A Story, a Reference, and Snow

Ah snow. It is the worst. The best thing I can say about it is that it is a good excuse to set things on fire. Particularly bits of wood in an enclosed space. One of the best things to do with your bits of wood on fire in an enclosed space is to read by it. Though not too close.  It's fire.

With that in mind I have prepared a short story for you all to read. Even if you don't have a fire raging some where near by you should still read it. But where is it you say? I see no story on this post. Well (I would say back to you if we were sitting next to each other) that's because I use "Jump Breaks" now. Jump Breaks are cool.  They make the post seem smaller and more manageable than it otherwise would be. We'll see if it works. ...
Oh it did! Exciting! Well now that you have managed to use the joys of the magical jump break, have a story.

Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl

The store was on fire. Not literally of course, if the Café Coliquo had actually been on fire Albert Reeves would be running in the other direction. He would like to think that he would be running towards it, however, diving through the flames to save her. The smoke would sting, and the fire burn, but he would brave them all to find her. Leslie would be sitting there, still behind the register, cowering from the heat in her underwear (because the fire had burned off the rest of her clothes). Albert would rush over to her, scooping her up as she praised him for his bravery and daring, thanking and holding on tight to him. The onlookers (there always are gawkers at this sort of thing) would stand and stare, thinking that he had died. Mothers would hold their crying children close as the men would say, “Truly, the world has lost a brave man today.”

Then just as they were turning away, someone would point to the building and they would all see Albert walking out, carrying Leslie. Everyone would rush over cheering him. Now the mothers would be crying as well as the children. Even the men would have a bit of a glisten in their look. All around him, they would be applauding and thanking him. The mayor would come by and offer Albert the key to the city, declaring today a city holiday. Then, in the midst of all of the celebration, Leslie would rush into his arms, and ask if he wanted to grab coffee sometime.

That is what would happen if Café Coliquo were really on fire. Now though, the only fire on the small brick building was a collection of window flame stickers promoting their “Red Hot Summer Deals.” Albert stopped by one of the windows, pretending to look over the “Sizzling Savings,” when in reality he was looking over himself. This was the big day. He had it all planned out and he needed to look his best. Albert eyed himself in the window’s reflection, noting with satisfaction the way his hair had been expertly combed to hide his bald spot, and the way his glasses gave him a scholarly sort of look. The magazines were full of stories of girls dating their professors. They must be attracted to knowledge. Even his jacket-- the old tweed one his grandma had given him all those years ago-- looked especially sharp today. He grabbed the door handle and was about to enter when he saw her.

Standing there, between two tongues of flames like some witch to be burned, was Leslie. She was the most beautiful thing Albert had ever seen. The way she tilted her head when she was taking a customer’s order, the ponytail she put her auburn hair into every day, her soft brown eyes, her easy smile, all of it was almost too much for Albert to bear. He ached for her. Every day for six months he had come down to this café, just for a chance to see her. Each time he had ordered something different, in hopes of finding out which one was her favorite. For six months he had drunk some of the worst coffee he had ever tasted in his life, just for a chance to talk with her, and after all that it was only by luck that he found out which flavor was her favorite. Two weeks ago, Café Coliquo put up signs saying which flavors their employees liked the most. Albert had stared at the board until he saw Leslie’s name, right next to the Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl.

Giving the flames one last look, Albert steeled himself and opened the door, going over his plan one last time. He had spent the last two weeks preparing for this day, everything was orchestrated, everything was planned. It was simple, he would walk in to the café, breathing deep the smells of coffee and bread. The line would be long, full of people with boring and generic orders for black coffee. Albert would be able to see the look of utter defeat and boredom on Leslie’s face, even from the back of the line. Slowly the line would snake forward, as the automatons in front of Albert made their orders. Eventually he would reach the front, and there would be Leslie, standing there, eyes glazed over from boredom and monotony.

“One coffee, black,” she would say before Albert could open his mouth, the routine so ingrained by now.

“Actually,” Albert would say, grabbing her hand to stop it from punching in the code into the register, “I would like a Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl.”

He would watch as the life slowly returned to her eyes, as hope lit its fire in her soul. “Could you repeat that?” she would whisper, unable to believe her ears.

