Therese awoke early in the morning, weeded the garden, and started watering the plants. She sat on the porch, drinking a morning cup of coffee. The rabbits nibbled on the lawn near the porch, not because they preferred it over their garden, but because they had less time anymore with Therese, and wanted to make the most of it. “I like coffee.” Therese told the rabbits.
Therese’s father came out and sat next to her. He drank a cup of coffee, having taken Therese’s suggestion to practice. “You are right,” he said, “This is nice. how’s school?” He asked her, much like the rabbits missing his time with her.
“School is good.” Therese told him. Her father was surprised, but pleased with the answer, at best she would say school was okay, but now she said it was good.
“Well that’s good, you didn’t always like school, you know.” her father said. It was true. It used to be a struggle to take Therese to school, and to keep her there. She found the environment over-stimulating, other children unpredictable. Therese hated speech therapy, she did not like saying words when she did not have anything to say. Still, her parents pressed her forward, eventually, school became tolerable, and now she liked it. Therese’s father did not press her about the boy, he knew It would embarrass her and she hated being touched by others, except those closest to her, so he felt she might behave.
“I need to go to work. I need your car, I mean may I please drive one of the cars?” asked Therese.
“Sure, take mine, the keys are by the door.” said her father who was both proud and sad. She was doing good in school, she was working, but she was growing up. He knew the day would come when she was. “I love you.” he told her.
“I love you dad.” said Therese, then again “I love you mom.” as she passed her mother in the kitchen and ran out the door. Then she ran back in, grabbed her cardboard portfolio, and ran back out to the car. Therese drove carefully and deliberately to the Cowffee Cup, but a little faster than normal.
Therese parked the car. She walked up to the door. Therese smiled at the painting of the rabbit. She put her feet together, facing the door. Therese tapped on the door to let Erin know she was there. Erin looked over, smiled, and went to the front door, opening it to let Therese in. “Good morning, want to make a cup of coffee before you start working?” asked Erin.
“Yes, please!” Therese said. She had already drunk a cup at home, but she wanted to have another available while she was working.
“Did Peter behave himself last night?” asked Erin to Therese, who blushed slightly when asked.
“Yes.” said Therese.
“Good boy.” said Erin, taking a sip of her coffee.
“Do you like to kiss boys?” asked Therese.
Erin choked on her coffee. “I suppose so if he is cute, and his breath smells good.” explained Erin.
“How do you kiss boys?” asked Therese. Her eyes were curious even if her tone was flat.
“You just put your lips together and the rest happens naturally, So let’s get the chairs down off the tables.” said Erin changing the subject, and trying to not be a poor influence on Therese. They prepared the coffee shop for the day. Therese was careful and meticulous, placing all the chairs perfectly even. Erin mostly left the chairs where they landed as long as they kind of faced the right way.
“I want to go next door, I mean can I go next door?” asked Therese.
“Sure, if you see Vivo there, let me know so I can be surprised.” Erin told her.
Therese went through the back of the store, entering the back door of the Kookie Mart. Peter stood up from the counter quickly when he noticed her. “Good morning, you look great” Peter said a little tired, absentminded and his eyes opening at the sight of Therese. His heart rate increased.
“Good morning.” Therese told him as she began looking through the mints to find her favorite kind. Therese paid for the mints, then opened them. “Eat this” Therese said, handing Peter a mint, who was surprised and embarrassed thinking his breath might be awful, chewed the mint.
“Let me smell your breath now.” said Therese, Peter exhaled, and Therese smelled his breath. It smelled sour still, so she took another two mints, and handed them to him, which dumbfounded he chewed and ate. “Let me smell your breath.” Therese told him. Peter exhaled, and Therese sniffed it again. Peter’s breath smelled better.
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“I want you to kiss me.” Therese calmly told Peter, who just stood there, confused and barely awake. Therese thought perhaps he did not understand her, and repeated, “I want you to kiss me.” Therese leaned closer, halfway across the counter. She puckered her lips and kept her eyes open. Peter obliged, leaning forward, closing his eyes as he always did before. And pressed his lips to hers. Therese stood frozen, terrified by the sensation. Her eyes were wide open. She was excited but scared. Peter gently kissed her and backed away slowly.
“You should keep mints on you.” said Therese, backing up from the counter, turning, putting her feet together, and then running to the back of the store, and into the Cowfee Cup.
Peter heard Ben clear his throat, Peter had not noticed him enter the store. “I was just going to kill you.” said Ben, motioning an invisible knife across his own throat. “I need to think of something better. Vivo will be late, your daughter kept him up.” said Ben, walking through the back of the store to beg a decent cup off Erin, not wanting to disgrace his stomach with their store brand. Peter used his employee discount to buy the rest of the brand of mints Therese liked.
