coffee shop Moses

“Coffee shop Moses:
Five commandments for teenage girls”


“ I guess I’ll try the Panini,” I said to my dad as we waited in the Tim Horton’s serves line “ I’ve seen the commercial”.
My dad nodded crossing his arms over his chest studying the lit up menu. “You could have a soup too if you want”.
I shook my head “ no thanks” I paused “ could I have a coffee?”
He nodded, “ya sure, I think that comes with a combo”.

As my dad paid for our lunches, I went to save us a table. There were only a few tables that were empty. The shop was filled with old couples and young families enjoying their Sunday lunch.

I chose a table by the door. Seconds after I sat down my dad joined me. Sitting across the table from me he handed me my sandwich. I mumbled my thanks before carefully pulling it out of the wrapper.

An awkward silence stretched between us as I studied my sandwich.
“How’s everything with your friends?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“ They’re all just stupid,” I sighed gazing at the door. An old man had just walked in. He was tall and thin, dressed in a long brown church coat accessorized with tie and clean-cut fedora.
“ I don’t have time to wait, I’m too hungry!” his voice was kind.
It took me a moment to realize that he was talking to us. Surprised I glanced over at the line; it had grown remarkably since we had ordered.
My dad who was always extremely friendly with strangers smiled, “ Well the line goes pretty fast”.
The old man’s eyes were bright and surprisingly youthful despite his deeply wrinkled face. “ And this is your daughter” he said in reply. He extended his fist in my direction, surprised, I touched my fist to his in a fist bump. The skin on this hand was slightly discolored and splattered with age spots.
“ I’m a grandfather, I’m sure you can tell” his smile lit up his face making his eyes shine.
Chuckling, the old man wrapped an arm around my dad’s shoulders; motioning to me he said “You need to thank your mother for giving birth to you, and thank your dad for this” he motioned to our lunches on the table, “because I’m sure he paid for it.”
“How do you know she didn’t pay for it?” my dad inquired.
The old man’s eyes twinkled and the corner of his mouth twitched “well did she?”
My dad laughed “no”
The old mad straightened, “ You know I believe that children are Saints, and babies, well babies are angles.” His eyes rested on the children sitting at the table next to us.
Backing up slightly from the table, so that he could see us both, he turned his attention to me;
“ Listen to you mother because she had done all this before.”
I smiled politely and thanked him for the advice. I was not use to strangers addressing me directly.
He wagged a finger at me. “ I mean it, listen to her, she knows what she is talking about.”
The look on the old mans face was so sincere I couldn’t help it, I felt my lips brake into a full out grin. “Thank you sir, I am sure to remember that.”
I turned back to my sandwich thinking that our extremely peculiar conversation was over. Just as I picked it up he continued.
“Do you have a boyfriends?” he asked.
“No” My looked at me with mock sternness.
“Well let me tell you something, look at the way he treats his mother. Look at the way he talks to her ‘cause that the way he’s gonna treat you.”
I felt my smile widen, my eyes met my dad’s as he said,
“That’s some pretty good advice”.
The old man bent down next to my ear and whispered, “ you a pretty sweet girl.”
He turned to leave glancing at the line and said with finality, “ that line is too long, I’m too hungry for that” and left the shop.

I turned back to me dad who was still smiling “ we don’t know him do we?”
My dad chuckled, “no”
A feeling of awe descended onto my body “Dad! I think we just met an angel”
The hint of a Smile fleeted across his face “ yes, I think you might be right.”


Sunday, April 14, 2013