The Tommo Way

Chapter Six: An Unexpected Customer and Coffee Dates

Hey everyone! Here is another chapter, I hope you enjoy it! I can't believe how many of you are actually reading my story, you guys are incredible!! :)

It felt like I had only been asleep for seconds when the sound of my alarm clock rudely awakened me at 3.15 the next morning. With a groan I hit the button on top of the clock to stop the annoying beeping sound. How I hated those early mornings! I quickly got out of bed and made myself a coffee while putting on my work clothes. Yawning, I sat down at the kitchen table with the coffee mug in my hands and looked out of the window into the dark night.

The sun was not going to come up for at least an hour and the streets nearby would still be deserted when I left for work. That was the part I loved about my job. The people you met on the street at that time and the customers who came to the bakery at the early hours were always kind of special. There were the workers who came for a coffee before work; young adults on their way home from parties, most of them usually seemed like they just had the time of their lives; elderly people and from time to time some romantic lunatic who just got up to see the sunrise. I liked the whole bunch of them and my colleagues and I have come to witness some hilarious scenes over the last few years I have been working there.

After a while I felt the caffeine kicking in and my brain starting to work faster. I placed my empty mug into the sink and quickly put on some make-up to cover up the dark under-eye circles. When I was done I didn't look very fresh or awake but it would have to do for the day.

When I walked into the small bakery I was greeted by my favourite colleague Katie. "Abby, girl, come here! Give me a quick hug and help me set up, we've got a big delivery in the back!" I glanced down at my watch. It was 4.15 am. "Katie, my shift doesn't start for another fifteen minutes! You know I don't get paid for starting early." I groaned and made my way to the back of the shop to put away my stuff and get cleaned up. Katie followed me, sweat already starting to build up on her forehead due to the heat of the ovens. She turned on the coffee maker and shot me a pleading look. "I know, but Heather called in sick a couple of minutes ago, so it'll just be the two of us today. I'm already lagging behind, I need someone to start on the sandwiches while I do the baking."

I sighed inwardly and went over to the sink to clean my hands. This was going to be a hell of a work day if it was just the two of us. "Fine, I'll be there in a sec." I gave in. "You're an angel, you know that? Come on, we don't need Heather, we can do this together!" Katie said with fake enthusiasm. She grabbed a big tray of cake and gave me a quick peck on the cheek before she went back to the counter.

Just like I had suspected, the next few hours were extremely busy. I was always quite amazed by how many people spent their money on buns and cake, whereas Lucy and I usually only had enough money to buy supermarket bred. The queue seemed to never end and it was past ten when I finally had the chance to take my break. I took a sip of my coffee but quickly disposed of it in the sink. If there was one thing I hated more than early mornings, it was cold coffee at early mornings. I grabbed a cinnamon roll and sat down in one of our comfortable armchairs of the little café in our bakery while I watched Katie collecting the used cups and plates. "So, tell me my newly-wed friend, how is married life treating you so far?" I asked her curiously.

Although Katie was only two years older than me, she and her boyfriend- now husband- Alan had decided to get married about half a year ago. Katie's face lit up. "It's been great! I couldn't be happier and I think my parents are coming around as well. You know how they felt about the whole marriage thing..." Katie's parents had indeed not been happy with the idea of her twenty-four year old daughter marrying so young but in my eyes I had never met a couple who was happier than Katie and Alan. I smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear that! I'm sure your parents just needed some time to cool off. I mean, you and Alan have been together for six years, it was bound to happen eventually!" "Exactly!" Katie agreed and began to wipe the tables with a rag.