My Heart

The lock clicks open with the turn of Saige’s key. My cafe, she thinks. Not anyone else's. Mine. Every single penny, every nickel and dime. She poured everything she had into creating this place. 

The door swings open silently, the secondhand hinges having just been cleaned so they would be silent as a mouse. She doesn’t care to slow the swing of the door, to enraptured with the entirety of the building she designed. She knows every nook and cranny. Where every secondhand book is, after all, half of them came from her own collection. 

Books and tea, her two favorite things in the world. Though of course, she couldn’t have only tea, after all, not everybody likes tea. Some people like coffee, or something fruity like a smoothie. Or maybe, someone doesn’t want a drink while they read or study or work. Maybe they would like a snack, maybe something sweet or something breakfasty. She thought of everything. Or at least she hoped so. With one last look around her new palace, she sets to work. 

Lights? On. 

Chairs? In place. 

Tables? Clean.

Books? Perfect. As always. 

Food? On display. 

Workers to do this for her so she doesn’t have to stay up until the middle of the night, precariously organizing every book, and then having to wake up at six in the morning after a fitful night of sleep because she’s too excited to rest? None. She has to do this by herself. She doesn’t have the money to pay anyone yet. No. She silently declares. I WANT to do this myself. This place is my own. This is my heart. My heart is on display. But it is mine and mine alone to work. I don’t care if I have to sleep in the store. “This is mine and mine alone.” She declares aloud. She pauses her breakfast of a croissant and cookie, realizing she is glaring at the food like it offended her. 

“I’m talking to my food now.” Her shoulders bob, as if talking to one’s food is a normal thing that everyone does. 

The sun is rising, orange coats the sky. Frantically, she looks between the clock, at its post above the small kitchen like area, and the sign she is shaking to flip. 

The hand ticks one last time, and then it reads the time Saige has been waiting for, seven o’clock. With haste she flips the sign, scrambling for her post behind the counter. She checks the time once more. Checks to ensure her apron is not damaged and is pristine, one, two, three, times before she allows herself to wait. 

Seven turns to eight, and eight turns to nine. But she doesn’t, no, she refuses to let the worry crack her positivity. It’s her first day, the first couple days are always slow. She just needs one or two people to come, let them spread the word of her amazing coffee and books. Just one.

It's nine thirty by the time the door opens, the bad part is that she has abandoned her station. Instead of being where she thought she would be when the first person came in, she is in the back, the very small back. She gave just about every part of the building over to the dining area and books. The back consists of a very large freezer, for food, and nothing else. She sits on the floor, begging her eyes to not shed a single tear. It seems as though it wasn’t only worry knocking on her door, but also exhaustion. And together, they found a small crack in her walls and began to slip through. 

“Hello?” the first customer's squeaky voice drifts to her. She can’t get her feet under her fast enough, the door to the back swings open with the might of her small palm. The small amount of composure she has ensures that it doesn’t slam into the wall and that her voice isn’t a scream, “Yes?” 

Her eyes scan the room, once, twice. But she sees no one. Not even a wandering soul. Her body deflates. Then her eyes catch on the tips of two little ears, right below the counter. She man's her post, subtly straightening her apron, before leaning to look over the edge. Standing there, in all her glory, is a mouse person. Onyx eyes latch onto her brown ones. The mouse person’s nose twitches, as if unsure. 

“I’m sorry, but are you open? I could smell your cafe, and I saw it the other day, and I was-” The mouse’s rambling is cut off by Saige’s, barely contained, joy. “Yes! We’re open. Today is the first day actually. You’re also the first customer.” 

The mouse’s nose twitches, a small squeak escaping. Awkward silence, Saige’s greatest enemy.

She claps her hands together, causing the small creature's ears to twitch. “Well, what would you like? We have breakfast food, some sweet treats, and drinks,” Saige jitters as if she drank five espresso shots. 

“May I have a coffee? Black?” Saige reals with the squeaked request. 

She masks it behind a friendly smile that she has practiced in the mirror for weeks, probably months. “Of course, what size would you like? We have small, medium, and large.” The mouse’s nose twitches again, as if in thought. That is so adorable, but she might never come back if I say it. Saige struggles with whether or not to voice her thoughts when the twitching abruptly stops. 

 “Do you mind showing me the sizes please?” 

Why didn’t I think about that! She internally berates herself as she quickly grabs each of the cup sizes, deciding to leave them out for display. I need to find a better place for those instead of just on the side of the counter. The mouse raises up on her toes, barely gaining an inch to examine the cups. 

