Comforting Oasis

Nina Yagoda walked into the small town coffee shop, taking in the surrounding. Rich coffee smells engulfed her, and the atmosphere was comforting. This was her first real job, and she was determined to not mess anything up. Customers sat around the orange counter chatting about the news and the sorry state of the world. She had to smile at herself when she heard a small boy telling his father he wanted the “yummy doughnut with icing.” 1

Her boss had greeted her with a smile the first day she was in training, she remembered it so well. The nerves she felt at the time were ridiculous. The one thing she remembered clearer then anything though was the sign. The simple and delicate sign that said, “seating capacity 43.” Nina felt foolish thinking of that sign now, especially when there was a line of customers forming. But she knew she needed to glance at the sign before her work could begin. 2

For months she continued to work at a steady pace, always amazed at how comforting something simple could be. Each day she would wake up early to go into work, and to her surprise she felt no remorse for no longer being able to sleep in late. No matter how many people told Nina she was wasting away her summer, she felt as if she was building not only herself but also something more. Whenever she got up enough courage to say that to anyone, they of course just mentioned the mound of money that was collecting dust in her bank. Nina kept telling herself that she would use the money later, when she found herself something worth doing. 3

The summer heat was scorching outside, but she was keeping her mind on the work ahead of her. Something felt wrong, but Nina could not figure out what might happen. As she walked into work, the feeling became unbearable. Her boss was standing in the back room, with teary eyes. He was always a sensitive, emotional person, but not like that. “Is something wrong?” Nina asked him as she walked past the sign she always longed to see. 4

“Yes, I’m sorry to say this so unexpectedly. But the business is going to be sold; they want all the old employees to reapply again though. You can use me as a reference if you would like to, you were always a good employee for me.” He said the response with so much pain, she winced. Nina looked around at the other workers and saw the truth of what he had just said in their eyes. 5

“Whom did you sell the business to? And why?” Too many questions were forming in her mind, she needed answers and soon. 6

“They are a private owner, you will meet them if you reapply. And I had no choice but to sell, it was a personal matter.” With that he walked out of the store, for what seemed like the final time. 7

That day dragged on forever, and the work seemed to take its toll on Nina. She wondered what the new owners would be like, if anything would change in the store. Her application was sent in with the others, but her heart was not in it like before. When the interview took place, she cared very little about it. She didn’t even get to meet the owner, only the owner’s handy man. This was the first time she was actually hoping the phone would not ring, and no one would want her to work for them. 8

But one day, the phone did ring. “Hello? Nina Yagoda speaking.” She spoke slowly, knowing what was coming. Listening to the speaker on the other end, she cursed her caller ID. “Nina, this is John Lowell. I am the new owner of the local Coffee shop. I’m happy to inform you that you’re hired. When can you start working?”9

He sounded flaky to her, like the type of person who smiled too much. “I can start anytime, tomorrow is good.” When she heard him laugh she rolled her eyes. 10

“Well you sound like a wonderful employee, I have your available hours right in front of me. Tomorrow I need you from eight to two and then you can pick up your schedule.” After saying their goodbyes, the line disconnected.11

The next day it took all her strength to drag herself out of bed, but she remained hopeful nothing drastic would change. Or at least nothing big would happen yet. The store looked the same as she approached it. The same papergirl waited out front trying to get anyone to buy one of her papers. And the store was filled with people, most of them unfamiliar faces. 12

As Nina walked in she smelled the same rich coffee and saw the same doughnuts on display. But something was different, she felt it. Looking up towards the sign that kept her going, her heart sank. The sign was gone; all that remained was the memory. 13