Lucy poured a little milk on her oatmeal as she liked it a little milkier and then picked up her spoon and began to eat

Liking her oatmeal sweetened, Theresa reached for the sugar bowl and heaped two spoonful's of the sweetener onto her oatmeal, sprinkling it liberally. Picking up the coffee pot with the cloth she asked, "Can I pour anyone coffee?"

Sam and Lucy both offered up their cups silently and, Theresa filled them. She filled Sam's almost to the top of the cup remembering that he liked his black but with sugar. Waiting until Sam had reclaimed his cup Theresa then poured coffee into her aunts cup and then her own. Each cup had been filled approximately two thirds full, Lucy's because she took hers with milk and Theresa's because she took her with milk and sugar.

After placing the coffee pot back on the table, Theresa poured milk into her cup and then helped herself to two heaped spoonful's of sugar before stirring the milk and sugar into the coffee. Satifised that it was as she wanted she lifted the cup to her lips and took a sip.

Theresa adored coffee, particularly the smell of it. She loved the smell of freshly ground coffee beans especially, as it was just simply the best. And well,…the smell of coffee when it was freshly brewed with water…. It took her senses into overload. The only snag was that the taste was so bitter that initially she shied away from drinking the beverage. That was until her mother had suggested that Theresa added sugar to take away the bitterness. Theresa liked black coffee with sugar but found that when she added milk as well she absolutely loved it.

Lucy watched her niece with her coffee cup held under her nose and looking like she was in another place and time whilst she ate her own oatmeal. Oh no! Not another dreamer. Lucy had a younger brother, Davy, who always had a similar look on his face when he retreated into his own world. Knowing that if she left things that Theresa would like get into trouble with her husband Samuel, Lucy coughed loudly and then said, "Theresa, my dear. You need to hurry up and eat your breakfast. Uncle Sam has to open the store up by 8."

Startled out of her day dreaming, Theresa spilt some of her coffee on the tablecloth. Putting her cup of coffee down she used her napkin to mop up as much of the spilt coffee as she could. Luckily none of the coffee had spilled onto her clothing. "Sorry Aunt Lucy, Uncle Sam. I'll wash the tablecloth out myself Aunt Lucy."

"No. It's OK Theresa, I will do it. Now hurry up and eat your breakfast before it gets too cold or your Uncle will end up open up the store without you," replied Lucy.

"Yes Ma'am," Theresa said and she picked up her spoon. The oatmeal was sweet enough but like aunt Lucy had stated it had already cooled. Theresa made a face when she tasted the first mouthful, but she swallowed it quickly when she saw her Uncles frown. It's your own fault, Stupid! You shouldn't have spent so long day-dreaming about your love affair with coffee. So you better suck it up and hurry up and eat the cold and stodgy oatmeal or you will end up spending the day doing chores like laundry. Instead of getting the chance to talk to the townsfolk and the other visitors to the store you will be restricted to the house.

Finishing the last mouthful of oatmeal and grimacing at the taste, Theresa reached for her coffee to help wash it down. The coffee was now cool enough to drink quickly and she gulped it down and placed the cup back on the table.

"Finished at last have we?" exclaimed Sam in frustration. "Now if you are ready finally Theresa, perhaps I can go and open up the store!" he snapped before standing and pushing his chair under the table.

"Samuel!" scolded Lucy. "Please! I know that the girl was day dreaming a little, but don't you think that you are being a little unfair?"

Sam leant down to kiss his wife's on the cheek that she had tilted towards him. "Perhaps," he sighed. Standing up Sam looked at his niece, "I am sorry for snapping Theresa. Would you still like to come and work in the store with me today?" he asked in a much gentler voice.

Theresa stood up and pushed her chair under the table, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She knew that Uncle Sam might have been a little frustrated at waiting for her. And, that she had been day-dreaming earlier but she hadn't expected the angry outburst. Sniffing back the tears she glanced up at her Uncle's face noticing that he didn't seem to be as angry. Sniff, sniff, "Yes please Uncle Sam," sniff, "If it is ok with you. I am really am sorry if I've delayed you. I won't day dream in the store if you let me work with you, honestly."

Sam opened his arms realising that he had upset his niece and needed to set things straight. "Come here darling," he said gently.

Theresa rounded the table and stepped nearer her Uncle. As soon as she was near enough Sam pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly to him. Theresa who was a least a foot shorter than her 6 foot uncle, settled her head into her uncles chest and she let the tears fall.

Sam kissed his niece on the top of her head, " I am very sorry that I snapped at you my dear. I have no excuse really, except to say that I am not really a morning person. I know that you might find that hard to believe given that I have to be up early each day to open the store. But if you don't believe me, you can ask your aunt."

"Your uncle speaks the truth honey," Lucy chimed in. "In fact ever since I married him, your Uncle has been like a bear with a sore head in the mornings. I've just gotten used to it over the years. I do my own thing and leave Sam to wake up properly on his own."

"Thank you for painting the girl such a bad picture of me in the morning Lucy! I am not like a bear with a sore head in the mornings!" said Sam disgruntledly.

"OH YES YOU ARE SAM! You just don't realise it anymore, as I don't pay it any attention. Now are you going to spend all day arguing with me about that or are you opening the store up?" Lucy said forcefully.

"I'm not like a bear with a sore head in the morning, I'm just not a morning person," grumbled Sam into Theresa's ear.

Kissing the girl on the head and giving her a quick squeeze he released Theresa. "Come Theresa we need to go and open up. "

Turning towards his now standing wife Sam said, "Lucy, I'll send Theresa home lunchtime. Can you send her back with some ham sandwiches and some of your Grandma's recipe lemonade?" he asked hopefully.

Lucy winked at her niece, "I'll see what I can do Sam. Now scat the both of you. I've laundry to get done and I've got to wash up the breakfast things up first."

"OK, OK, I'm going," said Sam. Come Theresa let's leave your aunt to her Laundry."

"Yes sir, I'm coming." Said Theresa before quickly giving her aunt a hug.

"Enjoy your morning honey. I'll see you at lunchtime." Said Lucy planting a kiss on her nieces head.

"Thanks I will Aunt Lucy, " said Theresa hurrying out of the door after her uncle.