“A large please.” Saige freezes, thinking maybe her ears don't work. 

“A large black coffee?” 

The mouse nods its head, pleased with its upcoming treat. “Yes. And please do not fill it quite all the way, I like a little bit of milk, but I prefer to make sure it’s the right amount. For some reason people tend to put mostly milk and little coffee.” Her voice is timid but sure, like she doesn’t want to anger Saige but knows what she wants to drink. 

“Of course, one black coffee coming up!” The noises of the coffee machine soothes Saige. It’s new, but it’s nice. She feels like it belongs, not an intruder but a new friend. Gosh, I hope I don’t start talking to the coffee machine too. 

She enjoys the smell of coffee, but no matter how much sugar or milk she puts in it, she finds it plain old disgusting. 

First, she places a hand protector around the paper cup, second, she places it on the counter, where the mouse can see. I didn’t ask her name. Maybe I should ask. Would it be awkward? “Sorry, I forgot to ask, what’s your name?” The mouse's nose twitches, watching as Saige carefully fills the cup, leaving a couple inches left. 

“Ayanna.” Her nose twitches again. 

Saige looks from Ayanna to the coffee cup. She holds a finger up, as if an idea has struck her. “Hold on.”

Saige scurries, almost like Ayanna’s wild relatives would. Except with the clumsiness that only a human could have. He hefts up a chair, waddling with it until she can place it beside Ayanna, but not in the way of future customers. “There!” she says with pride. “Now you can tell me how much you want exactly!” 

Once secured back behind the counter, Saige watches enraptured as Ayanna climbs up. Now standing on the chair, Ayanna is eye level with Saige, who gives her a bright smile. Proud of her idea. 

“Alrighty then! Would you like more coffee? Less? Or do you want milk now?” 

Ayanna inspects the coffee, “Do mind adding a little more coffee?” As though she were a servant, she immediately pores more. Ayanna nods, as if she were an inspector ensuring everything was right. “Now the rest will be milk. Please,” she hurriedly adds. 

If a mouse could smile, that would be what Ayanna is doing now, Saige thinks, looking at the happiness that radiates from the mouse. 

With a flourish, Saige ensures the lid is properly attached to the cup. The mouse nods, “Thank you. How much do I owe you?” Saige’s mind blanks, she had completely forgotten that she has to charge for the drinks. 

“Oh ya!” she exclaims. “That would be,” her eyes scurry up to the chalk board behind her, listing the items and their prices. “Four Dollars and fifty cents, please!” The mouse rummages around in a crossbody bag that matches her grey fur perfectly. How had I not noticed that before? Saige asks herself. 

Before her brain can catch up with her Saige blurts out, “Actually!” Ayanna freezes, cash in hand. “Since you are my first customer and all, I’ll give you a,” she stumbles over her words, doing quick mental math. “Fifty percent discount!” She internally cringes, Why didn't I say twenty-five or fifteen? Oh, I know, I can’t do simple mental math! Ayanna blinks at her in shock. The mouse’s tiny paw places down a five-dollar bill. “You can keep the change. It’s a tip. Not many people are kind like you are.” 

Without another word, she hops from her perch. Tiny hands reaching up, grabbing for the cup that Saige scoots closer. The tiny mouse slugs the door open, getting her tail safely outside before the door could crush it. 

Ayanna was Saige's one and only customer that day. But after all, Saige wished for just one, not two. 

The next day, Ayanna arrives earlier than the last. Silently once again. Saige makes her drink the exact same. They have a brief chat about the cafe, while Saige works. Clearly, Ayanna warms up to people the second time she meets them, and Saige is grateful for it. Ayanna leaves, secretly abandoning a tip on the counter when Saige wasn’t looking.

At around nine, on her second day of work, she decides to reward herself with a warmed-up cookie. The door opens, and in walks a tall older lady with hair as white as fresh snow, striking red eyes causing a clash of colors.

“Hello dear," she says, practically gliding to the counter Saige hides behind with her half-eaten cookie. Quickly, she brushes off any cookie remains, standing tall in front of this imposing woman. “Hello. My name is Saige, what can I get for you today?” The lady smiles, as if the two of them are in on a secret. “I would like to know if your books are for lease, or if they must be read in the building. I would also like to know if you have any books regarding different creatures?” 

“There might be? I think I remember placing a book like that. If there is one, it would be on the back right wall. I suppose you could take it, so long as you can ensure that you bring it back, or you could pay for it completely and have it?” She is not sure at all, she thought she knew what she wanted to do, but now she’s not so sure. 

