Not For Everyone
The barista took the order from the man but then realized something. There were only two orders but he had three daughters. He looked over at the table and saw the eldest girl sitting with a frown.
The girl seemed to be lost in thought, but then she broke out of it and looked around as if she was worried about something. The barista knew he had to investigate.
A Peculiar Family
The Barista was working a busy shift at the coffee shop but it was something he loved. The smell of coffee and good customers always made him smile.
But that's when he noticed a contrasting scene. There was a family - a man and his three daughters - sitting at one of the corner tables. But something didn't seem right.
If Looks Could Be Deceiving
The girls looked well looked after, but it was something else gnawing at the back of his mind. Maybe they were just a strange family that wasn't used to public places?
But as the barista kept sneaking glances between coffee orders, he started to theorize what was going on. Was the eldest really his daughter? They didn't look all too related.
Odd One Out
Jenny sat at the table, resting her head in her hands. She stared at her dad and sisters, making merry chatter while she was lost in her own world. She had a lot on her mind.
The barista had a keen eye and noticed this contrast immediately. What was Jenny thinking about, and more importantly, was she safe with this man?
Sharing Is Caring
As the barista made the two cups of coffee that were ordered, he couldn't help but keep his gaze on the girl. What was going on?
He felt like there was more to things than they appeared. He wanted to do something about it before it was too late. He wondered if he'd be able to talk to them.
Taking A Chance
A plan formulated in his head until he knew just what to do. He put on the machine and made an extra cup of coffee. He was allowed free coffee from time to time, so he was happy to give it up just this once.
He walked over to the table and put the coffee in front of Jenny. He told her that it was an extra that no one collected. His ruse worked, and they took the bait.
A Kind Gesture
But the barista wasn't done just yet. He brought the other coffees and gave them to the other daughters, smiling the entire time. But he had an ulterior motive.
He helped the other daughters open up a pack of the coffee shop's cookies, but his real concern was Jenny, and he wouldn't stop until he found out what was going on.
A Clue
The barista lingered for a moment, studying Jenny's reaction. She hesitated, her withdrawn demeanor slowly softening. Her eyes, which once held a guarded look, now carried a glimmer of gratitude.
The barista couldn't help but wonder if there was something deeper at play, hidden beneath the surface. Would the girl notice the barista's concern and play along?
On The House
The barista cleared his throat. "Here you go," he said, his voice gentle and caring. "An extra cup for you. Consider it a little something special."
Jenny blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected act of kindness. She looked at the cup in her hands, noticing the usual Starbucks logo, but then her eyes caught a glimpse of something different.
Especially For You
There was a message written in elegant black ink on the white surface. "Is everything okay? If not, lift the lid off your cup."
Her heart skipped a beat. Did the barista somehow sense her pain? She glanced up, meeting his gaze once again. He seemed to be waiting for her to take action, his eyes filled with concern and compassion.
Being Seen
Jenny didn’t want her father to see her. She discreetly lifted the lid of the cup, concealing her actions with a casual sip. She glanced around, ensuring that her family remained unaware of the unfolding interaction.
Her fingers traced the rim of the lid, her eyes fixed on the barista. Would he be able to understand her silent actions?
Message Received
The barista, whose name tag said “Tommy,” nodded at the girl. He put his hands up in a motion to calm her down.
Their eyes locked, and at that moment, Jenny felt understood. She took another sip, her lips grazing the rim, while her heart poured out its silent burdens. It was as if the barista had handed her a lifeline, an invitation to share her troubles without uttering a single word.
Silent Talking
The barista watched her intently, reading the unspoken words hidden behind her eyes. He knew he couldn't pry or force her to open up, but he hoped his small gesture had given her a momentary respite from her inner turmoil.
He knew he only had a few minutes to figure out what was going on with them. They had until they reached the bottom of their coffee cup.
Making Signs
Jenny lowered the cup, its contents dwindling as her thoughts swirled. She managed a faint smile, a subtle acknowledgment that she had felt seen.
She looked at the barista and tried non-verbally communicating with him. He needed to know what was going on, but he was about to learn the awful truth about everything.
Crowded
The quiet Starbucks was now bustling with customers, but the kind barista wanted to make sure the girl wasn’t in any kind of trouble. He watched her intently to see what kind of reaction she would have.
In that crowded Starbucks, she had found solace in the simplest of interactions. She felt safe, as though she couldn’t be harmed while she was inside the public safety of the coffee shop. But things were complicated, and once the barista found out the dark truth, would he stick around?
