Bizarre Tuesday Café

Sophie, a city girl, accompanied her mother to the countryside for a month due to her mother’s urgent business matters. As she settled into her rural life, Sophie quickly grew bored due to the lack of internet. She decided to find a job in the town. Her effort was almost fruitless until she met Mr. Henry, who was wiping a coffee cup, at his counter, in a café in the middle of nowhere. There was nobody except for Mr. Henry, and a young male worker named Kyle, who was sweeping the floor.

Mr. Henry had a meticulously groomed moustache that graced his upper lip, with a few subtle lines etched around his eyes. His hair, primarily a rich shade of dark brown, showcased hints of distinguished white strands, testaments to his aging. Despite his mature appearance, Mr. Henry was taciturn.

As for Kyle, he had brown eyes. Oh, and messy hair. Black messy hair.

“A job? Young missy, there are no people coming; we have no need for additional workers,” Mr. Henry said, declining Sophie’s job request while nonchalantly wiping the coffee cup.

“Pretty please…?” Sophie pleaded, with an endearing expression. The warm shade of green of her eyes sparkled, framed by long, dark eyelashes. Her naturally pink lips formed a gentle pout. She made a cute, pleading face, silently imploring him for the job opportunity.

“Argh, fine! Kids these days, I swear…” It seems that Mr. Henry had a soft spot for cuteness.

Sophie’s face lit up with pure joy. “Thanks, Mr. Henry!” she said excitedly. Her excitement was so intense that she seemed on the verge of jumping into the air in celebration.

“But!” Mr. Henry interjected.

“But?” Sophie responded, her anticipation hanging in the air.

“No matter what happens,” Mr. Henry continued, “I do not want to hear any questions or complaints from you. Do we have a deal?” He extended his pinky finger in a gesture of agreement.

“Deal!” Sophie eagerly accepted the pinky, sealing their agreement with a pinky promise.

Meanwhile, Kyle remained occupied, meticulously sweeping the already clean floor.

***

It was Tuesday. This marks the second day of working with Mr. Henry. Sophie was writing in her diary while twirling her brown chestnut hair.

“Dear Diary, it is my second day at the café,” she whispered to herself as she wrote, “but I am still bored. No customers came by. Mr. Henry seemed obsessed with wiping the already cleaned coffee cups, and Kyle was always sweeping the already cleaned floor.”

“You know that I can hear you, right?” Mr. Henry grumbled, his hands still diligently wiping the coffee cups.

“At least I am not alone…?” Sophie replied with a nervous laugh. She thought her words had gone unheard.

Suddenly, the room was dark.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Henry. Could you please turn on the lights? I want to continue writing,” she pleaded.

“It is daytime, young missy,” Mr. Henry replied.

Sophie’s heart raced as she came to the realization. It was as if something massive was casting a shadow over them. She looked at Kyle, who didn't appear the least bit concerned; in fact, he seemed positively thrilled by the situation. He left the café in a rush with a wide smile on his face, leaving a confused Sophie. Turning back to Mr. Henry, his attention was still focused on the coffee cups he was wiping. Her face was filled with questions.

Summoning every ounce of courage, Sophie decided to follow Kyle outside. What greeted her was beyond anything she could have imagined—there was a colossal spaceship floating in the sky. The spaceship was a behemoth of gleaming metal and otherworldly design. It had a sleek, silver exterior with intricate, luminescent patterns that seemed to pulse with an ethereal glow. It hovered noiselessly, defying gravity with an effortless elegance.

Suddenly, from the belly of the spaceship, a soothing beam of light descended to the ground. It bathed the Earth below in a gentle, otherworldly radiance. From within this luminous beam, an alien figure emerged, descending gracefully to the Earth's surface.

The alien was a breathtaking sight, with iridescent, translucent skin that seemed to change colours in the light. It had long, delicate appendages and large, expressive eyes that shimmered with intelligence. Its form was elegant and otherworldly, unlike anything Sophie had ever seen.

Kyle greeted the alien with enthusiasm, as if they were old friends. He extended an invitation for the alien to have a coffee. Sophie watched in disbelief as they had a coffee together, leaving her petrified by the surreal turn of events. The alien and Kyle engaged in a conversation conducted in a language that Sophie couldn't comprehend.