“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to keep it, just read up on a few and then I’d be done with it.” 

Saige nods, “Of course! Is there anything else I could help you with? A drink or snack?” 

The scary lady grins, “Do you have any cinnamon rolls?” 

While Saige warms up the cinnamon roll, one that Garnet - a name given to her because of her eyes she explained - specifically picked out, while she searches for her book. Garney places the book on a table and saunters to the fresh roll. “I suppose I could stay for a bit.”

That day, Saige got three customers, a goal that she is proud of. 

As the days go by, more and more people attend her cafe. Every day, one of those people is Ayanna, and occasionally Garnet. But there are other frequenters as well. A troll couple named Azibo and Yuhai, who are there every Wednesday. 

A tanuki who will one day say his name is Haru and the next Kou. 

A gnome named Lunsni, who visits every Monday and Tuesday, who somehow knows when the shop will open despite Saige sometimes being late or early. 

And many others, Saige wishes she could remember all their names, but she can't. Her shop has steadily grown to the point where she can’t remember if it is someone's first time there or if she just forgot their face because of all the ones that came before or after it. 

Today, Ayanna is outside the shop bright and early. “Fall is my favorite season,” she says by way of greeting, crushing a crispy leaf underneath her tiny foot. Her beady eyes inspect Saige as she unlocks her heart in building form. “You need to hire some help.” 

Saige breezes in, a yawn falling from her mouth as she flicks the lights on. “I don’t need help, I can take care of it myself.” Ayanna hops onto one of the now many stools placed alongside the bar, once a food display case, for the shorter patrons. Because it’s Tuesday, Lunsni suddenly appears on the stool beside Ayanna. “The young human is foolish, she should admit that she needs help here.”

The shop isn’t open yet, but because the mouse and the gnome are more friend than customer, she heats up two cinnamon rolls and a cookie, free of charge. 

The tanuki, flings the door open, causing the bell, gifted from Ayanna, to jingle erratically in his wake. “YO! I need a job or my parents are going to kick me out, and you're the only person I could think of that would be even remotely able to deal with me.” His fluffy ears flick towards Ayanna, the only acknowledgment he pays the mouse and gnome. Kou deposits his elbows onto the counter, pretending to be a cute girl when he sets his head in his hands. 

“So, what'd ya say? I suggest you say yes, because I am awesome, and before you ask,” he points a sharp nail at Saige's tired face, “no, I do not have a resume. But that doesn’t matter because you look terrible and obviously need help. I mean,” he stands up properly, right hand on his hip. “Three days ago you got two people's drinks mixed up because of the rush and the Karen that screamed at you for a small mistake was insane.” Ayanna nods her agreement. 

“She cried a little bit afterwards.” 

“Ayanna!” 

“What? You need the help!” 

Saige groans, holding her head in her hands. “Fine, you can work here. Your pay will be,” she waves a hand through the air, trying to remember what the average pay was of a coffee shop worker, “Ten, no twelve bucks an hour? Is that alright?” The tanuki juts out his hand, “Haru Kou reporting for duty!” he says, rapidly shaking Saige's hand. 

“Haru Kou?” Saige mutters under her breath, as the boy leaps over the counter in search of an apron. “There’s a flip book and an extra apron in the back. The flip book explains how to make all the drinks, even the simple ones.” Ayanna winks at Saige, “You’re welcome for that, without it you would be terrible at making any coffee-based drinks.” 

Haru Kou comes back with a strut in his step. “Alright Boss, what's my first order of business?” 

“Something that you can’t mess up, flipping the closed sign to open.” He salutes, marching away like a soldier going to war. 

“Saige?” Lunsni grabs her attention. And he has all of it immediately. 

“What’s up? Do you need a drink? Sorry to say this but now that the shops open, you’re gonna have to pay.” 

He shakes his head, the tip of his hat wobbling a little. “I was wondering about the name of this place. How and why did you decide to name it what you did?”

“I was wondering the same thing!” Haru Kou shouts, “I mean, if I’m gonna work here then I gotta know the reasoning. Why did you name it My Heart Cafe and Bookshop, I mean, I get the cafe and bookshop part. But why the My Heart?” 

A small smile appears on Saige's lips, “Because this is what my heart consists of. Books and cafes. But only the tea that cafes have. I don’t like coffee.” 

Saige relaxes, maybe she can let other people work with and be a part of her heart. It would be easier after all.