The Tale Of Coffee

Tabitha tried to keep her eyes on the map in front of her, but was finding it rather difficult. Next to her, sitting precariously in the too-large cup holder was a cup of coffee. The liquid sloshed enticingly against the brown-stained Styrofoam sides, singing out to her with every dip the car made. Again, Tabitha’s eyes strayed sidewards. Could she get it before Susan had a chance to notice?1

Out the corner of her vision, Tabitha noticed Susan gripping the steering wheel tightly in her hands, almost like it would escape if she let up. She must be tired by now… Tabitha thought with a small grin. If I can just make it past her guard…2

Tabitha’s arm crept slowly from the top of the map until it rested on the glove-box. Holding it there casually, she waited until Susan hit a turn and had to look away to check for oncoming traffic. Tabitha’s hand snapped forward, grabbing the coffee, before snaking its way back to her lap.3

Success!4

Susan noticed nothing, her eyes red-rimmed and straining noticeably to keep open. With a satisfied smirk, Tabitha cradled the rescued coffee like a child, barely refraining from cooing to it.5

The coffee’s aroma was almost overpowering. It had been a good day since Tabitha had a sip of anything so deviously good. Without thinking of Susan, Tabitha lifted the cup to her lips, anticipating the warmth running down her throat. She poured the fluid into her mouth.6

“GAH!” Tabitha yelled, spitting the coffee back into its cup and wiping her mouth on her sleeve furiously. “That’s disgusting! What did you do to it?!” she asked, turning on Susan with hatred.7

Susan blinked, the noise waking her up fully. “That coffee was a day old! You didn’t finish it yesterday, remember?”8

“That was because of your stupid pit stop.” Tabitha grumbled, shoving the cup still half full back into the cup holder. Disgust showed clearly on her face.9

“If I didn’t stop, you would’ve had to drive.” Susan yawned.10

Tabitha sniffed. “True, but why do we always have to stay at those smelling ‘Flying Squirrels’ holiday parks?”11

Susan grinned. “Because I’m the driver and I get to decide.” A triumphant light crossed Susan’s face.12

Tabitha cursed the day she had made that deal. Looking out the window, she wondered where the god of fun was these days. Weren’t road trips supposed to be exciting? “I hate your holiday parks. They smell, the beds are itchy and they are always infested with rodents.”13

Susan rolled her eyes. “Flying squirrels?”14

“Rats.”15

Susan just laughed. “You and your imagination. Next you’ll be telling me that goblins run off with our car in the middle of the night and use our radio for their parties! By the way…”16

“What?”17

“What did you tell me yesterday morning about never having coffee again? Didn’t you say you found out how bad it really was, and for me to hit you if I ever caught you drinking it anymore?”18

“I would have gotten away with it, if that stupid drink hadn’t been so cold. It tasted like old mouldy socks!” Tabitha grumbled, reaching for a bottle of ‘purified’ water from the backseat. She grabbed the old coffee, looked at it, then with a sigh rolled down her window. “Goodbye.” She said longingly, and threw the coffee out, cup and all.19

Tabitha gasped. In what seemed like slow motion, the cup fell…straight into the open window of a passing police car. “Oh no, Oh no…”20

Susan kept her eyes on the road. “What is it now, Tabby?”21

“The…The…” Tabby craned her neck around, looking for the police car. It had disappeared. “It’s okay, it must have taken a-” Tabitha jumped as a siren went off behind her. “No, no!”22

Susan looked at her friend. “What did you do this time?” She glanced at the rear-view mirror and pulled the car over. 23

A tall man in police uniform stepped into view. “G’morning miss.” He said, leaning down to the window.24

“Hello, officer.” Susan spoke with a smile, refusing to look at Tabitha. “Can I help you?”25

“I think so.” The man held up a dirty coffee cup. “Do you happen to know whom this belongs to?”26

Tabitha flinched, but decided it would be better to confess. “That would be mine.” she said, looking the officer in the eyes.27

The police man nodded. “And why did it land in my car?”28

Tabitha thought quickly, trying to make up an excuse. “You see…” she began. “I’ve been conducting an experiment to whether the amount of coffee in a cup differs after being held out of a moving car, compared to inside the car. It seems, if my calculations are right, the air flows around the coffee…” Tabitha looked up to see if anyone was listening. They were, but barely. “The air flow causes the coffee to lose a slight amount. The coffee that fell into your car, slipped out of my hand by accident.”29

The officer blinked. “That…was confusing.”30

“But true.” Tabitha offered.31

Susan and the police man just stared. Susan remembered where she was first. “Adrian, sorry for wasting your time. This one,” she pointed at Tabitha, “has problems.”32

The officer laughed. “It’s alright. I recognised your car and just wanted to say hello. I had better go. It was nice seeing you again, Susan. Goodbye…” Adrian indicated questioningly towards Tabitha.33

“Tabitha.” Susan mouthed.34

Adrian nodded. “Goodbye Tabitha.” With a wave, he walked back to his car.35

Tabitha couldn’t be quiet any longer. “You knew him?!” she exploded, hands clenched into fists.36

Susan nodded. “Yes.”37

“But you called him Officer!”38

“It’s a game we have going.”39

“Susan, I’m going to kill you!” Tabitha screeched.40

Susan just laughed and started the car, knowing full well the rest of the trip was going to be really long.41