"Didn't anything feel off to you, Mr. Henry?" Sophie finally asked, desperate to make sense of the bizarre situation. Her question caused Mr. Henry to abruptly stop wiping the coffee cup. He looked around, his face filled with shock.

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "I forgot that it was Tuesday!" He hastily pulled out a calendar and crossed another Tuesday off it. It seems that only Tuesdays were marked on it. Sophie couldn't help but be shocked by their apparent indifference to the extraordinary events unfolding before them.

When the alien eventually departed, Sophie tried to question Kyle about what had happened, but the answers remained elusive. When she turned to Mr. Henry for answers, he simply responded brusquely with, "Kyle brings customers on Tuesdays.”

Returning to her modest room, which her mother had rented, Sophie couldn't contain the urge to share the bizarre story with her mother. Hoping for some comfort or understanding, she recounted the extraordinary event. However, her mother, seemingly exhausted and disinterested, only responded with monosyllabic replies like "mhm" and "yes."

The peculiar event remained a mystery to Sophie, leaving her with more questions than answers as she and her mother retired for the night.

***

On the next Tuesday, Sophie was immersed in writing in her diary as usual. Not a single customer has visited since the alien’s visit on the previous Tuesday. She had mentally prepared herself for whatever absurdity might unfold.

While she poured her thoughts onto paper, a sudden change in the atmosphere captured her attention. The air grew scorching hot, and from the floor emerged an eerie, fiery gateway that radiated waves of searing heat. Sophie couldn't believe her eyes, but what was even more bewildering, was that Mr. Henry seemed unfazed.

"T-T-Tuesday?" she stammered in surprise.

"Indeed, Tuesday," Mr. Henry replied while crossing another Tuesday on the calendar.

From the blazing gateway, a figure emerged. This figure was imposing, with obsidian-black wings that extended outward and sharp, fiery eyes that seemed to pierce through one's soul. The figure radiated an aura of power and darkness.

On the verge of tears due to fear, Sophie watched as the figure stood before the gate and declared, "Kneel before me, Lucifer, the lord of Hell!" The immense pressure in the room compelled her to kneel before this otherworldly being. Mr. Henry, however, remained indifferent, nonchalantly wiping the glass cups with a handkerchief.

Just as Sophie was grappling with her fear and confusion, Kyle came out of the restroom.

"Lucifer!" he called out excitedly.

"Oh, hey Kyle," Lucifer responded casually, as if meeting an old friend. They proceeded to sit down, drink some coffee, and engage in a conversation that stretched on until evening.

While Kyle and Lucifer conversed, Sophie, still in tears and on her knees out of fear, slowly turned to Mr. Henry. She was at a loss for how to feel or make sense of this surreal situation.

“Mr. Henry…” her voice trembling. Mr. Henry let out a weary sigh, knowing that he would need to explain things to her.

“Kids these days, promises meant nothing! What happened to the ‘no questions’ rule?” he complained in frustration. “Fine, let me tell you the full story.”

Then a name escaped his lips, “Oh, Lucielle…”

***

Five years ago, there was nothing much happening. Every single day, Mr. Henry was wiping the glasses, humming, and working nonchalantly with no customers. These were the moments he

dreamt of, as he always dreamt of wiping glasses elegantly as a barista from the start of the day, until the end of the evening, regardless of the absence of customers.

Everyday remained the same, until one evening, the young boy, Kyle, came to him, looking for a job. Mr. Henry refused vehemently. He was uninterested in hiring anyone, as there were no customers to serve. He valued his peace and didn’t want it disturbed. However, Kyle's persistence knew no bounds; he even offered to work for free. After some time, Mr. Henry reluctantly allowed Kyle to work alongside him.

From the moment Kyle started working, customers began to visit, peculiarly only on Tuesdays. And these were also no ordinary customers. Instead, the customers were beings you would only hear from legends, folklore, and mythical tales. Mr. Henry in the beginning, just like Sophie, found himself perpetually astonished by these unusual customers, often questioning his own sanity, wondering if he was slowly losing his mind.

