Café Barista - A Short Story

It was a cold, dark, rainy night. I have very unfortunately misplaced my wallet and my umbrella, and I'm simply walking along, wet and cold, through the rain to see if any kind soul would lend me a dollar for my bus fare. For this sort of weather, it was the perfect setting for a horror film. I looked at my watch, and to my dismay, the second hand went "tick", and it was midnight.

Sighing, I continued walking and asking any passerby for a dollar, but in Singapore, nobody would ever lend you a dollar at midnight. I didn't stop walking though, willing myself to believe that one kind soul will lend me some money. Walking in the dark, I saw the lights of a shabby Café signboard flickering. "Café Barista" I read out loud. The shop looked closed, all the lights inside were out. I have walked past this shop many times, I know that there were hardly any people who visited this Café. In the fast pace of our working lives, most people wouldn't know this place existed. I was about to walk past it when suddenly a young lady, possibly in her twenties, swing open the doors of the Café and upon seeing me, exclaimed "Don't just stand there! Come in! You're all wet and cold come on in I'll make you a cup of coffee." And she ushered me inside.

I put my very soaked jacket on the heating vent as she instructed, and she lent me some of her clothing to wear while waiting for mine to dry. She made me a strong cup of Caffe Americano as I sat and watched the rain pour down outside. I saw her disappear inside the changing room but a few minutes later she came out, wearing her uniform. "My name's May, what's your's?" She stuck a hand out for me to shake. "I'm Alice. Thanks for letting me come in here." I replied, shaking her hand. "You're welcome. I just didn't want to see someone walking out in the rain like that. What happened?" May asked, and I told her the tale of how I lost my wallet and how my cellphone died and that I didn't have an umbrella. "I see, poor you. Is anything the matter? Why were you even out so late?" She asked again. I'm pretty sure May was just trying to make conversation, but I hoped I wasn't taking out any of her time. "I have night school. I work at a coffee shop over at the other end. It doesn't pay very well, so I'm trying to get a job interview." I was wondering why I just spilled out one of my greatest worries out to her. She was a complete stranger, and yet... "I know how you feel. It took me a while to get this job here, but it's pretty good to work here." May stared out of the window. I took a sip of the coffee. It warmed me up quite quickly and it was by far one of the best brews I tried before. "Am I troubling you? You look like you're about to leave the shop." I asked. "Oh, no! Not at all! I live upstairs, so it gets a little lonely here but at least I get free access to breakfast and morning coffee." May said, and even though she said something about being 'lonely', she didn't sound sad in the least. Her voice had this bubbly and cheerful ring to it that made me like her immediately. "You know, if you're looking for a job, you can do an interview here. We're currently lacking people ever since our best worker resigned." May said, smiling at me. Surprised, I stared at her for a while before replying "I would love to!" May gave a little cheer and said "Yay! Welcome to Café Barista! Where all our workers are fun and insane!" She laughed, and I had to laugh too. The coffee was great, and her company made me wish I didn't need to go home to my lonely apartment.

My clothes were dry after a while, and May lent me an umbrella. But before I left she placed a few coins in my hands, asking me to take care on the bus ride home. It didn't take a genius to realize those were her tips, and before I refused she giggled and said "See you tomorrow morning!" And shoved me out the door. Really, what kind of person does that? But very quickly, May became my friend.

The interview went smoothly. Due to my job experience their boss hired me on the spot and I could start work that day. The boss was a cheerful and kind middle-aged man. He was also quite a humorous man and liked to joke around sometimes. He also played the piano. To my surprise the pay was way better than the one at the coffee shop down the road, and I must say getting free access to coffee was great.

I'm glad I met May. That night in the rain automatically made us best friends.

So now, I live upstairs with May too. I gave up on the apartment. Until we both find a suitable house together, we'll keep living in the Café. But I think we might just live there until the day that this business ends. Why? Well, if it's raining heavily, and you're wet and cold and have no money for a bus fare, we'll be there. We'll make you a cup of Caffe Americano, and we'll keep you company until your clothes dry. Then we'll give you some money for a ride home. Don't worry, you won't be troubling us.