All Eyes On You
As the barista waited for Jenny’s next move, the unthinkable happened. Jenny put her cup down and forgot to turn it around.
Panic crept over her face. The fear she showed concerned the barista even more. If she was this afraid of her father, what was actually going on? The black writing was clear for her father to see.
Not Afraid
He immediately noticed and grabbed the coffee cup. The barista watched in horror as the father scraped his chair back and marched straight toward him.
He wasn’t afraid of him. He was just another customer, after all. It was the girl’s reaction to this that had him scared. Who was this man, and what was he capable of doing?
Watching Her Reaction
As the man walked up to the counter, Tommy looked over his shoulder at the girl. He watched her reaction to her father’s outburst.
She was shaking like a leaf. Had he done this before? Something was definitely wrong, but now he had to deal with the father before he’d be able to investigate further. Little did he know, the father would spill everything.
Dozens Of Thoughts
Tommy’s mind raced with dozens of thoughts as the overprotective father marched his way over. What was really going on? He thought to himself.
Is she in some kind of trouble? He wondered as the man reached the counter. The initial gesture was just a bit of kindness, but now he was really invested. What had he involved himself in?
Caught Out
The father approached the barista with a stern expression on his face. His eyes bore into the bewildered barista, making him feel even more uneasy.
It was clear the man was unstable. Tommy could feel a cocktail of emotions mixing inside the father as he stared daggers at him. Tommy had to stand his ground for the sake of the girl. But would he really be able to go up against her father?
Each Step
With each step the man took, Tommy felt his heart constricting. He felt like David going up against Goliath. The only difference there was that David won. But Tommy wasn’t too sure that he would be victorious.
He started to realize that he had just gotten himself into a world of trouble. And he’d be lucky if he managed to walk away from it.
Reconsidering His Choice
Tommy was starting to reconsider the choice he had made. He was seriously starting to wonder if being a nice person was actually worth it or not.
All he wanted to do was bring a smile to the young girl’s face. And now he was about to face off against the mountain that was her father. Was an act of kindness worth the trouble that was walking his way?
What Could He Do?
Tommy looked around, wondering what he could possibly do to get himself out of the situation he got mixed up in. But he didn’t have many options.
If he left his post, he would get into trouble with his boss. If he didn’t, he would have to face off against the father. Which one of the two was the better option?
He Instantly Knew
Tommy’s eyes met with those of the dad, and he instantly knew that this wasn’t going to end well. There was fury burning in the man’s gaze, and all of it was directed at him.
He was about to feel a wrath to the likes he had never seen before, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Would he make it out of this?
This Was It
The man took one final step before the men were face to face. Tommy swallowed the lump that had threatened to constrict his throat and looked the man right in the eye.
This was it. The moment of truth had finally arrived. And the barista still had no idea how he was going to calm the man down.
Tense Atmosphere
The atmosphere in the Starbucks suddenly grew tense as the other customers glanced over, sensing the brewing confrontation.
It was a match for the ages, a scrawny barista versus an over-emotional father who looked like he was in his late thirties. What was the furious father going to say to the timid barista?
Not A Chance
Tommy didn’t speak. He was waiting for the furious father to make the first move, knowing full well that he didn’t stand a chance against the man.
All he could do was go with the punches and let the man get the rage out of his system. And if he were lucky, his responses wouldn’t cause more harm than good.
Two Options
A moment of silence passed between the men. Their eyes were locked, and Tommy was trying his best not to let his fear show. But he knew how this would end.
At the end of the day, he had only two options. He could try to calm the situation and hope it worked. Or he could stand his ground and pray he came out on top. Which one would he choose?
Losing Battle
Tommy knew that if he stood his ground, he would be losing this battle. This man was clearly unstable, and from the looks of it, he wouldn’t mind throwing a punch.
And if things had to get to that point, Tommy was guaranteed to lose his job. Was he willing to give everything up to put a smile on a stranger’s face?
His Best Chance
No, Tommy wasn’t willing to risk his health for a smile. He was no good when it came to violence. But there was something he was good at.
While at school, Tommy was a master at debating, and he planned on using his skills that day. No harm could come from a few words, could it? He’d find out soon enough.
Could He Risk It?
But Tommy still wanted answers. He wanted to know why the girl looked so afraid and what he could do to help her. Was her father the cause of her fear?
He also knew that pushing the matter would result in an altercation and that it would cost him his job. Could he risk it? Was he willing to give it all up for her?
An Explanation
Tommy knew that he had to find the truth behind everything, even if that meant having a long discourse with the man in front of him.
