A Day in the City

Chapter 3

"Here is your tea, ma'am!"

Naomi took the cup from the waitress's hands, thanking her with a smile and a nod. The waitress gave a smile back, quick to give a simple gesture before returning to the kitchen she came from.

"Hm...not bad." Naomi sipped from the fancy cup, trying to gauge her opinion on the tea. It tasted of fruits, mainly berries (as the menu name "Berry Good Blend" suggested), but there was a hint of something else that she couldn't quite place. Was it mango? Or watermelon? Regardless, it was just fruity enough to satisfy Naomi's curious taste buds. "Yes, not too bad." She took another sip before resting it on the small plate before her. After doing so, she rested her head in her hands and looked at the building to her side.

In her ventures to find something new in the city, Naomi happened across a small coffee shop. The place caught her attention with its interesting aesthetic: modern, yet very colorful. It was mainly pink, which gave it an appearance similar to a dollhouse. The bushes underneath the window sills with their bright flowers only added to its façade. A person walking down the street might consider the shop 'out of place' or 'gaudy,' but to Naomi, it was 'unique.'

The shop's style was not enough to keep others out, as a couple of individuals situated themselves at the other tables outside. Some of them also seemed fascinated with its design as noted by their glances at the building's exterior, while others simply drank their beverage in peace. Naomi herself sat at a table off to the coffee shop's side.

"I wonder if Alice might like this place..." she pondered. Alice, Naomi's wife, was at work that day. She had been on her mind since she left the park. The memories she had recalled warmed her, yet the desire for Alice's company grew as the day continued on. A subtle pang of loneliness overcame her, but just for a second. It was quickly replaced with the idea to take a photo of the coffee shop to share with Alice. Naomi reached into the brown bag on her lap to grab her camera.

"E-excuse me, m-m-miss?"

A quiet, meek voice interrupted Naomi's train of thought. She turned to see a young pudgy girl, no older than sixteen, clutching a clipboard. The girl shivered behind her square glasses, nervously adjusting them to make sure they didn't slide down her nose. Her hair was in pigtails, perfect for her to coil it around one of her fingers when she wasn't already tugging on one of the sleeves of her pink t-shirt. These mannerisms stood out to Naomi like yellow highlights on paper.

"Hello." Naomi spoke gently, posing herself to be as welcoming as could be.. "How may I help you?"

"U-uhm...I...no wait..." The girl fumbled her words as her eyes drifted from the ground, to Naomi's eyes, and then back to the ground. "M-my friends and I-I are trying to raise money f-f-for the Best Friend's Animal Society, a n-non-profit charity dedicated to helping stray dogs and cats find new homes...W-would y-you like to consider contributing to our cause?"

Naomi's eyes looked over the girl's shoulder to see a group of girls and one boy huddled together, watching them from across the sidewalk a couple feet away. They tried not to stare, with some looking away when Naomi made eye contact, but the others couldn't help but carefully watch the scene unfold. Some appeared to be giggling at the sight.

"Are those your friends?" Naomi asked. The girl turned around for a moment, and then turned back to Naomi.

"Y-yeah, that's them..."

"I see..." Naomi shifted her attention back to the girl. "What is your name, dear?"

"Oh, uhm...Linda..."

"Linda, I'd like to contribute to your cause."

"Ah, r-really?" Linda said with hope in her voice.