch rush passed, and the noon calm had begun. Every regular had come in, except Dream. Karl's shift ended in an hour, and he was ever so slightly worried. The only reason Dream had ever not come, was the time he was horribly sick. Even then, he got his latte through door dash.

Finally, five minutes before Karl's shift ended, the door opened. Dream was here, safe and healthy looking, but he wasn't alone. Karl didn't need to focus while Dream ordered. Large oat milk latte for here, with a spinach feta bistro, warmed up. It was the same thing he always got. Karl's attention had been stolen by Dream's guest.

He has long black hair, with a white bandana keeping his eyes protected. His shirt had a flame painted on it, that Karl imagined the boy had made himself. He looked rugged, and handsome, unlike anything, or anyone, he had ever seen. When it came time for the boy to order, Karl tried his best to keep a straight face.

"Hi, welcome to Cafe Beast, how are you doing today?" "good. How about yourself?" Karl cleared his throat before answering. For some reason, he expected hostility, but was instead greeted by kindness. "I'm good! Uh, what can I get started for you" he said, trying to remain calm. "one black coffee" the boy was scanning the display for something good. "would you like medium or dark roast? For your coffee?" Karl took a subtle deep breath. "uh... Dark. Oh, and a large please." "great! Would you like something to eat with that?" "hmm.. Nah" "alright... May I have a name for the order?"

"my names Nick, but you can call me sapnap"