"Good morning sunshine, here's your coffee. Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes." I turned my head on my plush pillow towards the scent of the coffee drifting from my large mug. Coffee was always my drink of choice; I always had it with lots of half and half and even indulged myself with some chocolate sprinkles if I wanted to be fancy.
"Thanks Dad, I'm off to see the girls later and really needed this to get me going today. Who knew rich executives would be so messy! I swear they are more chaotic than frat boys." Cupping my mug with both hands, I took a long inhalation of the coffee made with arabica coffee beans that had been purposely ground by Dad this morning.
"Enjoy your drink, I'll see you shortly." I placed my mug down and lifted the quilt, sliding my legs down to the ground. My feet found my yellow duck slippers and I took my robe from behind my door, sliding my arms in and securing the belt around my waist. I picked my mug up before leaving the room in search of food.
Dad was sitting by the kitchen table as I entered the small room off the hallway. This house is all I've ever known, it's my sanctuary and my sanity. The only other constant in my life has been Dad. Just the two of us.
Dad and my mom were childhood sweethearts. A modern-day Romeo and Juliet if you want to make the comparison. They had met in high school, which was worlds apart for them both. Gran and Gramps had wanted Dad to have the best chance in life and had applied to all the top schools in the area, when they had received financial help from one school Dad enrolled in and within days caught the eye of one of society's elite children. You see this school commanded mega fee's and when children attended here, they were expected to move onto Ivy league schools, becoming the next politicians or other high-ranking officials in the government.
Mom had gotten her place at Harvard to study business and Dad enrolled in the police academy, they managed the long-distance relationship thing for the whole 2 years of Mom's MBA, cracks had already started in their relationship, Mom was the bread winner in the family, once she had her degree she joined the family business, which was expected of her. Dad swiftly completed his nine hundred hours of basic training and was aiming to be a detective when Mom dropped a massive bombshell. She was pregnant. Dad proposed on the spot and Mom said yes. Fast forward 8 months, Dad was out working when Mom went into labor three weeks early, when Dad managed to get to the hospital, he was told my mom had died during delivery, but I survived. Dad was given two roles now, he would look after me when I got sick, soothe me after a nightmare, listen to my friend dramas and had to ask for help from a lady in the shop when I got my first period. Dad raised me alone. My only contact with my mom's family came in the form of cards twice a year. Dad was my universe, he attended every sports day, teacher parent conference, science fair and spelling bee. Dad made sure I was never without, and although we were far from rich, he gave me enough love for them both.
Next to my plate of pancakes lay two white envelopes. My final answers to a better job, hours, and money.
"God damn it! Damn it all to hell!" I yelled into my hands, throwing the letters in the air. Lifting his arms in a retreating gesture Dad stood up and came to my side.
"Woah there, no need for that, what did they say?" Dad caught both flying pieces of paper and began reading the contents. "Oh honey, they clearly don't know what they've missed out on, I feel a change is coming and you'll find something even better than these imbeciles." Dad's puppy dog eyes urged me to smile, lifting my spirits, I could never be mad when he was around. Reaching for my mug, I drained the rest of the warm coffee and began to fill my mouth with the steaming pancakes, already swimming in syrup and freshly cut bananas.
With my stomach filled to the brim, I retreated to my room, closing the door behind me. Discarding my robe and pajamas on my bed, I entered my small bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror.
Dad said I had my eyes from Mom, deep hazel pools like rich chocolate swirled with jade flecks. Reaching for the dial I turned on the cascade of water from the shower head, peeling the rest of my clothes off I entered the hot steamy water, washing away the nights sweat and my worries. I didn't have long to enjoy the shower as I knew I had to get ready and over to meet my friends, hastily soaping my hair and body up to a luxurious lather I finished in record time, leaving the shower behind I brushed my teeth and headed into my room, pulling open the doors to my closet and grabbing something that was cozy but fashionable. I didn't have many nice clothes, choosing to spend my low pay on helping Dad with the bills and putting myself through night school.
Once dressed I dried and styled my hair in a slick plait and finally pulled on my least worn looking pair of sneakers before leaving my room and shutting the door.
***
Stepping out into the cool air, I commenced my short walk to the nearest bus stop, I knew the next bus would be along shortly and within fifteen minutes I would be at Monroe's, my local coffee haunt. I always loved taking the bus, it gave me the opportunity to people watch.
