Christmas was the best time of the year. Especially in Middleton.
Since we were a big tourist town, we really decked the halls in December. Surprisingly enough, lots of people liked to take tours of the average American town. It was weird. But I guess we were the epitome of average USA.
Driving to Jennie's Coffee House, the hail fell down around me, and piled up on the sidewalks. We didn't normally get so much snow here in Middleton, but this year was an exception. It had been snowing non stop for the last two weeks. It alternated between snowstorms and flurries, but nonetheless, there was always snow on the ground.
I pulled into the Starbucks lot and parked, slipping my hat over my head and walking into the store via the employee entrance.
Christmas Day, and I was working at a coffee shop. Sad, I know, but my parents were in the Bahamas for their twenty five year anniversary, and what other options did I have? At least I got free coffee.
I washed my hands and pulled on my apron, sidling up to the cash register. I stocked the glass case and then checked the change in the register.
All set.
Eddie, the head baker and coffee maker extraordinaire, came and stood in front of the counter.
"Merry Christmas, Jude," he said, his tone bittersweet. Eddie was alone on Christmas because his wife left him a month ago.
"How many people you betting on coming in today?" he asked, and I leaned on my elbows on the counter.
"Three or four," I said simply, "You?"
"A handful."
"Hey! That's cheating and you know it, Ed! Specific numbers or no bet." He laughed at me. We made a different bet each day. How many slices of coffee cake I'd sell, how many people would ask for a photo with the average Middleton employee, how many boys would ask for my number. I always bet zero, and I always won.
"Five."
I shrugged at him and sat on the stool, preparing myself for a long day. A few minutes later he set a cup of hot coco in front of me, with whipped cream piled high on top. I smiled.
This wasn't how Christmas was meant to be spent, right? You were supposed to spend time with your loved ones, and relax and be with people you cared about!
Eddie bustled around the kitchen for a while, ultimately giving up on finding something to do.
I found a stack of DVDs in the storeroom and played An All Dog Christmas Movie on the television screen by the fireplace.
If Jennies was known for one thing, it was for being cozy. The lighting was low, and there was always a comfortable, hazy, glow around the room. I adjusted some of the tinsel and Christmas lights hanging around the windows, and then sat in the rocking chair in front of the screen, hot coco in hand.
"What are we watching?" Ed asked, passing me a cookie. I ate it greedily.
"The kid version of Ebenezer Scrooge where all the characters are dogs." He snorted.
"Sounds like the directors were on crack." I rolled my eyes and pressed play.
Soon enough, I found myself dozing off, the sounds of the movie playing in the background and the fireplace burning beside me. When I woke up, there was a blizzard raging outside, and you couldn't see two feet out the window. My eyes went wide.
I found Ed in the kitchen, scrubbing down the counters.
"Hey, you're up!" he laughed and I shook my head.
