With a satisfied sigh, Joe finished his own coffee, the last droplets of the warm, rich brew disappearing down his throat. He stood up, stretched his limbs, and handed his empty cup to Gruff, who took it nimbly between his teeth. 'All yours, old mate,' he said, patting the goat affectionately on the head. Gruff gave a soft bleat in response, his dark eyes regarding Joe with an almost human-like understanding.

Gruff bleated at the two smaller goats. The two disciple goats, having finished their coffee, picked up the kettle between them. With surprising agility, they trotted around the back of the camp, the kettle swinging back and forth between them. Look at that, Joe didn't even need a dishwasher. He had goat butlers.

Where to start today?

It would be a long time before the coffee plants grew, he could get to work patching up his shack, tidying the fence or....

Joe decided to start the day with a little foraging. He had spotted some blueish fruit on a tall tree deeper within the forest, and it was time to see if it was edible. Grabbing an old, beaten-up sack, he set off towards the towering greenery, his new companions trailing behind him curiously. The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy overhead, casting a dappled light on the forest floor and illuminating the majestic tree with the blueish fruits.

As he reached the base of the tree, he looked up. The fruits hung high above, their tantalizing blue hue shimmering in the sunlight. With a grunt, Joe started his climb, his hands firmly gripping the rough bark. The goats bleated in amazement from below, their heads tilted upward to watch Joe's progress.

Scaling the tree was no easy task. The branches were far apart, and the trunk was slick with moss. Yet, Joe persevered, hoisting himself higher and higher until he could almost touch the fruits. With a stick he'd picked up from the ground, he gave the branch a hard whack. The fruits came tumbling down, their fall cushioned by the soft undergrowth below.

Descending was easier. Once back on the ground, Joe collected the fallen fruits into his sack. They were firm to the touch, their skins cool and slightly textured. He hoped they tasted as good as they looked. With the sack now heavy with the blueish fruits, he gave a satisfied nod, ready to head back to the camp. After all, he had a new recipe in mind, and his breakfast guests seemed eager for a tasting.

joe cracked one of the fruit open, covered by a slightly tough membrane, not quite a shell. He scooped up a bit of the soft fruit and tried it.

His eyes lit up. An epiphany seemed to strike him like a bolt of lightning. He had an idea, a brilliant idea. The wheels in his mind began to turn, a slow, devious grin spreading across his weathered face. He glanced towards his new goat companions, who were watching him curiously, and then at the sack of fruits. He chuckled to himself, a gleam in his eyes that hadn't been there before.

With a newfound energy, he hefted the sack over his shoulder. His mind was racing. Was it too early in the morning? Nah, not for the person he was thinking of.

With the sack of fruits over his shoulder and the goats trailing behind, Joe set off at a brisk pace, making his way towards town. The path was well-trodden, winding through vibrant green fields and past rustic farmhouses. As he reached Andry's farm, he noticed the man was still working, his silhouette visible in the gentle morning light. Andry was tilling the soil, his face a mask of focus, sweat dripping from his brow. Had he been at it all night?

Joe shook his head in amusement, 'You're a real workhorse, Andry!' He called out, giving the man a friendly wave. Andry, hearing Joe's voice, straightened up, wiping the sweat off his brow. He returned the wave, a manic glint in his eyes.

Andry called out something back, but Joe missed it in his rush.

Joe continued down the path, the sack of fruits bouncing against his back as he moved with a spring in his step. As he rounded a corner, a small group of tents from the militia training exercise flashed past. The two guards on morning patrol duty, Yin and Yang, were stationed by the fire, their postures stiff and alert. The two guards exchanged a look before shrugging in unison, turning their attention back to their duty.

With the mountain behind him, Joe continued on his journey, his steps growing quicker as he flashed past the stores in town. The fishermen were already getting ready for work, the bland scent of Chicsum filling the air.

The familiar sight of Bee's bakery came into view. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. His heart pounded with excitement as he pushed open the bakery door, the tinkling of the bell announcing his arrival.

As Joe entered the bakery, he was greeted by the warm, comforting scent of bread fresh out of the oven. Beth, his friend and the owner, was busy in her usual spot behind the counter, kneading dough with a vigour that made her biceps bulge. Her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the oven, but the smile she wore was enough to light up the room. Seeing Joe, she gave a surprised laugh.

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'Joe, what brings you here this early?' she asked, her hands never pausing in their rhythmic motion.

Without waiting for an invitation, Joe jumped into the action. He tossed aside his sack of fruits and rolled up his sleeves. He washed his hands at the sink and patted them dry on a clean towel. Then, he scooped up a mound of dough and began to knead, following Beth's lead.

'I've got an idea, work with me, we need some fresh bread.' Joe said.

Beth frowned. 'I can't stop production this early but if you help me finish, we can give it a go?'

They worked side by side, the bakery filled with the homely noises of their laughter and the rhythmic thumping of their hands against the dough.

