02 January 2011

The New Kissing Booth

I don't know if they still exist (or ever really did) at state fairs and carnivals country wide, but remember kissing booths? Gentlemen would stand in line for minutes at a time to be one of many to make out with a lovely young lady at a price...maybe a dollar, but, for the lady's sake, hopefully more.

Well, yesterday as I was leaving work, I had the realization that Starbucks is the New Kissing Booth (really it could be any coffee shop, but I personally work at the Buck). I was thinking about this guy that I have a crush on that visits possibly once a week, and, if I'm lucky, I get to wait on him. We make conversation that lasts for what feels like forever no matter how meaningless. Someone inevitably comes to the line, and then we have awkward moments of pause before he leaves. One day I'll grow the ovaries to ask him out though I'd rather he ask me. Yes, I may be a tad old fashioned, but I still like to feel chased after or wanted....and I'm not quite sure he's really into me or if it's the Starbucks Kissing Booth moment we have when he buys his double tall dirty soy no water chai.

Why am I confused? The last time he came in, one of the bouncers from a bar that's just across the street came in (like he does everyday) just before him. And, because they take care of us when we go to the bars, we take care of them....and as I was making his drink, he starts to ask questions about my relationship status and why I'm still single...because he thinks I'm nice (he says giving me the one up). Then he tells me to stop by the bar after work for drinks on him or just to say bye for the night...I think nothing of this because it's normal everyday behavior for him and a bunch of the other regulars. It's almost expected. When the bouncer left, my crush was standing as far from me as he possibly could have until I spoke to him. And now I think that it looks like I'm a huge flirt or that I think nothing of him because of the interactions that I have with other customers in line.

I don't know why, but I seem to find myself acting flirtatious with everyone....Coffee shops are like Cheers but during the day. People want to go where everyone knows their name and are excited to see them. It's my job to give each customer I come in contact with approximately 2 minutes of bliss before I send them on their way. It's like a $5 kissing booth where all the customers get up to you and just want to talk about their feelings instead of acting on them.
Then of course I think, if Starbucks is a kissing booth, what are bars? The new brothels?

5 comments:

  1. Hello. I thought that was a lovely bit of writing. I hope your man returns your attention. I look forward to reading more.

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  2. He isn't sure whether you like him, or whether you're just doing your job as a waitress and being friendly with the customers. He knows it's part of your job.

    He may be, like me, a little shy.

    It seems a bit lame now but about eight years ago I wrote this little poem for the waitress in a coffee shop, entitled: To the Waitress in Cafe Brasilia:

    every now
    and then
    you catch me
    with such
    alluring
    little glances;
    those warm
    olive-green eyes
    intoxicate me,
    over sweet cappuccino
    in the morning.

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  3. You made me want to go work at Starbucks. This is a lovely scene and I can't help but wondering what if you asked him: "So when are you going to ask me out?"

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  4. Maybe he got a little bit insecure there...dunno...and maybe you should ask him out...a very captivating post....

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  5. Thanks for reading and commenting...I like what all of you have to say! The poem was especially lovely. Hope to read you all soon!

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