Challenge #01955-E131: Good Morning! Good Morning!
From the "Coffee Zombie" Human to the "Warmth Seeker" Reptilian, the earlier hours of the morning can be amusing. -- Anon Guest
Of all the phenomenon in known civilisation, slow starters versus morning people is one of the most universal. The people who spring from their slumber, fresh-faced and cheerful and raring to go are both treasured and hated in equal measure. Treasured, because they are the kind of people who can be relied upon to make the coffee or hot beverages in the morning. And hated because they insist on trying to cheer up the slow starters.
Lessons on understanding others have helped a great deal on that particular front. Morning people with proper training now know to wait until the slow starters are fully functional before they start their cheering up shenanigans. And with further training, the slow starters can deal with the morning people being cheerful just slightly too early.
"Good morning! Hot water bottles to the left, coffee to the right," Sandy cheered.
Blaire bleered at her. "Y' got coffee in a hot water bottle? It's shark week."
"I can whip one up, but it's gonna take like twenty minutes."
"...kay..." A moment to think. "Gimmie both for now, and then the other one, later."
"Sure thing. You want to try the iron supplement breakfast, today? We have average, keto, vegan, and vegetarian variations."
Blaire spent a minute processing that. "Gimmie the keto one. I wanna know I'm not the only thing bleeding today."
Sandy helped Blaire with the hot water bottle straps, and gave her a coffee and a number to take to her table. On to the next customer in this morning's mess. "Good morning! Hot water bottles to the left, coffee to the right."
The lizard attempted to climb on to the warm counter. Sandy gently pressed the hot water bottle to their neck frills. "Uh-uh. No feet on the counter, please."
"...mmmnghl?" said the lizard. The name tag declared them to be V'z'x.
"Let me help," chirped Sandy. He'd forgotten to pull the tags on his chest heater units. They hummed into motion as V'z'x clutched a hot water bottle to their stomach.
Little by little, he came awake. "D'd I f'rget t' start 'em again?" he slurred.
"Sure did," said Sandy. "It's okay. I'm authorised to provide all assistance." She indicated the red cross-and-crescent of Human Medik Authorised staff. "How can I help make your morning?"
V'z'x squinted, but hadn't gained the brain power to read the menu yet. "I want fat crickets and slow grubs," he said. And after a moment he added. "Hot ones."
Sandy said, "Stir fried, in a scramble, or with gravy?"
Another minute. "Thick gravy."
Sandy handed over his number and smiled for the next zombie impersonator in the queue. Waited for them to shuffle into place. "Good morning! Hot water bottles to the left, coffee to the right."
The unfortunate in the queue burst into tears. "I hate mornings."
Whatever they were having for breakfast, Sandy was going to offer a sweet treat on the side. They needed a pick-'em-up.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / tycoon]
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