Finally, after what felt like hours but were really just a few intense minutes, Joe and Beth successfully got the last loaf into the oven. Sweaty and tired, but with an undeniable sense of accomplishment, Joe took Beth by the hand and led her to the old wooden table in the corner of the bakery. He pulled out a chair for her, and then proceeded to dig into his sack, pulling out one of the bluish fruits with a triumphant flourish.

'Beth, see this?' he asked, holding the fruit up for her inspection. 'This could be the next big thing!'

Beth, looking bemused, eyed the fruit skeptically. 'Joe, it's really not the right time to try new things,' she protested, a worried look in her eyes. 'The bakery's not ready to handle any additional products yet....and I haven't decided about selling.'

Joe shook his head, chuckling softly. 'Never mind about selling, Beth,' he said. He placed the fruit back into the sack, his eyes twinkling with excitement and mischief. 'I've got a different idea. Think...royalties, commissions might be a better term.' He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest and watching Beth closely for her reaction. The word hung in the air between them, a tantalizing proposition that sparked intrigue in Beth's eyes. Commission was not a concept unfamiliar in their little town, but it was certainly not the norm. And coming from Joe, known for his unconventional ideas, Beth knew she was in for an interesting proposition.

With a devilish grin, Joe lifted a slice of freshly baked bread from the batch they had just finished. He moved over to the open flames of the bakery's brick oven, holding the bread above the crackling fire on a long toasting fork. As the heat danced around the bread, it began to turn a golden-brown, the warm aroma wafting around the bakery. His eyes never leaving the bread, Joe carefully toasted it to perfection.

'See I noticed the town has a lack of breakfast foods. Well, not quite, there are pastries but a working man needs something more than sugared pastry with empty carbohydrates.' Joe said as he worked.

Beth, crossing her arms over her broad chest, raised an eyebrow at him. 'Are you insulting my pastries, Joe?' she asked, her voice playfully stern. A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, but there was a challenging glint in her eyes. Joe, catching on to her tone, quickly shook his head. 'No, not at all, Beth. Your pastries are works of art,' he responded, a hint of mischief in his voice. 'I'm simply suggesting a hearty, savoury option for those with a more... substantial appetite in the mornings. You know, for folks like Andry who start their day tilling the soil before the sun's even up.'

'Those fishermen by the dock, the farmers, even the tradesmen, they might not get a chance to snag lunch, and if they do it might have gone bad in the heat. Yet they've got to start work at 5am and whose got the time to cook.'

Next, he picked up one of the blue fruits from his sack and sliced it open. There was a pulp inside, sky blue, and he scooped it out with a knife. He spread it generously over the toasted bread. He dashed a sprinkling of pepper over the concoction, a final touch to this experimental snack.

Walking over to Beth, he held out the creation to her. 'Try this,' he said, his eyes glinting with anticipation. Beth looked at the toast in his hands warily, but there was a curiosity in her eyes that couldn't be concealed. 'Joe,' Beth began, a note of caution in her voice.

Joe cut her off, 'Think about it, Beth. A cheap, easy-to-carry breakfast food. It's perfect for the folks in our town who are always on the go. The farmers, the fishermen, the guards. They can have it while heading to work or even in between. It's nutritious and will keep them full till lunchtime.' The excitement in his voice was infectious. Joe's eyes were alive, brimming with the hope of what this could mean for their little town. Beth, taking a deep breath, reached out and accepted the toast, unable to resist the enticing aroma any longer.

Beth looked at the toast in her hand, then back at Joe. She bit into it, her eyes widening as the flavors exploded in her mouth. The bread was soft and warm, with a slight crunch around the edges. The fruit had a unique taste, both sweet and tangy, perfectly balanced by the sprinkle of pepper. It was like nothing she had tasted before. The combination of textures and flavors was exquisite. A surprised laugh escaped her, followed by a satisfied sigh. She took another bite, enjoying the taste that seemed to burst in her mouth. Swallowing, she looked up at Joe, her eyes bright and full of surprise. 'Joe, this is...' She paused, searching for the right words, then finally settled on, 'This is amazing! It's filling, it's delicious, it's...it's perfect! What do you call it?'

Joe, watching her reaction with a triumphant grin, leaned back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest. 'I thought we could call it 'Smashed Avocado on Toast',' he replied coolly, though the spark in his eyes revealed his excitement. 'Smashed Avo for short.'

'Now lets go find some people to sell it to.'

###

The goat disciples emptied the kettle's remaining contents onto the compost heap, the spent coffee grounds adding to the rich mix of organic material. Then, they carried the kettle to a nearby stream, the water cutting a clear swathe through the verdant landscape. They dipped the kettle into the cool water, washing away any residue. The sun reflected off the ripples they created, casting dancing lights onto the leafy canopy above.

As the disciples returned, they found Gruff on a new mission. He was pawing nonchalantly through the compost heap, his eyes widened in surprise at the sight that met them. Out of the pile of decomposed organic matter and coffee grounds, new shoots were shooting out, vigorously reaching for the sunlight above. The shoots were a deep, earthy green with veins of a rich mocha colour.

Gruff nodded and began his meditation.

Circulate to percolate.