sierra hensley english 104 s., 12: composition research ritassida mamadou djiguimde ... ·...
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SierraHensleyEnglish104s.,12:CompositionResearchRitassidaMamadouDjiguimdeWakeUpAndSmellTheCup
WakeUpAndSmellTheCup
Itis1:48pm.,onafrigidwhirlwindofaThursdayinMarch.Itookthelong
walkfrommydormtomyfavoritecoffeeshop,TheCup.AsIswingopenthedoors,
arushofwarmairandthesmelloffreshlymadecoffeeengulfsmyface.Behindme,
outside,customersminglewiththebittertasteofcoffeeandthetoxicburningof
cigarettesmokedriftinginthebreeze.
Theclosingdoornudgesmefurtherintotheshop,whilethearomaofcoffee
andfoodtemptmetothecounter.Inoticeabenchtotheleftofmeand,instead,
decidetositandwatchthecustomersflowinandoutoftheshop.Fragmentsof
conversations,betweenthecustomersandemployeesatthecounter,funnelintomy
ears.Ismileatafewpassersbyandreluctantlystandtoordermyselfabeverage.
Thelonglistofcoffeecombinationsoverwhelmsmytiredeyes,butonawhimI
choosethefirstoneIseeonthelist.Thecashier,slygrinandsteelyeyes,handsme
mychangeandswingsaroundthecornertoconstructmychosenjava.Afew
minuteslater,longawaited,heslidesmemycoffee.Ithankhimandwishhimagood
day,asIwalkdowntheramptothedesignatedareaforcustomerstosit.
Isingleoutatablepushedagainstthewallinthecornerwithtwochairswith
darkgreencushions.Iputmyblackbackpackunderneaththetable,securingit
betweenmylegssothatthosewalkingoutofthebathroombehindmychairwillnot
stumbleoveritastheyexit.Isetmycupdownonthetable’ssurfacetomyleftand
leandowntoretrievemyflimsymoleskinnotebookandbluepenfrommybag.I
clickthepenandbeginobservethespace.Itakenoteofthediversearrangementof
localartworkscatteredonallfourwallsaroundme.Theartworkisenergeticwitha
widearrayofpigmentsandbrushstrokes;themajorityofthemareabstract.
Onceagain,Ichannelinonseveralconversationsfromcustomersseatedat
thetablesandbooths.Iintuitivelynoticefamilies,friends,andsignificantothersall
gatherheretoshareTheCup’sone-of-a-kindcoffeetaste.Continuingmysearching
gaze,Ilocateacustomersittingaloneatatabledirectlyunderthewindow.His
featuresenhancedbytheglowofsunlight,heappearsfocuswithaslightlyfurrowed
browandhandsquicklywritingsomethingIdonotknow.
Idistractmyeyesfromthepeopleandblindingsunshiningthroughthe
windowandbecomemesmerizedbyabrownceilingfanthatisturnedonlowspeed.
Withoutnoticing,Ibegintohearmusicplayingdistantly.Bythehastybeatsand
hazylyrics,itssoundcouldbecategorizedasanindieoralternativegenre.The
musicandcaffeineinmycoffeegivemearushofwarmthandenergy.Ifinishup,
disposeofmycoffeedraineddry,andstepoutintothecoolbreezeagain.