Blue Latte
“And your Captain Dante Durand.” Dante jogged into the arena ready to make the first serve to begin the Jai Alai match.
This was the Tornadoes third match against the Cyclones tied at one game each. The whistle blew and Dante served the ball, it struck the wall high and flew back past the line. The next thing Dante knew he found himself sitting at an outdoor cafe overlooking the Danbue River, on a peaceful spring day, the air fragrant with floral hues and the sun shining brightly.
A waiter sat a blue latte and plate of whole wheat pancakes before him, Dante nodded his appreciation, spread the pat of melting butter across the pancakes and then drizzled the warm maple syrup across the stack. He cut off an edge and tasted the light, sweet yet dense pancakes savoring the flavor. He then took a sip of his blue latte, the creamy sweet steamed milk invigorating his senses.
As he was fishing off his pancakes and latte he heard a faint distant voice calling out to him. He glanced around not finding anyone waving or yelling for him. But yet the voice persisted. Dante went to stand up and the world spun. All of a sudden finding himself laying flat on his back as many faces started to come into view hovering over him. He sat up faintly hearing the sports announcer.
“Looks like Captain Durand is ok. That was a hell of a shot he took to the side of the head.” Being assisted up and making his way to the locker room he thought to himself, ‘Too bad I don’t drink, ‘cause I could use one.’ As he tried to wrap his mind around the memory of the cafe and those delicious pancakes.
Swiss Miss
“And coming up on your left you can see the Piz Badus peak.”
Eve stopped and looked over the vast white landscape of the Swiss Alps. She had saved up for the last two years from her advertising consulting business to make this trip. As her group finished up for the day making their way back down Gemstock in the gondola, one of the other group members asked if she had a team pick for the Super Bowl that was starting in a few hours.
Eva shrugged and asked who was playing, not being informed on who was even in the running. He informed her that it was the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants. She smiled politely and said.
“If I had to pick I would say Baltimore.” He scoffed and dropped the conversation. The gondola stopped and the group made their way into the lodge. As she passed the doorway into the lodge something caught her eye she leaned down and picked up the small pebble, it had a golden hue to it which is what had caught her eye. She turned it over in her hand, cold, smooth, about the size of a penny she placed it in her pocket.
As the group enjoyed their hot cocoa and snacks the Super Bowl played in the background. Eve sipped her cocoa gazing at the glorious view of the sunset dipping behind the snow covered peaks. She absent mindedly took the pebble out of her pocked and rolled it around between her fingers. All of a sudden the room got loud as the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl.
Scotch Tape
“And Arbuckle scores. We’re tied two, two. You’re listening to KFAN 100.3 FM, the sports leader.”
Gene leaned over and switched off the radio, exited his 98’ Pontiac grand am and made his way into the local Walmart. After many minutes of wandering the aisles he decided on the novelty Garfield coffee mug that read ‘I hate Monday’s’ as a gift for the museum office party. Gene grabbed some silver metallic wrapping paper, scotch tape and a white bow.
Back in his car he unrolled the wrapping paper laying it across the passengers seat, fumbling in the center console he found a swiss army knife, using the edge of his fingernail he pulled out the tiny pair of scissors from the red casing of the utility knife and cut the wrapping paper to fit the coffee mug. He then opened the scotch tape finding the little plaid green strip that marked the beginning of the new roll and tapped the silver metallic wrapping paper around the novelty mug.
Finishing it off with the slightly over sized white bow. Gene had been with the Minnesota Museum of American Art for three and a half years as a tour guide, he enjoyed his job and the people he worked with. Especially Susie, he enjoyed her upbeat attitude, watching her eyes light up as she explained the pieces of nineteenth century artwork to the tourists and student groups.
Seeing her made his day feel lighter and more enjoyable. He started the car and turned the radio back on. “And that’s it folks the Minnesota Frost take it three to two over the Minnesota Wild. Thank you for listening to today’s live broadcast on KFAN 100.3 FM, the sports leader.”