Coffee and Candy

Haven's Brew

The day started like any other at Heaven’s Brew. Customers filtered in and out, sipping their coffees and indulging in pastries. The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mixing with the gentle hum of conversation and the occasional clink of cups.

Hanna was in her element behind the counter, artfully crafting a latte. Her concentration was fierce, her brow furrowed as she meticulously etched a leaf design into the foam. Beside her, Jacques attempted to organize the register, fumbling with receipts like they were complex calculus problems.

“Jacques, you can’t just stuff receipts into the drawer!” Hanna snapped.

“I wasn’t—uh—stuffing them,” Jacques replied, his voice wavering. “I was, uh, arranging them… creatively?”

Hanna rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

Annie lounged against the far wall, observing the scene with an amused smirk. “Give him a break, Hanna. He’s trying his best.”

“I am trying!” Jacques said, straightening up. “I just—uh—don’t have a system yet.”

Before Hanna could retort, the door jingled, and a mother entered with her young son in tow. The boy, no older than seven, clutched a brightly colored smartphone, which he was clearly obsessed with.

“Welcome!” Hanna said, her professional tone snapping into place.

The boy wandered over to the counter, eyeing the donut display. “Mom, can I get the chocolate one?”

“After you finish your homework,” his mother replied, settling into a corner seat with her laptop.

The boy frowned but stayed near the counter, his attention now fixed on his phone. As he played a game, he leaned too close to the counter’s edge. Suddenly, the phone slipped out of his hand and wedged itself into a narrow gap between the counter and the wall.

“Mom!” the boy cried. “My phone’s stuck!”

The mother barely looked up. “Ask someone to help you, honey.”

Jacques, hearing the commotion, stepped in. “Uh, don’t worry, kid. I’ve got this!”

Hanna shot him a skeptical glance. “Jacques, maybe I should—”

“I can handle it!” Jacques interrupted, crouching down to assess the situation. He gave the phone a gentle tug, but it wouldn’t budge. His face flushed.

“You’re gonna break it,” the boy said, crossing his arms.

“No, I’m not!” Jacques protested, though his hands shook slightly. He tugged harder, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Hanna paused her work, sensing imminent disaster. “Jacques, seriously—”

But it was too late. Jacques, in his desperation, accidentally activated his ability. A small burst of kinetic energy shot out, sending the phone flying across the shop. It ricocheted off the espresso machine, narrowly missed a stack of mugs, and smashed into the wall with a loud crack.

The boy’s wail of despair was instantaneous. “MY PHONE!”

The entire shop froze. Customers stared. Jacques turned pale, his hands hovering uselessly in the air. “I—I didn’t mean to! I can—uh—fix it? Maybe?”

Hanna buried her face in her hands. “Jacques… what did you do?”

Annie, now fully invested, burst out laughing. “This is why we can’t have nice things.”

“Not helping!” Jacques hissed, his voice cracking.

Before anyone could make another move, a deep, calm voice spoke up. “Let me take a look.”