Coffee Shop Soundtrack

Ryan sighed as he sat at one of the circle tables deep in thought. Receipts and other paperwork sat in front of him as he punched away at a calculator. Today was another slow day at the coffee shop and cleaning the same floor for the fifth time that hour was something he didn't want to do. Ever since that new Starbucks opened in Seymour last week, most of their business has been dwindling. Regulars may have loved the service here at The Grounds, but in the early morning rush customers would rather not get out of their car to get some coffee.

The lot around the old church building was not large enough for a drive through and the Historical Society would have a fit if he destroyed any more of the land. The building may have been converted into a coffee shop, yet down the little hallway by the bathrooms was one other room which they converted into a tiny museum. Pictures of the building and the of the town existed in there along with other things that was given to place in there. If Ryan had it his way, that would be his office instead of his home or a random table in the shop, but he had to please the Historical Society somehow.

“This is bad,” a voice called out in the room, “You're here alone with paperwork and random music is playing in the speakers.”

The boy's school bag and gym bag flopped on the couch in the corner as he walked over to the man. He pulled out the other chair and joined him at the small circular table with a happy look.

“I got bored listening to my music,” Ryan flipped through some papers not really focusing on the teenage boy.

“Cassie not here today?”

“No... she had some sort of lunch date with a friend. And what are you doing in here, Noah? I closed up the shop for the afternoon.”

He tried to show the boy that he was busy, but instead it came across that he was very bored. The crazy curly haired girl gave life to his day and whenever she had plans the shop always felt dull. Thus why the “Open” neon sign was left untouched and the front door was supposed to be locked.

“Cassie showed us where the spare was.”

He held up the key for the front door which Ryan quickly took cursing Cassie's name. Really, it has only been two weeks since they met these teens and Cassie probably already told them everything from the combination lock to launch codes of the secret missiles in the land behind them. Alright, he was exaggerating on the launch codes, but it's like he doesn't have any privacy any more. Pretty soon Georgia came walking in and also threw her things in the corner though they only fell onto the coffee table and knocked down the magazines resting on them. She ignored this and came and joined the two at the table with a judging look on her face.

“Cassie gone today?”

“Day off.”

“Ah,” she turned to Ryan who was attempting to read something, “are you going to make coffee or not?”

Ryan looked up to the two who looked back with anticipating eyes for their usual coffee, completely ignoring the fact that the shop was currently closed and that he was working on some important paperwork. Two weeks and it seems as if they owned the place. Noah and Georgia only came to work on their project anyway, they really weren't friends and no where close to lovers (no matter how much Cassie tried to believe that). Once they were done with their project they would be gone. However, until then, he was stuck with these two.

They were good kids, but for that moment he really wanted to be alone.

“Well?”

“Alright you two,” he pushed himself away from the table and stood, “up up up.”

The teens looked at each other and gave Ryan strange looks. Georgia with her arms crossed in her usual “unamused” pose and Noah just with a confused look.

“If you're going to come to my shop unannounced, I'm going to put you to work. Coffee Making Boot Camp shall now commence.”

The Georgia actually looked the most eager to try this than Noah, who had a sudden interest in doing homework. For the next hour Ryan trained the two on the basic coffee making. Everything from their basic cup of joe to the Carmel Macchiato. If he thought it up, he would force them to open up the recipe book and make it. This he intended to be punishment, but it ended up being rather fun to see the kids do this. He even pointed towards a board that held a record time on it. He gave a mischievous smile and triple dog dared them to beat that score. That was his and Cassie's best time to ever get an customer their drink. Even they haven't been able to beat that score.
Ryan smiled at the eagerness the teens gave when he told them the story behind the number. They even attempted themselves to beat the time, though hopelessly failed. It was fun training people again. The last time he trained someone... well there really wasn't a last time. Cassie was really his only employee along with a few of his family which joined on an oddball day over the years. The shop originally was his Uncle's place and handed down to him a few years back when he retired from the food business. Until recently there really wasn't a need for more help, Cassie always pulled through even if the hours were strained. Though ever since that Starbucks opened, profits have been dwindling.

“You know...” Georgia said picking up a few receipts from the table, “if you want to get some more people out here you could host a poetry night or something.”

“What do you mean?” He yanked the important papers from her hands.

Georgia shrugged, her long ponytail slipping back behind her. She didn't like to show much emotion around the people she was with, but ever since she had been coming here after school there was a little bit of her that was starting to break away. Ryan couldn't explain it, but he could have sworn that she almost enjoyed herself that day.

“Well, in Brandon there's this little book shop on Main. The first Friday of the month they always have this 'Book Reading Night' where they open up their reading stage for the book clubs to read a chapter from their favorite books. My mom goes to it all the time.”

She turned and looked to the corner where the couch and love seats were resting at.

“They always brought their own food, but you already serve food here. Set up a stage, serve coffee, invite all the emotional kids from town. Bam! Then you've got yourself a poetry night.”

Ryan placed a hand to his scruffy chin and thought for a moment. Noah shrugged and thought aloud that it sounded rather interesting.

“You'd probably get some more people if it was a band night.”

“How about both?”

The front door gave a swishing sound and the smiling face of Cassie stood in the entry. She had a few bags hanging from her hands, some were supplies for the store others were her own things. Cassie placed the bags to the floor and placed her hands on her hips. She started to complain how Noah and Georgia were making coffee without her. She then laughed and joined Ryan with the idea that the kids had. The rest of the night they made plans and listened to ideas.

It was a good thing that it was a Friday since they never left the shop that night...