An Incident At A Coffee Shop

The service got out as I found myself traveling to the coffee shop. Through time and coffee I believed that I could wash down and away my thoughts of the recent past. Down the road and to the left, two stoplights, turn right once more...and there it stood.

Starbucks.

A leap of joy hit me as I found security in this strange world. I pulled in, took my keys and walked through the door. The smell of beans and cream, the sound of jazz and laughter fill my head full of thoughts as I walked to the counter.

"What can I get you today?"
"Venti Ice Carmel Macchiato"

As I sat by myself in the chair viewing the road out front I trailed off into a random thought, a "day dream" if you will, and before I knew it, I was already gone...

...As I sat there, with the drink in my hand staring off into the world that waits for me, the chair next to me moved.

"Can I join you?", she asked, "I know this is rather strange, but I felt that I should talk to you. You look lost."

As she spoke I continued to stare, thinking, reflecting, wondering, "How did I wind up here?"

"...name? You're name...What's your name." As I finally heard her voice, "Shawn, my name is Shawn."

"Please to meet you Shawn my name is Summer." As I shook her hand, it was a smooth hand, a long hand, like those ones you would imagine to be a great piano player. I let go suddenly as I noticed that I had held her hand too long, "sorry, I didn't mean to." Her face was already blushing as she said it was ok.

"What is wrong Shawn? I can read your eyes." For some reason a sensation came over me, that it was safe to trust."

"It's a long story..."
"I don't have anything to do today..."

And so I followed through telling the history, the life, why I am here, what I feel, and it just went on.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't really be saying all of this, it just came out...", I tried to appologize.
"It's ok, I understand Shawn, really I do..."

That is when things turned strange and as she put her hand on my heart. "You have been hurt Shawn, you've gone through a lot in life, more then some people do in their lifetime. If you would let me, I want to help..."

I felt for a moment, "What do I do with this?" Finally I said ok and we stood and we left the coffee shop and headed to our vehicles, "Come to my apartment, just follow me, we'll talk more there..."

As I reached for my keys in my pocket and through my cup away, the door opened up and the sun hit my face...

...I'd been sitting there at the Starbucks for 2 hours, as I realized I'd let my mind run away for a while. I put my cup in the trash, said goodbye to the ladies for the day, got into my truck and drove off.

I wonder when I'll meet her, I wonder what her place looks like, I'm curious about the texture of her skin...when will I meet Summer?