Therese entered the store, just as Buck did. Buck smiled and told Therese good morning. She told him good morning back. Erin was oblivious to Buck, still not used to him being politely quiet.
“I need your cane. Please.” said Therese to Buck.
“Sure.” Buck said handing the cane to Therese, who took the cane and whacked the counter. The sound of the cane hitting the counter startled Erin, who threw a dish when she jumped, which fell and shattered on the floor.
Erin spun, angry, startled, and glared at Buck yelling, “You asshole.” out her mouth before she realized Buck was standing near the door confused, and Therese was holding the cane. Therese had a full grin on half her face, her lipstick a little smeared. Erin looked at Therese confused.
“His breath smelled good after he ate mints. I just had my first kiss!” said Therese, excited, standing next to Buck.
Buck shook his hands no and shook his head no, waving his every way that it was not him. “You wish.” said Ben to Buck as he walked between everyone and started pouring him a cup of coffee out of the carafe. Erin glared at Ben. “Not me either.” said Ben, taking his coffee and walking through everyone and back to his store.
Erin looked at Therese, already over her anger, and ran over and hugged Therese. “That’s great. That’s really good.” Erin told her. Therese hugged Erin tightly back, then turned and handed Buck back his cane, telling him “Thank you”.
“You guys break a lot of dishes.” said Buck, still confused.
“Let’s us sweep them up.” Erin told him, as she and Therese grabbed brooms and dustpans, and began sweeping the pieces up. “Grab your own coffee today, you know where everything is.” Erin told him, as she hurried to clean up the broken glass before the store opened. Buck went over to the counter, poured a cup of coffee, left $3 on the counter and walked out, beginning his trek home. Buck laughed the whole way home, in high spirits having witnessed the morning.
Ben walked back into his store, and looked at Peter, saying, “You know what it’s like to hurt. She doesn’t need to know.” Ben glared at Peter in disapproval. “You’re here to finish your education, and take care of yours future.” Ben added. He liked the kid, but Therese reminded him of his little sister, so he was predisposed to killing Peter on principle. Ben chuckled to himself at the thought of that, the “Peter Principle.” Peter was right to be a little scared as Ben glared at him, although the glare softened with each sip of coffee.
“You can’t get me out of this jam, can you?” asked Peter.
“What Jam? I could go tell her terrible things about you. I could stuff you in a dumpster, I don’t think there is a thing I can do to keep you from liking her.” said Ben.
“She’s nice. She’s innocent.” Peter said, somewhat regretful, but more liking Therese with each heartbeat.
“I’m innocent too buddy, but that’s because I have a good lawyer. There’s no lawyers in love, just judges. And when you lose, there is no appeal for how bad your heart hurts. I need a muffin.’ Ben added, walking back out of the store to grab a muffin from Erin. Ben stopped and swung the door a couple of times, admiring his craftsmanship, then remembering he needed a muffin and walking back over to Erin’s.
“He’s dead, I killed him.” Ben told Erin, as he walked over and selected a muffin. Therese froze horrified. “I’m kidding” Ben told her, realizing he startled her. “But if you ever change your mind.” Ben added, walking back to his store and eating his muffin.
Therese raised an eyebrow and asked Erin in her flat voice which was softer than usual, “Is he mad at Peter?”
“No, you are just a lot like his sister, you look just like her, so you make him think of her. Good men have that in them. He cares about you.” Erin reassured Therese. Therese liked that, she liked Ben and was glad he didn’t hate Peter. Therese went back to setting up for the day. She liked laying out the muffins in the display case, they smelled good. Erin baked them fresh, every day. Erin was happy, and she appreciated the help, especially on Saturday, because it was about to get busy.
Therese was happy at work. She stayed busy and enjoyed the aroma of the coffee. She was less bothered by the sound of the milk steaming machine, and the sound of whipped cream coming out of the can made her laugh. She ignored the small burns on her fingers. Therese loved her duties so much that Erin had to remember to tell the girl to take breaks, or she might never stop to rest.
Erin also enjoyed having another girl to talk to, someone other than Ben or Vivo, even if Therese always gave the simplest answer possible. She enjoyed teaching Therese new things as much as Therese enjoyed learning them. It was an ideal relationship for everyone. Ben began bugging Therese more often than Erin to make him drinks, Erin knew even if Therese didn’t make the drink better, Ben was trying to convince her she did. Erin was always glad to see the soft side of Ben.