The first day Ash consciously saw her started out like any other day. The only reason it was "consciously" is because, like any good retail employee, Ash had found a way to sleepwalk her way through her job. She could get through the day using only 25% of her brain power max, which she considered a valuable asset to stop her from killing some of the customers she got. The one prior to her was particularly bad. The little mouse pestered her for the entirety of the coffee making process, took one sip, complained about it, paid, and didn't leave a tip. When she got to the order window, she plastered on the "retail smile" and said to the waiting elephant "Hello there. What can I get you today?"
"Uuuhhhh..."
That was not one of the menu items, and before she could stop herself, the thought came out. She immediately slapped her hands over her mouth, horrified she had said that to a customer who hadn't even been a jerk yet. But then something miraculous happened. The elephant laughed.
Oh that laugh could make a grown woman believe in magic again.
"You're right, I guess it's not. Sorry. I get nervous around people sometimes. I'll just take a hot chocolate please."
"For who?"
"Meena. Two e's"
The elephant followed the drink down the line, but stayed silent during the whole process, assumedly listening to whatever was in her headphones. She paid, said a soft "thank you", stirred some sugar into the hot chocolate (what? why?) and then was on her way.
Ash watched her go.
The second day Ash saw her was a week later, same day. She ordered the same thing, minus the pause, and followed her down the line again. Ash decided to be bold. After all, no one looks twice at a server. Might as well be a robot.
"Same day as last week, huh?"
"What?"
"You came in last week, the same day. I'd bet the same time too."
"You remember a lot of the faces that come through here?"
Only the pretty ones. "Not a lot of people order hot chocolate from a coffee place."
"Ah. Yeah, same time. This is the only time my singing classes let out early, and this place is closer than my old one. I gave it a shot."
"Oh? How'd we do?"
"Fantastic. This hot chocolate really does wonders on my throat."
"Well I'm glad to hear it. Here you go. Total is-"
"Same as last time I presume?"
"Funnily enough, yes."
The giggle was less powerful than the laugh, but still a force to be reckoned with.
"Have a nice day!" She called to the retreating figure.
"You too!"
Ash was ready the third time. She tried not to make it look like she had looking forward to this next five minutes for the past three days. Because she hadn't. Of course.
"Hey Ash. I'm gonna guess you know my order?"
"You bet. I'll get on that."
Silence for a while.
"So you go to singing classes?"
"Yeah. My teacher says I have a natural talent, but I should really be going to public speaking classes."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I have a hard time talking with new people. But, ironically enough, I'm too scared to make the appointment."
"But we're talking right now, and we've only met three times."
"Well you're different. You're so easy to talk to."
"It's a retail worker thing. We may as well be wearing grey anonymous masks. Pretty interchangeable. Not really important."
"No!"
The entire cafe turned to look up at the pair, but Meena couldn't see. She was staring Ash dead in her surprised eyes. "You're not interchangeable, or unimportant. You're the best part of my day."
"Uh, I uh, thank you." Ash was frozen solid, shocked by the loud reassurances. The moment was broken when Meena gently pushed the money for the completed drink into Ash's hand. Ash took it, gave her the change, and watched her leave.
There's no way that she wasn't confident.
The fourth time Ash saw her was off schedule. She was three days late from her usual time, and they were the worst three days of her job. Everything just seemed less tolerable. Se tolerated it anyway, because that's what you did, but it was harder. Until she heard the "Hey Ash"
"Meena!" Her head snapped up from the register. "Where have you been?" She cringed and immediately tried to backpedal "I'm sorry. That was really unprofessional, I've just-" missed you "been curious." smooth save there Einstein.
"I dropped my singing class and signed up for a public speaking class. Different schedule."
"Oh. Congratulations! How's it going?"
"It's still hard. I got up there and stuttered through my speech."
"Oh. Well, I'm sure you can do it. From now on, just pretend like you're talking to me in the audience!"
Silence.
"I'm sorry. Was that too weird? I just thought-"
"No. It's perfect. Thank you." Meena said while handing her the
The sincerity in Meena's voice made Ash feel like she could fly.
But that wasn't all. As she was prepping the counter for the next order, Meena came back. "Uh, Ash?"
"Yeah?"
"There aren't any stirrers left."
"Really? Shit." she muttered under her breath, then yelled over her shoulder "Hey Johnny! Out of stirrers!"
"You got it Ash!" Called the gorilla, as he went to go grab another box. Ash bit her lip, then turned to Meena. "How tight is your schedule?"
"Pretty tight."
Ash only nodded, then reached behind her. Wincing a little, she pulled out one of her quills and handed it to Meena. "Here. you might want to run it under some water, but it's faster than waiting."
"Oh my god! Did that hurt?"
"Not really. Pretty much like pulling out a hair. I'll be Ok. Wasn't using it for much anyway."
Meena looked down at the quill for a moment, then said "Thank you Ash."
And then she left.
The fifth time Ash sees her she's on her new schedule. But there is a difference. Woven around a chain on her neck, sits a quill. A very familiar quill.
"You kept it?"
"Of course. When I'm doing my speaking, having you there? It, it helps."
Both of them pretend not to notice Meena's blush.
The sixth time Ash sees her is a holiday. The shop is closed, but public speaking classes aren't.
This is stupid. This is stupid and stalkerish and weird. Ash thought as she entered what she hoped was the right building. She did her research, and this seemed like the only place that offered a brake to the practice sessions around when Meena came in.
Ash took a seat in the back, and waited.
Whatever deity or higher power that actually exists must have been on her side, because half an hour later, she stepped out onto the stage. Standing in front of the mic, Meena looked out over the assembled crowd. But the number was off. There was an extra today. Someone way in the back. Someone with pointy quills.
Ash grinned and waved.
Meena smiled and waved back. And then she gave her speech.
"Oh man that was great! I bet everyone else was so impressed!"
"There were other people?"
Ash turned away, absolutely not hiding a blush.
"Thank you for coming. It made it a lot easier today."
"You're absolutely welcome."
There was a beat of silence, and then Meena blurted "Do you want to go somewhere? Together?"
"Like where?"
"Well, I was thinking coffee."
Ash laughed and laughed, and at that moment, Meena decided to do whatever she had to hear that laugh whenever she could.
It could make a grown woman believe in magic.