My name is Alex. I like to hang out at the little coffee shop down the street from my place. It ain’t nothing fancy, just a comfy spot with big windows where you can see all the world goin’ by. I got a real knack for rememberin’ faces, like I seen you once, I’ll probly remember you a year later. It’s kinda funny, like my brain’s got a special file cabinet just for peoples mugs. Most days, it’s just me, my iced tea, and a good book, but sometimes, you get a free show.
Today was one of them days. I was settin’ by the window, watchin’ the sun kinda glint off the wet street from a mornin’ rain. The air felt all fresh and clean. The coffee shop wasn’t too busy, just a few folks tappin’ on their laptops and a couple old ladies gossipin’ real quiet-like.
Then, the door opened and in walked a young woman. She was probly in her early twenties, dressed like she was goin’ to a fancy party, but it was like, ten in the mornin’. Her hair was all done up in big curls, and she had on a kinda tight dress that probly wasn’t the best fit. She had a stroller with her, a real nice one, and a little baby was strapped inside, lookin’ around with big, curious eyes. The baby looked like it was used to being pulled around a lot, just kinda chillin’.
Now, I ain’t one to judge, but this girl had a look on her face like she owned the place, or maybe the whole world. Like she was somethin’ special. She was carryin’ two phones, too. One was a super new smartphone, probably the latest thing, but the other was this old-school flip phone. Like, a real, honest-to-goodness flip phone, not one of them retro ones, but an actual relic. It had a little sparkly sticker on it. I hadn’t seen one of them in years, not even in movies. That was kinda wild.
She walked straight up to the counter, pushin’ the stroller right in front of the line, even though there was nobody else waitin’. Mark, the guy workin’ the counter, he’s a real patient fella. Always smilin’, even when he’s busy. He just looked up from cleanin’ the espresso machine.
She put her hand on the counter and said, real loud, that she needed a free coffee. Not asked, mind you, but said she needed it. Like it was her birthright or somethin’. She started talkin’ about how she was a new mom and how tired she was and how it was the least they could do for her. She had this way of talkin’ like she was doin’ Mark a favor by even bein’ there.
Mark, bless his heart, he just smiled that patient smile and said they didn’t really do free drinks, ‘cept maybe for special promotions, which they didn’t have that day. He said he could make her somethin’ real quick if she wanted to buy it.
Oh, boy. That did not go over well. Her face kinda twisted up. She leaned in closer to the counter, still talkin’ real loud, sayin’ that was just rude. She pointed at her baby and said that she had to buy baby stuff all the time, and money was tight, and that a small coffee shop like this should support new mothers. She was makin’ a whole big thing out of it. The baby in the stroller just kinda blinked, like, here we go again.
A few more customers had come in by now, and they were standin’ there lookin’ all awkward. One lady, Sarah, an older woman with kind eyes and a sensible haircut, she was just shakin’ her head real slow. I could tell she was feelin’ for Mark, and probly for the poor baby too.
The young woman, she kept goin’ on and on. She started sayin’ that she was a real important person, and that she had a lot of followers online, and if she told them not to come to this coffee shop, they’d all listen. She started talkin’ about how her beauty was a gift and how people usually gave her free stuff all the time because of how pretty she was. I was just sittin’ there, sippin’ my tea, watchin’ the whole show. It was better than any TV.
Mark tried to explain again, real soft, that it was store policy, and he couldn’t just give out free stuff. He looked kinda tired, like he’d had this conversation a hundred times before.
Then, the young woman got even louder. She took out her smartphone and started holdin’ it up like she was gonna record him. She was yellin’ about how bad their customer service was and how she was gonna make sure everyone knew it. Her voice was gettin’ really high-pitched and kinda screechy. A couple of the other customers started shiftin’ their feet, lookin’ uncomfortable.
Just then, her old flip phone, the sparkly one, it started ringin’. It made this really loud, old-fashioned ringin’ sound, like somethin’ from a sitcom in the 90s. She kinda jumped, and it broke her rhythm for a second. She ignored it, though, just kept yellin’.
Mark sighed and said he was gonna have to call his manager if she didn’t calm down. He started reachin’ for the phone under the counter.
That’s when Sarah, the lady with the sensible haircut, walked up a little closer. She didn’t say nothin’ harsh. She just had this real calm look on her face. She waited for a small pause in the young woman’s yellin’.
“Oh, sweetie,” Sarah said, real gentle-like. “I totally get it. Being a new mom is exhaustin’, right? And you’re just tryin’ to do what’s best for your little one.”
The young woman kinda blinked, confused. She hadn’t expected someone to agree with her, even a little.
Sarah continued, still real calm. “You know, when I had my first, I felt like I deserved the world, too. And you know what I found out? The best thing you can do for your baby is to show them how to handle things with grace. They watch everything you do, don’t they?”
The young woman looked at her baby, who was now kinda fussin’ a little bit, probly tired of all the noise.
Sarah kept goin’. “And honestly, a beautiful young woman like yourself, you really don’t need to be yellin’ to get attention. Your natural charm and poise are way more powerful. Imagine what people will think, a stunning young mother like you, always so put together and respectful. That leaves a much better impression, doesn’t it?”
The young woman kinda paused. You could almost see the gears turnin’ in her head. She was probly thinkin’ about what Sarah said about her looks, and how people would see her. Her shoulders dropped a little.
“I mean,” Sarah added, real quiet, “it just looks so much classier to be the one who’s always calm and understanding, especially with your little one watchin’. You want them to grow up knowin’ their mom is strong, but also fair and polite, don’t you? It’s all about settin’ that example.”
The young woman looked down at her hands. The yelling had stopped. Mark was still holdin’ the phone, but he hadn’t dialed yet.
After a long moment, the young woman straightened up a little. She still looked a bit miffed, but the fire had gone out of her eyes. She actually lowered her voice.
“Well, I guess… yeah. I guess you’re right,” she mumbled, not lookin’ at Mark. “I mean, I don’t want my baby to think I’m always makin’ a scene. That’s not the kind of example I want to set.” She still had that air about her, like it was a real big sacrifice for her to be reasonable. “It’s just, you know, it’s hard out there.”
She kinda puffed out her cheeks, then looked at Mark. “Fine,” she said, not quite apologetic, but not yellin’ anymore. “I’ll just get a water, then. For the baby.”
Mark, surprised but relieved, just nodded quickly. “We have bottled water, or tap water is free,” he offered gently.
“Bottled,” she said, like it was a big favor for him to get it. She paid for the water with her smartphone, like it was a real inconvenience. She didn’t get her free coffee, or even free tap water. She got bottled water she paid for. The manager never did show up.
She grabbed the water and pushed her stroller out the door, the baby still lookin’ kinda tired. Sarah just smiled faintly, then went to order her own coffee. I finished my iced tea, thinkin’ about how some people just need to be told they’re brilliant, even when they’re bein’ real jerks, to make them see sense. What a wild ride.