Ironically, despite the presence of the strangest customers, Mr. Henry struggled to recall the details of these extraordinary encounters. Except for one—Lucielle. Only the memories of this one customer named “Lucielle” remained vivid among the visits of peculiar and mythical visitors.

Who was Lucielle, you say?

Lucielle was a fallen angel. Literally. She fell from the sky and crashed through the ceiling, leaving a gaping hole in her wake. Her left wing was damaged and couldn't be fully extended, causing her immense pain.

Lucielle's appearance was nothing short of celestial. Her skin was smooth as porcelain, radiating a soft, inner light. Her eyes, large and expressive, shimmered with a celestial luminescence. Long, delicate eyelashes framed her eyes, enhancing their allure. Her hair cascaded like pale, golden rays of sunshine. Her figure was delicate,

her every feature embodying elegance.

She recounted her story with tears streaming down her angelic face. Lucielle had been joyfully soaring through the vastness of space, humming a cheerful melody, when a momentary lapse of attention caused her to collide with a comet. This collision resulted

in significant damage to her left wing, leading to her unexpected descent to Earth.

As tears welled up in her radiant sapphire eyes, they seemed to shimmer like crystalline pools, reflecting the light of distant stars. When a tear trickled down her porcelain skin, it left a glistening trail, like a delicate stream of stardust. Her lips were quivering with emotion. They were soft and full, their natural hue heightened by the gentle flush of emotion on her cheeks.

Mr. Henry, a reserved and solitary man, was captivated by Lucielle. He felt an unexplainable urge to care for her. Normally, it was Kyle who served and interacted with customers, but during Lucielle's visit, it was Mr. Henry who took charge.

“Name’s Henry,” he introduced himself, extending his hand.

“Lucielle,” she replied, smiling. Her soft and full lips curved into a gentle, serene smile that could warm even the coldest of hearts. She shook his hand, feeling a connection she had never experienced before.

The conversations with Lucielle became the most cherished moments of Mr. Henry's life. Her voice had a gentle, soothing timbre that brought serenity to his heart. Every single second of it was a melody, that touched his soul and lingered in his heart even long after the words had faded into the ether. Their conversations extended into the evening under the vast sky, visible through the gaping hole in the ceiling.

“O Henry, I truly wished to spend more moments with thee. But fate hath ordained me to depart,” Lucielle said sorrowfully. Mr. Henry, too, felt a tinge of sadness, though it was significantly tempered by her soothing presence.

“Fret not, fate shall reunite us, even as it did afore, as thou didst mend my wings with thy miraculous cure,” she assured him, extending her once-damaged left wing. It unfolded majestically, resembling the wings of a swan in both shape and beauty.

“Coffee,” Mr. Henry replied.

“Thy miraculous coffee,” Lucielle smiled.

Since Lucielle’s departure, every Tuesday, Mr. Henry patiently waited for her return, cherishing the memory of the angel who had graced his life with every single wipe of the coffee cup.

***

"Oh, Lucielle…" Mr. Henry's voice carried a deep sadness, and his moustache drooped, mirroring his sorrow.

A heavy silence enveloped the room, leaving Sophie unsure of how to feel about the situation.

“That still doesn’t make any sense. Where did the creatures come from? Why here? And who is Kyle, really?” Sophie’s curiosity remained unrelenting.

“It all comes down to one single matter,” Mr. Henry said. Sophie unconsciously leaned forward, eagerly awaiting an answer.

“I do not care, except for Lucielle,” he answered.

“Mr. Henry!” she pouted.

Mr. Henry, noticing the irritation in the young lady's expression, regretted his unintentional harshness. He decided to offer a solution. "Instead, why don't you ask Kyle himself?" he suggested, raising an eyebrow, as if inviting Sophie to take matters into her own hands.

***

“Aight, see you later, yo,” Lucifer said, bidding goodbye.

“You too, mate,” Kyle replied.

After Lucifer’s farewell, he departed through the gate of Hell, which subsequently vanished from sight.

“Wow, I never knew that Satan was chill,” Sophie said to Kyle.