Taking my seat near the back I was keen to observe the young Mom with her rambunctious toddler, climbing on the seat beside her, then jumping off into the aisle, tripping and falling against an elderly lady giving serious Miss Trunchball vibes, her scowl alone could sour the sweetest milk and make babies cry. At the next stop a couple of young lads walked on, a skateboard taking up one arm, the other dropping a few coins into the slot beside the driver. They take the seats to my right, muttering something about the scowl on the "Ugly serpent queen" who had almost tripped them up with her cane, appearing to be fashioned from her "dead husbands' arm." I loved people watching, I enjoy pretending what their lives are like, I've come across lords, princesses, trolls, and trained assassins.
The latter assumed the identity of a bored housewife during the day, constantly checking her phone for the next hit, smiling knowingly to herself when her next target was dropped into her inbox.
More people come and go before it's my turn to leave my own personal soap opera. Crossing the sidewalk I dodge the power-suit leaving Monroe's in a fluster, briefcase and coffee occupying his hands, clearly too busy to stop and take notice of his surroundings.
Coffee and sweet pastries fill my senses and I stop just inside the door and deeply inhale. Monroe's had been a second home throughout high school, my dad was incredibly happy knowing I was here rather than under the bleachers with some jock.
All my friends had worked here at some point, me included. Jenny the owner had retired and left the business in the capable hands of her nephew Jaiden, I helped train him up and we became best friends as soon as we bonded over our love of coffee and Henry Cavill. Things were a bit awkward for a while early in our friendship, Alicia Silverstone in Clueless comes to mind, I had a huge crush on Jaiden but once I watched Superman with him and he kept going on about how he could move to England and find Henry Cavill, I could have literately smacked myself with my hand, how had I missed the fact Jaiden was gay! It was a revelation my dad thought was hilarious, his "Gaydar" was strong apparently!
"When you get your high-flying job in the Loop, will you let me finally take you shopping?" Jaiden over-enthusiastically mused before kissing me on my cheek. He was a force of nature, sunshine, and rainbows in a barista apron.
A lot of our regulars came to absorb the energy he gave off, his coffee filled with optimism and happiness. Jaiden was our own fountain of youth and exuberance.
"Why thank you kind sir" speaking with my best (worst ever) British accent, bowing with a wink Jaiden turned and gestured for me to pass him, I could see the girls sat in our usual corner and I began weaving between table and chairs, choosing the single oversized chair for myself before sitting with a whoosh.
"Please tell me today is the day you finally can quit that damn cleaning gig?" Jackie probed, sipping her iced latte, and taking a large bite of her cinnamon swirl. Jackie meant well, but I couldn't help sighing and shaking my head, I could feel my eyes fill with tears of disappointment. Trish leant across and gently squeezed my shoulder.
"You know if you just say the words, we will help if we can, have you considered working for a company with in-house accountants? It will broaden the employment opportunities for you." To be honest, it wasn't something that I had dwelled on, I had always envisioned working at a super company like Deloitte which dealt with major accounts internationally and not a company whose core business was not finances.
"I can give your resume to my boss, see if we have anything going in our accounts office, at least they won't need to run extra employment checks on you, since you already work there." My eyebrows creased as I thought about what Jackie said.
"What do you mean Jackie?" Leaning forward as I picked up my final bit of pastry, as I munched on it, small crumbs fell unflattering from my lips.
"I work for Crawford Industries, have done since I interned at college." Jackie smirked; I had no clue how this particularly important piece of information could completely leave my mind. My spirits rose and a smile tickled at the corners of my mouth. I jumped up from my seat causing Trish to inhale her mouthful of chai tea down into her lungs, I reached across slapping her on the back a few times.
"Jesus woman! Give a girl a heart...… attack why don't you" forcing the words out in between loudly coughing and spluttering.
"Wow Jackie, which would be amazing! You'd really do that?" narrowing my eyes at Jackie, she beamed in response.
"Anything to get you going, I'm not promising anything of course. You may have to start at the bottom, but I know you've got the skills and can climb the ladder quickly. There are buckets of advancement opportunities at Crawford. They always keep hold of those that prove themselves," this got my brain buzzing with possibilities.