Two Best Friends Are Baristas [FICTOID]

“She did WHAT?!?!?”

The customer looked startled; he did not expect his complaint to inspire this intense a reaction.

“…my mocha venti…” he said hesitantly.  “She didn’t leave room for cream…”

“Jenkins!  Front and center!” the manager roared.

Jenkins scurried up, a small, nervous woman with embroidery-like tattoos on her arms.  “Sir?”

“Why didn’t you leave room for cream in this customer’s mocha?!?!?”

“Sir, I-I’m sorry.  I thought it wasn’t like regular coffee so there was no need for extra cream -- “

“Impudent swine!  Vile pig-licking dastard!  How DARE you think?!?!?”

“Hey, now wait a minute,” the customer said nervously.  “I’m not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill -- “

“No, kind sir, please do not apologize.  You don’t need to justify your complaint.  The mere fact this loveless pencil-necked geek would DARE disappoint a customer is reason enough for her immediate termination!”

“No!  You can’t fire me!  My kitty’s cancer treatments -- “

“SILENCE!  You should have thought of that before disappointing this fine gentleman!  Out!  OUT!  OUT!!!”

Wailing, Jenkins bolted from behind the counter and ran into the backroom, her pencil clattering to the floor.

The manager turned to the customer.  “I hope that was satisfactory, sir.”

The customer shifted nervously in his sneakers, running his finger around his cup’s insulation sleeve.  “…ah…well…you really didn’t have to go that far…”  He fished a $20 bill out of his pocket and put it in the tip jar.  “See that she gets that, okay?” he said before scurrying out, casting one last look through the front window pane before disappearing.

“He’s gone!” the manager said.  “You can come out now.”

Jenkins came out laughing.  “How well did we do that time?”

“Twenty bucks,” said her best friend, the manager.

© Buzz Dixon