Starbucks

Scene opens with Tom walking into a Starbucks chain coffee house. He walks up to the counter and is confusingly looking at the menu while waiting in line behind a slightly larger, balding man in a similar winter coat. The man finishes his order and then, almost as if human nature provided him with the knowledge of knowing where your recently ordered product appears before you, went to the "pickup area". This is the location at which you meet your destined drink and depart to your table of choice or exit the store, making sure to wrap your now "to go" beverage with the appropriate, free, cup sleeve. This man reaches this location as Tom walks toward the counter, still unsure of the proper drink to summons from the magical "pickup area". He pause for an acceptable amount of time before asking the clerk:

"How's the light mocha?......does it taste ok?"

The clerk, trapped in an awkwardly long pause, only responds with noises that insinuate that he in fact does not know the answer to the question.

Tom then interrupts the "caveman noises" coming from the clerk and says:

"What's good?....In your opinion."

The clerks attitude changes, as if his human body was just encompassed by an alternate spirit. He quickly says:

"Do you want my opinion? Or Starbuck's opinion?"

Tom pauses for a very brief second, and in this second he has determined and judged this clerks character. He has concluded that he has no desire to be in the current establishment and that his opinion may be, if not accurate, then at least somewhat amusing. So he decides to hear the clerk out. He says:

"Well...your opinion."

The clerk quickly, as if he already knew what Tom's response would be, says:

"I don't drink anything on this menu."

Tom, being somewhat amused by the clerks comment and failure to contain any loyalties to his current employer, chuckles under his breathe and says:

"Ok then, should I go to another coffee shop?"

The clerk says:

"Sure, if you want to."

Tom, kind of blown away with the last "cherry-on-top" comment, thinks to himself: "I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for this stupid gift card". Then Tom, as if he has just been defeated in an arm wrestling match, says:

"Just give me a Cafe' Mocha...Thanks"

".....for nothing" are the next words that Tom mutters in his head.

The clerk continues to ring up the order and then moves to the bar area to Tom's left and begins talking to what appears to be a regular in this self proclaimed crappy coffee house.

Tom then instinctively moves to the magical "pickup area" and awaits his settled upon beverage. Then prepares the cup in it's "to go" garb and carries it to his vehicle. The entire journey to his car he thinks of a witty way of writing about this on his blog....but comes up blank.