| Working as a barista you meet some interesting people. Some customers are easy to please, while others, you must convince with a botox-tight smile that you are enjoying every minute of spraying whip cream and pouring hundreds of cups of coffee. Honestly, though, I do enjoy my job. Really, I do. At our shop we have a customer who refills his cup about 15 to 20 times a day. No joke, the man survives on cigarettes and coffee. He will be the first to admit this. Tonight, about 15 minutes before closing, he walks in and immediately asks if I normally wear prescription glasses. I respond, "For the past two months I have been wearing glasses. This is not normal. I normally am wearing contacts." Strange, but simple question. While I refilled his cup, I was wondering when the coffee will actually burn a hole, finally, into the base of his mug, when he yells to me from the other side of the counter, while customers are around, "Are you involved in something wrong?" Let's just say that involved is a strong word. No question with the word involved, involves a simple answer. i.e. "Are you involved with people who speak in tongues?", see? When the word involved is involved, people cringe, I sweat, you can hear Martha throwing her voice, "It stinketh!" Are you involved in something wrong? "It depends on what your definition of is, is", would seem to be the only logical response. I turned around slowly to ask him to repeat himself. "Come again?" I respond. "Are you involved in something wrong? I can see it in your eyes." "Z", I responded, "I have no idea what you are talking about." He stared at me questioningly and said "You know, lots of sex...are you involved with sex? or is it drugs? I can see it in your face. Your look, you have a face." For one of the first times in my life, I had nothing to say. I could only shake my head. I am only worried because this has happened before. I am convinced that we live in a sad world where people assume, when someone my age looks tired, it isn't because of strenuous activity, difficult studies, just lack of sleep, but because I've been out partying. Well I haven't. If ever offered drugs, I would respond as my mother has always taught me too, "Is that sugar or flour? No thanks, I am not a cooking sort of person." |
