I was never the type to pick up books, more or less a reader. But after wondering off with my younger sister to Barnes and Noble, I found myself looking through photography books, art books, fashion books, and eventually ending up reading fascinating girly novels. After going so many times to Barnes and Noble, you start to realize all of the different faces. Nevertheless all of the familiar faces whom you would refer to as “The Regulars.” My ritual was walking past the New Releases, past “The Nook” stand, and straight up the 5 step stairs into the café where Starbucks coffee is proudly brewed. Order a tall black coffee with room to spare where I personally add in the half and half, with 2 packets of brown sugar. After the so-called fake baristas welcomed me back, I realized that I too have become one of “The Regulars.”
I got to know most of the café workers and for the most part they were all fairly friendly. Especially to “The Regulars” since we were the ones striking up the conversations throughout their slow and quiet shift. All but one fake barista seemed happy to come to work. I always noticed his disappointment in his face as if he was telling humanity that they can suck it. He was easily a 100 pounds overweight. His droopy and sullen eyes looked as if he never got enough sleep at night. Every time he spoke I could hear his sarcastic and monotone voice always complaining about how the café should close earlier, or about how much he hates it when stacks of books are being left on the café tables. One can’t help but think why he hates this place so much.
If he hated it so much, why was he still working there? Why hasn’t he already been fired after learning about the multiple complaints that “The Regulars” have made to the store manager? Maybe he was left by his cheating wife and thought that there was no hope in humanity. Maybe his wife is actually a nagging bitch and he secretly hates her. And working at Barnes and Noble it’s just not enough money to be able to go through a divorce. He probably is just so drained and depressed about having a crappy sex life, since he probably doesn’t get any. For all we know he could be a hoarder and a prisoner in his own home with 15 cats and 10 birds comforting his loneliness.
But today there was something very eerie at Barnes and Noble. Something so weird and out of character that it even took me by surprise. I was sitting down at one of the café tables, creeping up on page 214 when I decided that I needed my coffee to compliment my reading of a fascinating book that I got stuck on. I left my book on the table and walked to the café hoping that my barista friend would take the order. Instead I was dreading the walk because the old grinch was actually going to take my order. The stars must have been aligned in some weird way in the sky this specific night because when I started to order my coffee, this old man was smiling. Following the smile he happily asked me “Did you get a haircut?! I remember you had very long hair!” My eyes blinked harshly once and stared at him wide-eyed. I actually had to think about the words coming out of his mouth. He could obviously see the disbelief in my face. Was he being sarcastic? This totally caught me off guard! Maybe he finally got laid after years of being rejected by his bitchy wife.
“Oh, Yea!” I exclaimed “It used to be a lot longer and I just kind of got tired of the same look so I cut it really short.” He didn’t stop smiling. He was admiring the haircut and admiring a decent conversation. This was it. He was going to say some slick and sarcastic comment. But he didn’t, it was just so genuine that I was aghast! “Well it looks very nice. So a tall black coffee for you tonight?” He said. “Yes, thank you” I replied in confusion. Did this just really happen? Was this man for once being nice? At that moment it didn’t matter what made his day. I just hoped that he would give this “friendly at work” thing a permanent trait of his since I am going to be seeing him next week.
