Only A Leap Ahead

9.Over the coffee

Ding ding

The bell on the door chimes as I push it open and step inside and the invigorating scent of coffee and the sweet scent of fresh, baked bread greets me. I look around the café, my eyes trying to spot any sign of orange. And then I see his tail disappearing behind the counter. I walk to the counter and find a lazy Ginger yawning and staring at the croissants at the top of the counter. I pick one up and tear it into half giving one half to Ginger and eating the other half myself.

The café is bustling with people. I assume everybody has predicted a downpour and has taken shelter here. I try to find an empty table beside the big glass pane that separates the outside world from home. When I do, I scoop Ginger up, and take him there, the croissant still clutched in his mouth. As I'm walking to the table, a similar apron flutters beside me. She looks flustered and confused with too many cups on a tray. I put Ginger down and he walks back to the counter. Mrs. Gazelle is now standing in between four tables, turning her head left and right frequently.

I walked up to her looking at the cappuccinos she was holding. She doesn't notice me so I turn to face the customers and ask out loud, "Who ever ordered cappuccinos please put your hand up." I could feel Mrs. Gazelle jump beside me by my sudden appearance. Quite a few hands shoot in the air.

"Here! We did," says a man with slightly greying hair sitting with his family.

"Me too" says a boy from the corner, wearing spectacles, while still typing on his laptop. I recognize him from school.

"Right" I say grabbing the tray from Mrs. Gazelle as I begin to serve out the cappuccinos.

Mrs. Gazelle follows suit and walks  back to get another tray of Latte.

"I need an espresso," says a woman wearing a trench coat, one leg crossed over the other. She looks at Mrs. Gazelle who walks past her, too engrossed in handing out the Latte.

"I'll get you one ma'am," I say, interrupting.

"You do that young lady," she says, pulling a magazine from her hand bag.

I walk back to the counter and make her a shot. Then setting the espresso on a tray and putting two sachets of sugar beside the cup, I bring it to her.

"Would you like anything else?" I ask, smiling while putting the tray on the table.

"Oh! Those croissants from the counter smelled really nice," she says, surprised by how quick I was to deliver her espresso to her.

"Right, I'll be back" I say, setting off to the counter.

I come back to her table and by the time I do, several people have smelled the croissant in the air, making me do another round trip from the counter to the tables.

"Scarlette dear, will you get those scones from the kitchen too?" Mrs. Gazelle asks as she catches me handing out croissants.

"Sure," I say, marching back to the counter and into the kitchen. I come back with some really hot scones, and by the time I've reached Mrs. Gazelle on the other side of the café, all scones and croissants have vanished.

When the clouds seemed to part and the rain stopped, people rushed out of the café as soon as possible. Although the guy with the glasses from school stays glued to the laptop.

"Scarlette?" her voice calls out as she tries to remove the apron with difficulty.

"Well I wasn't expecting you here but thanks a lot for that help," she says.

"Have you considered me as a potential helper then, Mrs. Gazelle? Like a waitress? I could come from school and help you here and earning a little bit in return?" I ask grinning.