And if you need a job, welcome to the Barista Team. Have fun working here, we're insane.

Oh, and by the way, my name's Alice. I'm dating one of my coworkers who's May's brother. And I must say, he's one of the best people you will ever meet. So have fun working here! Our doors are always open for you.

Even when it's cold and wet.

Being a "So-and-so"

Okay, I'll admit it. I do feel like the busiest person in a company. I'm the one who is so laden with stuff that people forget my name.

"Hey uh this who ah please do this for me."
"H-huh? But I have to do-"
"Thanks! Oooh, Candy Crush!"
"Wait wait wait I can't do this! Come back!"

Basically what happens. So now, I think my name might be "This who". Or "So-and-so".


Okay, maybe I'm not in a company.
I'm not even working yet.

I'm a student in a group project. A group project where office politics come into play. The group leader is the boss, the other two are like Managers. One is nice and the other just mimics the boss. And me? I'm the poor admin.

So imagine this scenario. The admin was asked to take a picture. She does, but then the requirement of the submitted picture is a photoshopped object. It doesn't matter what, just photoshop something. But as luck would have it, the admin's photoshop sofware has spoiled. So she contacts someone in another department for the software, but the person isn't sure when she could send it. Suddenly, the boss steps in and asks her why she hasn't sent the picture. The admin explains that her software has spoiled, and the person in the other department has not replied her pertaining the issue of the software. Now here comes the twist.


The boss suddenly tells her that the picture was for a marketing project and he starts scolding her for not doing it on time. Ironic isn't it? A Admin being scolded for a Marketing error. It wasn't like she was in marketing. Anyway, the boss decided to let her have another day to complete it, and asks her for her summary on the place she was supposed to take a picture. But the admin had never received instructions on the summary, and quickly does it so that the boss wouldn't scold her further for not doing her job properly.

The next thing she knew the Manager(The bad one) was accusing her for copy-and-paste work. The boss, being good friends with this manager, decides to back her up and scold the Admin. The summary, as the boss said was too long, and lacked the correct points. And suddenly, the issue of sincerity of wanting to contribute comes up. The Manager, let's call her Manager X, questions her intentions and asks if she even intended for things to work. The admin replies that if she never wanted the project to succeed she wouldn't attempt to help. Manager X then calls the other Manager, call her Manager Y, and asks her to do the work on the admin's behalf. Manager Y is the admin's good friend, and agrees. But the admin does not want her friend to do it on her behalf, and so she edits the work and re-sent it. End Of Story.

Basically that's what happened in my group project. Sad right? I was accused, then I was made to do something not asked to do, and then I realized.

They did nothing.

Ab-so-lute-ly nothing. I have to admit that was the best trick ever. And now, for the real happening.

It all happened on Whatsapp actually. I told you the scenario, and I promise you it was a hundred percent true. What was different was that the boss and Manager X were using such harsh words, and their English was so bad I had no idea if they were scolding me, accusing me or making a statement. Really. And Manager X wasn't even in the conversation, she was basically an extra. I believe the accusation was :

 "Then it just shows that you are not even sincere about this work by this attitude. You don't even wish to contribute is it?"

I don't know if I should laugh at her lousy English or cry because of the accusation.

And this is coming from someone who doesn't even hand in her homework.

Well to her, HARK WHO'S TALKING.

Really, if you want to accuse someone, look at yourself first. Kay I'm done talking to you now.

I was really pissed at it, and believe me, I think they weren't even serious about this work. But thank god for Manager Y. THANK YOU, REALLY THANK YOU. I lied in the scenario, we barely know each other. I'm so damn happy she agreed to help me. She told them not to pressure me any more, even if they didn't listen to me I'm glad she spoke up.

So now I want to ask a few things.

Does this happen often in a group project? Are office politics like this? Is this even reality?

Because if all of this is true, what a sad, sad world we live in.

I want everyone to get along, is that too much to ask?

I just want a normal life.

I just want us all to get along and let the project move smoothly.

That's all I ask.




~ Kyo-chan