“I would like a Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl please,” Albert would declare, a smile on his lips.

“I, I love those,” her voice would slowly regain its usual vibrancy and life. The entire café would grow livelier.

Leslie would turn to go and prepare the drink, but Albert would grab her hand again, bring her back around to him. “Hey, why don’t you make two? Come with me baby doll, let’s ditch this popsicle stand and talk about Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirls.”

For a moment, she would hesitate, unsure of what to do, but after looking at the store around her, and at Albert in front of her, her mind would be made. Leslie would grab his outstretched hand, and leap over the counter, tearing off her black and red uniform in the process. The ubiquitous ponytail that she wore would come down in a cascade of hair, spilling over her shoulders as she and Albert walked hand in hand out of the store. That was the plan. Straightforward and simple, nothing could go wrong.

Inside Café Coliquo it was much as Albert had expected. A line of people stretched from the counter all the way to the fake brick fireplace near the entrance. Albert placed himself in line, as the sound of would-be writers typing on their keyboards mixed with the sound of the coffee makers. All in all, a gentle, soothing buzz of activity filled Café Coliquo.

Albert glanced ahead to see how Leslie was holding up. Surprisingly, she seemed to be enjoying herself, smiling at the customers as the ordered. Maybe people were not just ordering black coffees; maybe they had more to them than that today. Slowly the line inched its way forward, closer to the counter, closer to Leslie. Albert tried his best to keep calm and collected, but it was hard. All his effort, all of his work was about to come to fruition. It was hard not to be excited, but he had to stay calm. He had to impress Leslie.

It did not take much time before the person in front of him grabbed her coffee and left, leaving Albert standing face to face with Leslie. She was even more beautiful up close; Albert had a hard time keeping his mind on task. Her smile was intoxicating, and the way her eyes seemed to glitter in the light captivated him. It seemed that he was having a similar effect on her as well. The moment that Albert stepped up to the counter, Leslie smiled at him, with no hint of the soul crushing despair that the other patrons must have filled her with.

“What can I get for you sir?”

The question took Albert aback. Leslie had jumped ahead of the plan, he was supposed to break her out of her shell with the touch, but maybe he waxed his mustache a bit too well today, already she seemed to be falling under his charms. Quickly, he moved ahead with the next stage of the plan.

“I, uhhh, I would like a, uhhh, a Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl.”

“Sure thing, one Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl. Anything else?” asked Leslie, the smile never leaving her face.

Albert had hoped that mentioning the name of her favorite drink would provoke some reaction in her, but Leslie just stood there smiling at him. It must be that she was so smitten with him that she forgot that she loved the Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl as well.

“No, just the one drink, it’s really all I need,” Albert replied. As he did so, he leaned forward, moving his hands closer to Leslie. “You see, those Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirls are my favorite.”

Something must have happened on the register, for as soon as Albert reached his hands out to Leslie, she moved hers to the monitor in front of her and began clicking on things before she said, “Yeah, it is a popular drink with a lot of our customers. That will be $5.75.”

Blinking in confusion, Albert reached into his pocket, digging out the money. Was that it? Was that all that Leslie had to say too him? All of his planning, all of his work was for nothing.  With dejection filling his heart, Albert turned towards the pickup counter when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

“Sir, you forgot your change.”

He turned to see Leslie, still smiling at him, holding out a hand filled with money. Albert gladly took to the proffered change and returned her smile. It had all become so clear to him now, Leslie could not show signs of favoritism or it could cost her job. How could he have been so stupid as to think that she would just give up her job for him? Leslie was clearly a smart girl, and was planning for the future. Albert was not worried though, he had a new plan, one that he saw in Leslie’s sparkling eyes as she handed him his money. It was simple really, straightforward. He would just sit and wait until she finished her shift. Then, when she went to her car, out of sight of her nosy employers, then she would be able to tell him her true feelings.

The Café was crowded, full of students and business types, but Albert still found a seat off in a corner. He sat there amid the gentle murmur of conversation sipping his Mocha Caramel Frappuccino Swirl as he watched Leslie diligently prepare orders. Every once and a while, Leslie would look over in his direction and Albert would smile, her secret safe with him.

And that was your story. Hope you enjoyed it. Aren't you glad you had the nice Jump Break now?

-Me