#mpws

“This week! On hermitcraft” the voice begun over a compilation of clips and piano music.

“Season six Has Begun!” He continued.

“The Rules have been changed! And Iskall called a drowned a phantom like hardcore hermits taught him nothing-”

Mumbo closed the newsletter and looked at Grian whos face conveyed both clear confusion and hints of shock, like a billion questions had hijacked his brain all at once and were shutting down all other brain functions until an answer had been given. 

“It’s pretty weird that your Watchers don’t rhyme” 

Helen, one of the scientists from the project Marty had befriended, also preferred her coffee in the morning. Marty wondered if she got coffee just to see him. She never got coffee as often as Doc but she still got it frequently. Her order was complex compared to Doc's. She usually ordered coffee with a bottle of milk, cinnamon and two sugars. Not as complex as some orders, but at least some diversity.

Today was chilly, an average fall day, so Marty expected more customers. The first customer of the day was always his favorite, because it was Doc. A simple order was always great to start off the day.

" Hello, Marty," Dr. E. Brown placed a quarter on the counter, " I'll have the usual."

"You got it, Doc." Marty replaced the quarter with a cup of hot coffee. "What are you working on today?" Marty grinned.

" You know I can't tell you, but it's something important."

" You're the doc, Doc. Good luck!" Doc left, leaving the store eerily quiet yet again.

**

Marty's business always cooled down right after the morning spree hit. After all, who gets coffee at noon? Edna Strickland, that's who. Apparently, the switchboard's team gets a break at noon, along with a couple of the scientist groups. Of course, the next shift took over, but the previous shift had worked through the morning. She usually wasn't willing to take anything less than her predetermined standard. Marty thought she would just have to deal with it.

" Hello, Mrs. Strickland."

She responded by dropping a pair of dimes on the register.

" Large coffee with ⅓ cup of soy milk, 3 sugars, two dashes of cinnamon. And that's dashes not pinches. There's a difference. 2 ice cubes and ¼ cup cream. If you have it, add one-"

Edna continued her obnoxiously long order, which she happened to change every time. Unfortunately for her, Marty had heard about two words and then tuned her out. He was more focused on lunch than whatever she had to say.

" Young man! Are you even listening?"

Marty worked up from his daydream.

" I'm on it!"

After fetching a cup, he poured a black coffee, put four sugars in and added a splash of milk.

" Here you go, ma'am."

The look of disgust on Edna's face was enough to almost make Marty laugh aloud. He didn't, but it was a possibility.

" This is not what I ordered."

Edna pushed the cup back across the countertop.

" Have a nice day now!"

Marty took his chance to go "to the back", which was really just the area right behind a wall. Essentially hiding there, Marty waited.

" I'll file a report on this place, sooner or later." She grumbled as she reluctantly took the coffee back up.

**

The season was now winter. Marty had originally thought he would get customers but now he was reevaluating. He could always count on Doc, but someone came in he wasn't expecting. Helen, out of all people, was the first to order on this cold winter's day.

" Good day, Marty. How have you been?" She pulled down her scarf.

"It's been great! Well, as great as one can be when he’s freezing himself in a store in the middle of New Mexico."

" Oh, it's not that bad. Well, believe it or not, I'm wondering if I could get a coffee."

Helen and Marty both laughed.

" I think I can manage that. What are you ordering today?" Marty held a pencil and pad to jot down whatever she had to say.

" I'll take the usual: milk, cinnamon and two sugars." " Coming right up!"

After Marty prepared the drink, he got an idea. Why not start a habit of leaving notes for each other? Marty didn't need to do so with Doc, but Helen he didn't talk to so much. He quickly scribbled down a " Good luck with the project Helen!" with the previously mentioned pencil and paper, and stuck it between the cup and saucer.

Later, when he went to pick up the cups from the small table positioned in his little "shop", he noticed the paper had been flipped. On the other hand read ' Keep up the coffee, Marty!' with Helen's signature. Marty smiled and stuffed the note into his pocket.

Hours after this interaction, Marty checked the time to see that it was the end of his shift. He hadn't gotten much from today's shift. A couple more, back coffees or the occasional milk with sugar, but besides that, the store was empty. He threw his apron over the counter and pulled on his jacket. He hadn't noticed it had started snowing.

Must've been too caught up in daydreaming.

It was a bad habit, he had to admit. Recently he had caught himself thinking about the past. Or should I say, the future. That was years ago, yet it still hurt to think about it.

Now wasn't the time, though. He had to focus on how to not freeze his eyelids off. That made him think, had he worn enough layers today?