Whilst at work one Thursday afternoon in London, I decided to leave my office for a few minutes as I was craving for fresh air. Whilst I was making my way down the building, I was convincing myself that I needed a strategic cappuccino. The bright but chilly afternoon helped me decided that a 'chino was what I must have. From the four most beloved coffee chains, Starbucks was my choice.
Pushing the glass door in, a male assistant greeted me with the usual "Can I help?", to which I fluently replied, "Yes, one cappuccino venti please". "Anything else?" he asked. I took the chance to study the assortment of other items on the overhead menu which I hardly ever look at and replied "No, that'll be all for me thanks?'
As I paid, he asked whether I was having a good day. "It's been busy, but ok so far" I answered under my breath. A few moments later, he asked "Are you not going to ask about my day?". His question surprised me enough to win my full attention. "Ok, how are you doing" I enquired. "Well I'm pissed off and tired" he answered. "Well I hope I didn't offend you" I said jokingly.
When I received my change, I glimpsed at it and slipped it into my trouser pocket. "Excuse me but I know how to count" he said with a thorn. "Ok genius, you look good enough to trust." I replied again jokingly. With a stern look he followed with "What the hell is that supposed to mean?". Smiling, I struck back with "What's wrong, time of the month? I can come back when you're finished if that's ok".
The look that he gave me was proof enough that his sense-of-humour well had run dry. As he started to make my drink I though that it would be a good idea to watch him...carefully. I know never to upset or pest those who prepare your food.
He began to talk about his night out last-night when I thought to cut in and ask "Guess what?". "What?" he inquisitively replied as he finished my drink. "Do you think I would want to hear about your night?" I said with a stern face. Before he could react, I quickly grabbed my drink off the counter eliminating any idea of tampering with my drink. Within a flash he reacted in a tirade of french sounding angered sentences in a high pitched voice. I as made my way out of the store, I shouted back "Allez ola la piscine, je jouer au cinema", which translated to "I'm going swimming, I'm now going to the cinema". Since they were two out of a handful of sentences that I knew in french, it was only right.
I stopped by the following week, but he wasn't there. Shame.
K
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