Coffee At Midnight In Seattle by Patrick Councilor
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story was inspired from my wonderful coffee haunt being open late last year on Black Friday for their loyal customers. Another inspiration is from a photo I took of Post Alley at night. I hope you enjoy it.
Daphne sat down at the table in Nervosa where Roz was sitting. "Hello Roz." She noted her friend coating the side of her finger with a clear liquid. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, hi Daphne. I just gave myself a paper cut on my finger and I'm applying a liquid bandage."
Daphne took a closer look. "Roz, that's not a liquid bandage. That's Orejel."
Roz took a look at the bottle. "Dang it. You see what a nervous wreck I am? I'm so nervous about what to get my mother for Christmas that I'm applying oral pain relief to by finger."
Daphne quickly went through her purse and found her friend a bandage. "Don't you worry Roz, we'll have you as good as new in no time." She removed the Band Aid from its wrapper and applied it to Roz's injury. "There you go."
"Thank you Daphne. That's one less thing I have to worry about."
"Right," Daphne said with a smile. "Unless that Orejel makes you start to lose feeling in that finga."
She placed the Orejel back into her purse. "Trust me, if that happens, I'll have it looked at by a doctor after I find a gift for my mother."
"Now, you don't worry about that. We'll find something for your mom. You'll be coming over tomorrow for Thanksgiving suppa?"
"Oh yes. I am looking forward to it. Harold is excited to meet you and Niles."
"Haven't we already met Harold?"
"No."
"Sure we have. He's the dark haired bloke."
"No, Daphne, that was Leon. He's yesterday's news."
"Oh my, when did you break up with him?"
"Yesterday."
"Oh my."
"Oh he had it coming. I had it up to here on how he would abbreviate my name."
"How does one abbreviate a name as short as Roz?"
"He kept calling me 'Ro'."
Daphne giggled. "I'm sorry for laughing. I shouldn't have. That does sound awful."
"That's the other reason I gave him the boot."
"How's that?"
"I also got tired of the people in the area laughing when they heard him call me that."
"Oh dear. Well, we're still on for Black Friday shopping extravaganza?"
"Yes, but could we meet later on? I have some things I want to pick up for myself for Leon."
"Come again?"
"They'll be gifts for me, but indirectly for him."
"How's that?"
"Let's just say that I wear them and he gets to see them on me."
Daphne smiled. "Sounds like a win-win all about."
"How about we meet here around ten PM?"
"Sounds great."
"Hey, why don't you ask Niles to go shopping with you until we meet up? He loves doing just about anything as long as it involves you."
"Well, I might have to butter him up a bit. He hates ruffling through the crowds. This place being open all that night, will help a bit. You know how he likes his coffee."
"Yes, literally. I think every loyal customer here knows that. He always orders the same thing."
"I love that about him," Daphne said with an uncontrollable smile. Her eyes danced.
"You do?"
"Oh yes, he's a man that knows what he wants."
"You are so lucky to have a man so head-over-heels in love with you."
"Thank you. We are very much in luv."
"So there you go. The three of us will meet here at ten PM and then we'll do a little girl shopping."
"That will be perfect. I can't have him shopping with me if I'm going to be buying for him."
"Oh, what would you like me to bring over for Thanksgiving tomorrow?"
"We pretty much have everything covered, but bring anything you fancy."
Roz smiled.
"Wipe that look off your face. You know I was talking about food and not this Harold of yours."