He normally didn’t tolerate outbursts, but he could tell something wasn’t right, and it all had to do with the dysfunction he felt in the family. What had happened to all of them? The truth would end up breaking his heart.
Angry Dad
The angry dad pointed at the cup his daughter was still holding. “Who did this? It must have been you, right?” he asked while bearing his teeth like a grizzly bear.
“Yes sir, that was me,” the barista said as he bowed his head while trying to think of a way of opening up the man. If he could do that, he could get the truth out of him.
It Was Too Late
The man’s face went red with rage, and Tommy could tell that it was far too late for him to back out now. He had crossed a line that he never should’ve crossed, and there was no going back now.
He’d have to face the consequences of his actions, even if they came in the form of a very angry father.
He Couldn’t Take It Back
For a moment in time, the world around Tommy stopped spinning. He wished he could take back what he did. He wished that he could turn back time and stop himself from giving the girl a coffee.
But he also knew that he couldn’t take it back. What was done was done. Now, he just needed to deal with the response.
Be A Man
For the first time in his life, Tommy reflected on who he was, and he realized that he wasn’t always a man. He usually ran away from fights. He didn’t cause them.
But this time, he couldn’t run away. This time, he had to be a man and stand up for what he thought was right. Would he succeed?
Determined
With newfound determination, Tommy raised his head. He faced the big, intimidating man head-on and stood his ground.
The man seemed to be shocked by the sudden change in Tommy’s demeanor, but that didn’t mean he’d back down. No, it just made him angrier. Things were about to reach a tipping point. But it wouldn’t go the way Tommy expected.
Not So Smart
The man clenched his jaw as he let out a deep breath. The rage that filled his eyes turned murderous, and it made Tommy feel smaller than he had ever been.
That was when he realized that he wasn’t as smart as he thought he was. He should’ve run when he had the chance. But now it was too late.
Controlling
The father stared at the barista with an incredible expression on his face - it was one of disbelief. “What do you think you’re trying to pull? She’s only sixteen. You creep!” he said loudly.
“No, you have my intentions all wrong, sir. I was just trying to show a little concern in a world where not many people care, you know?” Tommy said with kindness in his voice.
Extending His Kindness
“You know, it doesn’t only apply to her. It applied to anyone in this establishment that might need a little help or kindness to brighten their day.” Tommy said to the furious dad.
“It’s not always that easy. People are always going to be selfish,” the dad said before breaking down into tears. Clearly, something was very wrong. Had Tommy made a mistake?
Offering A Hand
“Is everything alright, sir? You know I’m a good listener if you want to unload any baggage,” he said, but that was a huge mistake.
The dad wiped his eyes and looked at Tommy with the same instability he’d seen before. Tommy feared that he had put his nose in business, which he shouldn’t have, and the father was about to make that very clear.
Asking About The Daughter
Tommy felt defensive, but he knew this might have been his only opportunity to find out what the sixteen-year-old girl was going through. He decided to ask the loaded question.
“I can tell things have been hard on you, but it looks like they’ve been hard on your daughter as well. Maybe she needs someone that can listen to her?” But the father went ballistic at the mention of Jenny.
None Of Your Business
The father shook his finger in the air. "What do you think you're doing, interfering with my family?" the father growled, his voice laced with anger.
The father inched closer to the counter. It looked like he wanted to silence Tommy before he got the chance to uncover their dark secret. The barista stumbled over his words, trying to find an explanation for his actions.
Didn’t Mean To Cause Trouble
He hadn't meant to cause trouble, only to extend a small act of kindness to the withdrawn girl. "I-I'm sorry, sir," the barista stammered.
But he wasn’t done. He still needed to pry, even if it only led to more confrontations with the father. He continued, "I just thought... I thought maybe she needed someone to talk to, someone to listen to."
Getting Closer To The Truth
The father’s eyes once again became wet with tears. He held them in better condition this time. It seemed that every time Tommy spoke about family, he nearly lost control.
He didn’t want to twist the knife and hurt the man, but he was genuinely concerned for everyone in the family now. He was so close to finding out the truth he couldn’t stop now.
Unexpected Words
The father looked back at his daughters, seeing how uncomfortable his outburst had made them. He seemed to realize what he had been doing as he stared back at the barista.
He looked at his name tag and said words the barista never expected, “Tommy, I can tell you just want to help, but it’s complicated. The truth would only make you feel bad.”
Cappuccino
“Half of my outburst was because of the note, but you don’t understand the significance of what you did for her. Why did it have to be a cappuccino?” the father asked Tommy.
