365

jan.17.22

She sat down in her favorite corner table of the Life Cafe. As always, Kellie the lovely and beautiful waitress would bring her a cup of cinnamon hot chocolate and a slice of cherry pie, letting the writer get lost in her work.

While she took slow bites of her pie and small sips of her beverage, she'd watch the people coming and leaving the Cafe, then she'd write about them, create their story.

Like the man that just walked through the door: dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase, she guessed he worked at a law firm just down the street towards Fourth – away from the youth workers and clinics on Seventh. Silk tie, leather loafers, pressed trousers. He had an earpiece in, and was talking on it when he stepped in. He had some common courtesy, as he told the small voice in his ear he'd call them back, before ordering a nonfat soy whole blend coffee, with a dash of cinnamon on top. He smiled at the cinnamon as he put the lid on it; he would never admit to his colleagues about it, but he knew it was there.

A woman dressed in a baggy purple hoodie, blue sweatpants, and slipper shoes ordered next. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her eyes looked tured yet happy. She ordered a hot coffee, two frozen lemonades, and a box of donuts – it's her daughter's birthday. She let her and her younger brother stay home from school today, and her daughter wanted something sweet. The woman smiles; she expresses that she's doing all she can, since her husband left her a month ago and doesn't want anything to do with the kids. Her son is understanding, as young as he is. He's four and her daughter is six today. She feels so grown up. The woman smiles as she sees the colourful sprinkles – she thanks the lady behind the counter. She knows her kids will love them.

A group of kids, three of them, walk inside. They came from the direction of Seventh. The staff smile at them, welcomes them in. These kids are clad in hoodies and sneakers, ripped jeans and tattered backpacks. One kid says they saw this place once when they went by on the bus, and wanted to check it out. Another kid looks at the counter of baked goods, mesmerized by the icings and chocolates. The third kid talks quietly to the second, gently pointing to mint fudge. The first kid talks quietly to the other two, and after a moment of silent conversation, turns back to the cashier – they'll have three hot chocolates, a turkey sandwich, a six pack of cherry chocolates, and is the mint fudge made with dark chocolate? Milk chocolate – perfect, one big bar of mint fudge. The cashier asks if there's an allergy to dark chocolate. The first kid speaks kindly: no, no dark chocolate allergy. Kip can't have dark chocolate because it's known for bringing up bad thoughts from their past. And Fox loves cherry chocolates like crazy, they fill their heart with joy. And me, Berk, is really craving a turkey sandwich – they look so good. The group pay for their food and drink, and choose a table close to the window. The kid named Kip holds the mint fudge in their sleeved hands, taking small nibbles off of it. Fox rubs Kip's back, asks if they're okay. Kip nods, nibbling at their fudge. Berk smiles, grabs a notebook from their bag, and begins a conversation they must have started earlier: what to bring up when they go to Group at six, three hours away.

The writer writes; the bell rings above the door then, and she sees the three kids leaving, heading back to Seventh. It's five thirty now. Where did the time government? Her drink is cold, and her pie crust soaked in cherry juice. She finishes her food, and brings her dishes to the table by the front. She thanks Kellie, who's wiping tables. Kellie smiles, wishes the writer a lovely rest of her day.

She leaves the Cafe, toward the nearest bus stop on Seventh. She waits near a doorway, where the three kids are waiting near a locked door. A blue van pulls up just as the bells on Queensway ring six times. A man gets out, smiles and says hello, as he opens the door. All of them go inside.

The writer waits for the bus, the day at the Cafe in her head.