Sorry for the long wait, but it takes me a while to write these chapters. Suggestions are welcomed! In fact, I'd like to thank Persephone-Atrus-Remy for the coffee idea. Enjoy!
Cup of Coffee
"Mark," someone said kindly, "Mark, wake up."
After a few moments of grogginess Mark shot up. "OH MY GOD!" he shouted, running around the house and gathering his school supplies, "I'M GOING TO BE LATE!"
His older sister, Cindy, grabbed him by the shoulders and held him still. "Chill out Mark," she instructed, "It's only two in the morning. You still have a few more hours."
Mark groaned and sunk back into his desk chair. "How am I going to finish this huge project if I can't stay away through the night to work on it?"
There was an awkward silence.
"Mark, have you ever had coffee?" Cindy asked.
Mark looked at his sister. "No."
Cindy nodded and disappeared to who-knows-where. When she returned, she was carrying a mug with steam rising from it. "Here, try this," she insisted, "It's light, I promise."
Mark took a swig and spit it back out. "Gross!" he shouted, setting the mug down, "That stuff is disgusting!"
Cindy shrugged and walked back out of the room.
Making sure she was gone, Mark took another gulp of the coffee. "Yum! This stuff is addicting! Who'd have thought Cindy would be right about something?"
Roger had a huge hangover. Holding his head, Roger stumbled into the kitchen, looking for something to drink. All he could find was some cheap pack of coffee his roommate, Todd, always had 'just in case'. Not really caring how mad Todd would get, Roger quickly prepared the coffee and took a sip.
He swished it around in his mouth for a while before spitting it out. It was disgustingly hot. True, it was only about twenty degrees in the apartment that wintry afternoon, but Roger had never really liked warm beverages.
Roger dumped half of the coffee into the sink and added cold water. He took a sip and swallowed it thoughtfully.
"Not half bad," he mused, taking another swallow, "Not bad at all."
After finishing his first cup of coffee Roger searched the apartment for more. Getting frustrated, he took some money and headed down to the little café two blocks down.
"Coffee," he demanded, shoving the few bills onto the counter, "Something plain."
Roger rocked back and forth on his heels until the coffee was done. He scooped up his change and ran back to the loft, making sure to not spill a drop.
When his band mates got home that evening, they found the apartment covered in empty coffee cups. Roger was sitting on the floor, drinking cold, diluted coffee. As soon as the liquid was gone, Roger pulled a few bills out of his pocket and disappeared out the door. He came back with more coffee. Todd took it away from him and Roger burst into tears.
"GIMME BACK MY COFFEE!" he screamed, lunging at Todd and causing the coffee to fall to the wooden floor. Roger's eyes widened and he fell to the floor, slurping up the liquid with his tongue.
Two of his band mates put Roger to bed and kept an eye on him while the other two cleaned up. They wouldn't let Roger have coffee ever again.
Collins' mom had to have at least two cups of coffee everyday, which was tough because she was always in the car and on the run. When her oldest, Eve, was born, she stocked up on bottles- some for the baby's milk and some for her coffee. And why not? It didn't spill and was easy to use.
One day, Mrs. Collins was extremely busy and frantic. Eve had been caught drinking and driving underage; Kelsey, the next oldest, had gotten into a fight at school; and Ozzie had run away again. Mrs. Collins scooped up baby Tom and gently rocked him, trying to stop his wailing.
She paced the kitchen, the phone in one hand, one arm supporting Tommy, and the other arm and hand preparing two bottles- one with milk and the other with coffee. She tested Tommy's bottle on her wrist and sat down to feed him. He contently chugged down it's contents and she burped him before placing him in his crib to take a nap.
When she was done talking to the principal and the police, Mrs. Collins finally had a chance to drink her coffee. Her stomach did a flip-flop when she tasted the liquid in the bottle- milk. That must have…that must have meant Tommy had her coffee. That's when Mrs. Collins' passed out.
Mimi sat in a room full of her best friends. Her bestest best friend, Bonnie Sanchez was having a sleepover and now the six girls were about to start playing truth or dare.
"I'll start," Bonnie said and no one objected, "Okay, Dora, truth or dare?"
Dora sat there for a moment, thinking. Finally, she said, "Truth."
Bonnie smirked. "Who do you like?"
Dora blushed. "Ricardo is kind of cute. Or maybe Caleb or Phillip."
The girls giggled. "Okay, my turn," Dora said, interrupting their laughter, "Mimi, truth or dare?"
Mimi thought for a moment. "Dare." She answered.
"I dare you to drink a full cup of coffee." Dora said triumphantly and the girls gasped. They'd all had a few sips of coffee, but never a full cup! It was too strong. Mimi nodded and Bonnie disappeared upstairs. She returned with a mug filled to the brim with the black, steaming liquid.
