Little Cup - She Liked It Contest Entry

My story begins in a small coffee shop called "Little Cup", which was in front of the Plaza Mayor in the city. The establishment had belonged to Peter's father; it was always a very warm corner where customers used to stop on the way to work to have a cup of coffee. With their bohemian and peaceful style, customers enjoyed a cup of coffee in a more relaxed way away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. After his father died, Peter was promised to keep the premises running.

However, times had changed. A large corporate coffee franchise had been established in the Main Square, with the slogan of "faster," "larger" and a million flavors. Along with the new trend where "rush life" was the new way of life, they made the old concept of taking the time to have a cup of coffee stay in the past.

The profits began to decline, but Peter did not want to change the concept of place that his father had created.

However, Peter modernized the decoration of the place, to adapt it to new trends without changing the bohemian style of the establishment. But even then, it could not compete with the growing desire to have a coffee in a foreign franchise, which the clients had.

But the universe always conspires to achieve our dreams. Peter's dad always said to him pray to God and Lady Fatima, where you were in trouble. So, Peter prayed for a miracle to the image of the Virgin of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, who had his father in the office.

"You never know" said to himself

One afternoon, suddenly a lady came in, because of how she dressed; you could tell she was from the upper class. He had one of those next generation mobile phones. She was upset because the heel of her shoe had broken. Immediately Peter, like a gentleman, ran to meet her, saying:

"Get comfortable, I'll bring you the menu. I know a good cobbler friend of mine, who in a second will fix the heel of your shoe."

She, with the face of few friends and with a haughty expression, answered:

"It will not be necessary; soon my driver will come with a new pair of shoes"

She took off his shoes and with a slightly contemptuous gesture, handed them to Peter, saying:

"Throw them away."

The shoes looked like new, Peter obviously did not throw them in the basket.

While returning to the counter to look for the menu for the lady, his friend Mike approached him excitedly, to tell him:

"Do you know who she is?"

And Peter replied: "No idea"

"She's Madame Cristina Chamberlein!" replied Mike, trying to hide the excitement of seeing a star in the store.
Seeing Peter, still not understanding, Mike, exasperated, explained:

"It's one opportunity in a million! She is very famous, she publishes in 'La cuisine', a very famous website about food and gastronomy establishments. You do not see it? If we surprise her with the best attention and the coffee you have made, we would push the 'Little Cup' to the clouds! "

Mike, was the cook who made the local candy, baked cupcakes, donuts, bagels, cinnamon rolls and many others that accompanied the coffee served in the place.

Peter put on his best smile and approached the lady, commenting:

"While you wait, you can enjoy a cup of coffee and a small dessert."

She still annoyed, looked him up and down and after a moment, finally decided to take the menu, realizing that a message on the mobile indicated that it would take 15 minutes to get her new pair of shoes.

She took a look at him and replied: "Surprise me"

With a gesture of thanks; he took the menu again and retreated to the kitchen:

Mike, jumping with enthusiasm, asked: "What did she say? What did she say?"

"Surprise me," Peter replied.

Mike started to sweat. Drying his sweat from his forehead, he told Peter:

"Do your best, I'll take care of the dessert"

Peter, as usual and in the way his father had taught him, proceeded to make his coffee, while Mike jumped from one side to another in the kitchen doing his artwork.

Suddenly, the place began to fill with people who admire the character who had entered the coffee chop.

"Take a seat, I'll take care of you as soon as possible" Peter told the new customers from the counter.

These people were not worried about having coffee, they had come to revere the actions of the star that was sitting in the room.

Mike, took a tray and placed his best dessert, freshly made, in it.

"Take the coffee with this dessert and pray that she likes it," Mike said.

Peter took a look at Mike and the image of the Virgin, hidden in the distance, before bringing her the tray.

"Here you have the specialty of the house. Enjoy" Peter added with a smile.

Without paying attention, she beckoned him to leave while she was talking on the phone.

Peter went to Mike, and both were attentive to the madam's movements.

Finally she finished talking on the phone and getting ready to have a cup of coffee. Mike and Peter held their breath awaiting approval. However, distracted by the sound of the store’s door, she put the cup on the table when she saw that the driver had brought the shoes.

Peter and Mike sighed, breathing again resigned.

The other diners were hypnotized by the scene, waiting for the verdict.

She argued with the driver over the shoes, since they were not the ones she wanted and ordered him to bring another pair. The driver indicated that he had four more pairs in the car and that he would bring them to her in a heartbeat.

When the driver left, the madam took the coffee cup.

Peter and Mike did not take their eyes off the woman.

But, the moment she brought the cup to her lips, the phone rang again. She gave her a disapproving look and again dropped the cup of coffee over the table.

Mike was fainting. He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Forget it Mike" said Peter

"Attend to the other customers" added

But Mike reminded him: "You're crazy, nobody has moved from their seats waiting for the verdict of the lady"
Finally, the driver returned and after selecting the pair of shoes that she appreciated, with a sign of approval the driver withdrew the other shoes.

She put on her shoes. And she got up from the table.

Mike's eyes would go out of their sockets of despair

"Witch! Drink the coffee, THE COFFEE!" Mike shouted silently, clenching his teeth.

The driver, realizing the situation, made him point to the madam with her eyes towards the coffee cup.

She sighed resignedly and sat down again, taking the cup between her hands.

Peter, relieved that she did not leave, was paralyzed again.

She paused for a moment, to appreciate the heart design drawn on the foam of the coffee.

Mike was dying, you could not hear a fly in the place.

Finally, she drank the coffee. She got up from her chair, turned her back and before heading to the exit; She said to the driver:

"Pay the bill"

And she left the premises.

Peter and Mike, they were like statues ...

Mike put both his hands over his head, overwhelmed.

The driver placed some bills on the table and looked at Peter and Mike

Suddenly, he smiled and raised both thumbs up, in sign of approval before leaving.

Mike raised both arms towards the sky and shouted with joy: "Yeeeeees"

Mike's commotion brought Peter and the other clients who were hypnotized for the moment, out of the trance.

Suddenly, all the other customers started asking for a cup of coffee.

The next day, in the morning, "Little Cup" was full.

Mike arrived euphoric, showing Peter an article about the "Little Cup", that she had been posted that night. She declared that the characteristic of the coffee that was served in the premises, as much for the sight as for the taste, it was a delight.

Smiling to himself, a single thought filled Peter's mind,

"She liked it"