The Coffee
Nov 29th 2024
It’s just after three, the kind of afternoon when everything feels like it’s slowing down. I don’t know why, but I’ve been dragging today, so I tell myself it’s time for a coffee run. Not that I need one—my head’s fine, my eyes aren’t even that tired. But there’s something about walking to the shop that breaks the monotony. I grab my jacket, throw my phone in my pocket, and head out.
The shop’s a couple blocks away, the one with the chalkboard sign outside that says “Life begins after coffee” in messy handwriting. Every time I read it, I think, Yeah, but what about before the coffee? Inside, it smells like warm beans and sugar. The barista, Ana, looks up from the register like she’s surprised to see me.
"Hey, you want the usual?" she asks, already reaching for the cup.
I nod. Doesn’t take much thinking. I come here enough for her to know my order. Large iced latte, no sugar. It’s the one thing I’ve got down, and for some reason, it feels like the only thing I can count on.
She slides the cup over with that quiet, practiced smile, like she’s done this a thousand times. I pay, take the drink, and head out. Outside, the air’s still warm, the sun’s hanging low, and I’m already thinking about heading back. The walk back’s quicker—almost like the coffee’s kicked in without me realizing. The world feels a little sharper, a little less heavy.
I don’t know if the coffee’s really doing anything for me, but it’s the walk I needed. The little routine that reminds me that the day doesn’t have to be all work. Sometimes, just stepping out for a minute makes everything feel different, even if only for a second.
This story is inspired by John Updike’s A&P. It is grounded in the ordinary, day-to-day moments of life, with that kind of reflective, slightly detached narrator you might find in Updike’s work. The observations aren’t profound, but they reveal a lot about the narrator’s mindset and the environment they’re in. Try this interesting narrator’s voice next time you write!