This piqued the barista’s interest. It seemed that the father was finally elaborating on what was going on. But what did it have to do with a simple cappuccino? Tommy would only find that out from the girl herself.
Father Bear
The father's face softened slightly as he glanced over at Jenny, who was still holding the cup in her hands. She avoided her father's gaze, sipping her coffee silently.
The barista noticed a flicker of fear in her eyes as if she didn't want her father to know about the hidden message on the cup. She was pretending as though she hadn’t noticed it at all.
The Father’s Story
The father, John, tried to calm down. He noticed other customers staring at him. He didn’t want anybody to start taking videos of him. He approached the barista with a softer tone.
"You don't understand," the father muttered, his voice tinged with sadness. "We've been through a lot, and Jenny... she's had a tough time lately. I'm trying to get them to bond."
Curious Coffee Maker
The barista's curiosity grew, and he couldn't help but wonder about the family's story. Why was the father so defensive? What had happened to Jenny? He decided to approach the situation with caution, choosing his words carefully.
Tommy took a step back as he thought about what he was about to get himself into. He could lose his job. But he didn’t know if this man was telling the truth.
Taken Aback
The barista decided not to meddle in family affairs any further and retracted. "I didn't mean to overstep my boundaries, sir," the barista said gently. "I just wanted to let her know that someone cares. If there's anything I can do to help..."
He had tried to reach out, but there was nothing more he could do. Risking his job was not worth it for a random stranger.
Being Human
Suddenly, something changed in the man. His face changed, and he tried to smile, relating to the concern of the innocent barista. “That’s my daughter,” he said with a smile, “Jenny, she’s a handful, not a coffee person like her younger step-sisters.”
The father's expression softened further, his anger dissipating like a wisp of smoke. He glanced at Jenny once more, a mix of concern and love evident in his eyes.
Trying To Connect
The barista smiled nervously. “I just thought she should have her own coffee with the rest of the family. My apologies.” He tried to keep busy wiping up the counter so the father wouldn’t see how scared he was.
"Thank you," the father whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "It's been a difficult time for us, and sometimes... sometimes I don't know how to reach her. Her mother just recently passed away."
Coffeetender
The barista nodded sympathetically, realizing that there was more to the family's story than he initially thought. He felt a pang of compassion for both the father and Jenny, who seemed to be carrying an invisible burden.
Tommy, satisfied with the connection he had made, returned to his post behind the counter, continuing his work with a newfound purpose. He couldn't fix all of life's problems, but he could offer small moments of kindness and support.
We All Need Someone
Tommy looked John in the eye. "If you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out," the barista offered, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Sometimes, it helps to share our worries with others."
The father's tense posture relaxed slightly, and he nodded gratefully. Deep down, he knew that he couldn't protect his daughter from everything, and maybe it was time to let someone else in.
For A Reason
As the minutes passed, Jenny's family began to gather their belongings, preparing to leave. She still looked sad and lost, as though she was forced to leave.
She held onto the cup, reluctant to let go of the comforting presence it represented. But eventually, she, too, stood up, following her father and sisters toward the exit.
Reaching Out
Before she left, Jenny turned back to the barista, meeting his eyes one final time. Though no words were spoken, silent gratitude passed between them—a recognition of the power that lies in the smallest acts of compassion.
In a moment of bravery, she walked past the counter and said, “Cappuccino was my mom’s favorite.” She smiled at him. Tommy’s heart froze at that moment as he understood the longing in the girl’s heart.
Her Own Woman
And as she stepped out of the Starbucks, the weight of her burdens felt just a little lighter. She knew that, somewhere out there, a barista cared, and that knowledge gave her the strength to face whatever lay ahead.
She missed her mother, but she could still keep her spirit alive by continuing to do the things she enjoyed doing, like ordering regular cappuccinos at Starbucks.
Making Friends
As the days passed, the barista and the father started to develop a casual friendship. They would exchange a few words whenever the family visited Starbucks, and the barista would discreetly check in on Jenny, making sure she was doing okay.
One day, Jenny came in. "I wanted to thank you," Jenny said softly, her eyes gleaming with gratitude. "Your kindness that day... it meant more to me than you'll ever know. It gave me the courage to speak up, to let my father in."
A Noble Deed
The barista's heart swelled with pride as he listened to Jenny's words. He had never expected such a profound impact from a simple gesture. It reminded him of the power of compassion, the ability to change lives with even the smallest acts of kindness.
He laughed to himself as he realized the power in his humble occupation. The love that was brought together over a single cup of good coffee.