Coffee Wars - Excerpt # 12

Coffee Wars - Chapter Four, Part Four

Christina’s mouth fell open before she realized she shouldn’t have been surprised, not with this group. She pressed her lips together, squared her shoulders, and prepared for the argument she knew was coming.

“Why should I?” she said flatly.

Roger’s mouth did a guppy before he squeaked out, “Because I’m on shift right now.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t help me with any of those customers.”

“I’m still on shift. I deserve half of the tip.”

Christina leaned forward, poking her head into the circle. “No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.” Another squeak.

“Tell you what. I’ll give you half the tips when you stop being so lazy.”

Roger reared back as if slapped, his cheeks going pink. “I’m not lazy.”

“Then why are you sitting over here while you’re on shift? Why am I working behind the counter, where you’re supposed to be, on my day off? I’m not going to get paid for that twenty minutes of work, but you are. So I deserve to keep the entire tip.”

Roger’s shoulders slumped. No squeak this time. Christina barely heard him when he said, “I would’ve helped if you had asked.”

“I shouldn’t have to ask. There were five customers. It doesn’t take a genius to realize I could’ve used some help.”

“Buddy told you to take care of them,” Roger pointed out.

Christina sat back. “Yeah, well, Buddy’s high, and even when he’s not, he’s not a very good manager.”

“Hey,” Buddy said, finally perking up from his sleepy state.

“Oh, please, Buddy.” Christina crossed her arms. “You should’ve been helping, too. Instead, you were stuffing your face with the last of the chocolate chip cookies. Big mistake, by the way. One of those customers asked for one, but we were out.”

“I was hungry,” Buddy whined.

“You had the munchies from smoking pot.”

“So what. I’m entitled. It’s my place.”

“Which you’re running into the ground.”

“I am not.” Buddy was fully awake now, slashing his hands through the air in Christina’s direction. “Give him half the tip.”

“No,” Christina practically growled.

“Yes.”

“No. He doesn’t deserve it.”

Buddy pushed himself out of his chair. “Do it, or you’re fired.”

Christina hesitated only a moment before digging the bill out of her pocket. “Fine. You want me to give him half, here’s half.” And she tore the bill in two, holding one piece out to Roger. “There you go. There’s half.”

A collective gasp from her co-workers slashed the air.

“I can’t believe you just did that,” Buddy said. “How can you be so selfish?”

“I learned it from you.”

“Enough, Christina,” he chastised her. “Go get some tape and tape that up. Then get two fives from the register.”

Christina shook her head in disappointment but got up to do as Buddy ordered because she didn’t want to get fired. When she returned to the group, she flung a five-dollar bill at Roger, who flapped his arms around to catch it before it could hit him in the face. Christina stuffed the other five in her pocket.

“Was that really necessary, Christina?” Buddy said.

Christina crossed her arms and sat again. “Or course not. But it felt good. I’m sure you can relate.”

While Roger steamed, Buddy sighed. Christina knew he wanted to scold her some more, but instead, he said, “Are we ready to start this meeting?” When no one answered, he continued, “Good. Okay, so as everyone should be aware, a new Expresso has moved in across the street from us.”

Just like the earlier gasp, the groan the group released was collective. Except for Christina, who simply rolled her eyes.

“I know. I know,” Buddy said. “But don’t worry. I have a plan.”

The tension in the group tightened like a stretched rubber band. Most of Christina’s co-workers leaned in slightly. She couldn’t help rolling her eyes again.

“So, what’s the plan?” Christina said, trying to move him along.

Buddy leaned back in his chair, propped an ankle on his opposite knee, and clasped his hands behind his head, getting comfortable.

“Just get to it, already,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Okay, here it is. I’ve decided to open the back patio to the customers. So tell all of your pot-smoking friends to come check it out.”

Another collective gasp. Then the group broke into a series of whoops and cheers.

© 2024 Beth Pontorno