Coffee with a Side of Space
Flash Fiction Entry for Vocal Writing Awards
I'm good at hiding things. They will come looking for it soon. It looks like a watch. So I wear it. Hiding in plain sight.
"Hi Jerry!" My bus driver greets me.
"Hey, Roy," I swipe my pass and find a seat, adjusting my cafe hat. The same cafe I've worked at since graduation. The same deep freezer I open the wormhole in every day at 11:34 a.m.
It's 10:36 when I clock in.
There's a rush of people that come in. It's 11:32 when a man in a suit walks in.
"What can I get started for you today?" There's a pause and he looks up at the menu.
"Grande, Colombian Supremo, black."
Typical suit order, "Can I get you a donut with that?" Cutting it close. Why'd I ask?
"Nah. That's all."
"Your total is–"
"Actually–"
11:33 and 43 seconds.
"I'll take that watch too."
Didn't account for the fact they would know what it looks like.
Bolt.
I break for the freezer and suit jumps the counter like the guy from Matrix.
I can feel him tug my shirt as I activate the watch.
I guess I got a passenger this time.
When the stream of light and sound ends, and we're standing still, I turn to him.
"Really? Just plain old black coffee? Are you an NPC or something? Who drinks black coffee?"
About the Creator
Sarah Massey
Sarah is an animator and short film director at the birthplace of Route 66 Springfield, Missouri. A graduate of Drury University in the class of 2020, Sarah is published two fiction short stories in Drury’s Literary Magazine, Currents.
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Comments (2)
Wonderful story. And, uh I drink black coffee. 😁
Loved this! Briliant line 'I break for the freezer and suit jumps the counter like the guy from Matri'Made me chuckle. The tension you created in such a small amount of words. Awesome 🤍