Mimi snatched the cup from her friend's hand and took a deep gulp and put down the mug. She looked at it curiously before taking another sip and another and another until it was all gone.
"Hey Bonnie-chica?" Mimi asked.
"Yes?"
"Do you have anymore coffee?"
Maureen didn't get it. Every morning her parents woke up groggy and grumpy. Then they'd have this cup of magical stuff and they'd get better. It didn't make sense.
"Happy birthday to you!" Mr. and Mrs. Johnson sung, placing a heavily frosted cake in front of their only daughter.
"Make a wish Reeny and blow out the candles," Mr. Johnson whispered to the birthday girl.
Maureen nodded and blew out all of the seven candles in one breath. "Do you wanna know what I wished for Daddy?" she asked.
"You can't say what you wished for Reeny," Mr. Johnson answered, "It won't come true."
"But how am I supposed to get what I wanted if I don't tell anybody?" Maureen questioned.
Mr. Johnson sighed in defeat. "Okay Maureen, what did you wish for?"
"I want a cup of the magical juice!"
Mr. Johnson looked confused. "Magical juice? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean Reeny."
"The stuff you and Mommy drink every morning."
Mr. Johnson laughed. "Oh, you mean coffee. You're a little to young for that Maureen."
"Pleaaaaaaaaaase?" Maureen begged, giving her father puppy-dog eyes.
"Oh, alright." He said, getting up and pouring a small amount of coffee into a cup, making sure to add a few ice cubes so his daughter wouldn't burn her tongue.
Maureen took a sip of the coffee and swallowed thoughtfully. "It's okay," she said finally, "But I like juice better."
Not too long after that Maureen was bouncing off the walls.
"What happened to her?" Mrs. Johnson asked no one in particular.
Mr. Johnson didn't say anything. He just thought Note to self: Never let Maureen have coffee again.
Joanne shook her head. "No," she said, "I'm not drinking any beer! I'm the designated driver for tonight. Anyway, I find the stuff repulsive."
"Come one Josie," her friend, Simon, said, "Just one little sip."
"No," Joanne said firmly, "I don't want any. Stop asking me."
"Well then Josie," he said, "How about some coffee? There's no alcohol in coffee."
"Amazingly, I've never had coffee." Joanne said.
"Well you should try it!" Simon insisted, "I'll be right back."
Joanne tapped her foot impatiently and soon enough Simon came back with a cup of coffee. She gladly took it from him and took a large gulp, but spit it right back into her cup. "This is disgusting!" she stated, "I thought you said coffee didn't have alcohol in it."
Simon smirked. "Coffee doesn't have alcohol in it Josie," he said, "But Irish coffee does. Geez, you need to live a little. Have some fun for once in your life you party pooper!"
"I'm sorry Simon," Joanne said kindly, "But if not having fun means getting home safely, then I'm just the biggest party pooper in the world. I'm leaving Simon, see you tomorrow."
The next morning, Joanne learned that Simon had been killed while drinking and driving. She could never bring herself to drink coffee again.
Angel was at his Auntie Flora's house and she was a baker. She made pastries and cakes and other delectable goodies for all sorts of people. And of course, her favorite nephew was the official taster.
Angel licked his lips contently. "Auntie Flora," he said, "That coffee cake was amazing!"
"Thank you Angel," Auntie Flora said, blushing and putting a batch of chocolate chip cookies in the oven.
"Auntie Flora, do you think I could try some coffee?" Angel asked.
The woman laughed. "Of course you can Angel," she said, "But it won't be as good as my coffee cake."
She quickly made a pot of coffee and placed a mug in front of her nephew, who cautiously took a few sips, making a face. "I don't think I could like coffee anything after your coffee cake Auntie Flora."
Benny looked at the gift card in his hands. He'd gotten a gift card to the local coffee shop for his birthday, but he'd never had coffee before. Some great present that was.
"Well," Benny said to himself, "I guess now's as good a time as any to try the stuff."
Leaving a note for his parents, Benny slipped on his jacket and walked down the street, glad that coffee was warm as the cold wind flew through his thin coat and chilled his body.
As soon as Benny entered the café the warm scent of coffee overwhelmed him. He swayed for a moment before heading to the counter.
"Um," he said, surveying the menu board, "Can I have a…a…what do you suggest?"
The guy at the counter rolled his eyes. "Just regular coffee I guess."
"I'll have that then."
The guy put in Benny's order, filled up a cup with coffee and handed it to Benny, the cup slipping right from Benny's grasp.
"OW!" he yelled, "OW! OW! OW!"
However, everyone seemed to ignore him, until Benny shouted, "I'LL SUE!"
That's when the manager ran in. "Oh, that's not necessary sir," he said, "Let me get you a new coffee."
"No!" Benny yelped, running out of the café. He hasn't touched coffee since.