“Yup, they are! But don’t let them deceive you to follow them back. Hell may seem cool and all, but it is hot down there,” Kyle replied.

The room fell into silence.

“Spill the beans, now! Wasn’t that Lucifer, THE Lucifer from the Book? And also, last week, where did the alien come from? Why does…” Sophie couldn't contain herself any longer and bombarded Kyle with questions about the peculiar happenings.

“Whoa, whoa, calm down Sophie… I can… explain,” Kyle replied, showing his palms in a gesture of peace.

"Okay, I'll listen," Sophie calmed down, taking deep breaths. Finally, answers to all her questions were within reach.

“You know… I am actually… uh… a bit quirky?” Kyle answered with a nervous laugh.

Silence once again enveloped the room, with both Sophie and Kyle left momentarily speechless. Mr. Henry continued wiping the coffee cups.

“That’s it?” Sophie's patience was wearing thin. The awkward silence that followed only added to her frustration.

“Uh… yeah?” Kyle replied nervously.

“But that doesn’t explain anything! What does being quirky have to do with all of this nonsense? Who are you actually? Are you even human? Why does…”

“Oh, hey, Lucifer!” Kyle abruptly interrupted her and waved his hand to someone behind Sophie.

Startled by the mention of Lucifer's name, Sophie turned fearfully to see who was behind her. It was Mr. Henry, who waved his hands. When she turned back around, Kyle had vanished, disappearing into thin air.

“Mr. Henry!”, she called Mr. Henry, as she was frustrated.

Mr. Henry shrugged nonchalantly and continued to wipe the glass cups. The room was once again filled with silence.

***

That night, Sophie told everything about the details of the strange occurrences to her mother. Her mother, all of a sudden, hugged Sophie tightly, tears streaming down her face. Sophie was taken aback by her mother's emotional reaction.

"Oh Sophie, I am so sorry for not paying attention to you!" her mother cried out.

"Mama, it's okay… it's not that bad," Sophie reassured her, surprised by her mother's tears.

"If I ask you to stop going to the café, would you do it willingly?" her mother asked, her voice quivering with worry.

"Of course! I don't want to worry you," Sophie replied, smiling warmly.

They held each other in a heartfelt embrace.

"I will ask my manager to withdraw from this business project, and we'll go back home next Tuesday," her mother declared.

"Mama, the situation isn't that severe," Sophie protested.

"Yes, but I failed you once, and I won't fail you again. Even if it means taking you to a drug rehabilitation centre," her mother explained.

"Ma, I'm not doing drugs!" Sophie exclaimed, her voice filled with both surprise and frustration at the misunderstanding.

***

"Dear Diary, today I am returning back home because Mama misunderstood that I was doing drugs," Sophie wrote while sitting in the backseat of the sleek and modern Tesla Model 3.

As she contemplated what else to write, a sudden beam of light pierced the sky. She was initially surprised, but then realization dawned. "It's Tuesday!"

Without hesitation, she bolted out of the car and headed straight for Mr. Henry's café. As she arrived, panting for air, she looked around with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

The café was empty, yet it bore an odd sense of grace and serenity. The glass coffee cups were untouched. Mr. Henry was nowhere to be found, and neither was Kyle.

"Mr. Henry! Kyle!" she shouted.

But there was no reply.

"Mr. Henry! Kyle!" she shouted louder, desperately seeking any response.

She focused her ears and heard a faint shout. The voice came from… above? Sophie immediately ran outside.

"Young missy!" Mr. Henry's voice rang out from the sky.

Soaring in the sky, Mr. Henry was being carried by Lucielle, the angel he had described in his story. He was cradled like a baby in her arms. Both of them slowly ascended into the sky, their expressions radiating pure bliss.

Seeing Sophie, Mr. Henry waved cheerfully, bidding her farewell. Overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, Sophie waved back, her heart heavy but her face carrying a fond and bittersweet smile as she watched them disappear into the sky.

Upon her return, Sophie shared the extraordinary events with her mother. However, her mother remained convinced that Sophie's account was a result of drug-induced hallucinations, dismissing the incredible occurrences as mere fantasies.