The midmorning traffic of the city always gives the clockwork movements of the city cars a sudden stop. The scarlet planets on the black rectangles above the traffic controls the movements of the city by changing colors.
Jacob watched the black rectangles with severe intent as he grows infinitely bored. The cool breeze inside the car was not enough to keep himself occupied. The little boy was convinced that if he concentrated enough, the ominous red light would change colors.
So, with severe self-belief, his eyes fixed on the traffic light. Concentrating with his face crunching up, unconsciously showing his severe concentration to his father whose eyes were once fixed on the pick up in front of them. Now they were fixed on his son.
"Trying to change the lights?" His father asked.
Jacob's serious , contorted face relaxed along with his sigh. He groaned, "It's taking to long."
"It is. But somethings we just have to wait for."
"You don't," the boy complained, "You can do whatever you want whenever you want!"
"But even I can't change the traffic light." His father took his hands off the wheel, and reached for the empty Starbucks cup attached to the dash through a suction. He opened a bottle of alkaline water that Jacob handed to him, and filled the cup with it. The Starbucks cup was clearly aged, the green mermaid already fading.
He blew on the alkaline water and twirled the cup in a way that produced a small whirlpool inside the cup.
Jacob watched, as he always have, the clear water in the Starbucks cup turn darker , starting from the center of the whirlpool, spiraling out to fill the cup with warm coffee that his father gleefully sipped.
Even though this has been the nth time he watched this simple enchantment, Jacob remains mesmerized and filled with wonder. He could maybe turn clear water into juice that had no taste, the type you would get if you mixed the juice powder with too much water. But he could not even comprehend how to turn water into rich, dark coffee.
"But I am getting impatient to," his father broke the silence. He snapped his finger, and the red traffic light switched green. The scarlet planet moved down through the black rectangle in an instant and changed to emerald.
The Starbucks cup was fitted back into the suction, and the car moved forward. Jacob watched both confused and amazed as he was pushed back into his seat by the sudden motion.
