Tea Time

27 August 2014

It is somewhat late in the day, and the sky is threatening rain, perhaps accounting for the rather few number of patrons today. Local news is on the radio, lending an added level of both serenity and melancholy. The staff seem preoccupied with cleaning up for the night since the shop will be closing before too long.

The ambiance is pleasant overall, good lighting and the scent of coffee is in the air. The dessert case near the front competes with the radio for background noise. Artwork decorates several walls across the shop, and empty coffee bags hang from the ceiling.

An older man with ball cap and sunglasses returns to the shop from taking a phone call outside on the patio. Mr. Subdued seems to be a regular, very comfortable in the shop's customer space, and is otherwise casually dressed in jeans and a polo shirt.

Two younger women have just come in, both probably students at the local university. Carrying bags with the "tools of the trade" of notebooks, textbooks, and writing instruments, etc. A computer comes from one of the bags.

Meanwhile, Mr. Subdued continues to be wholly engrossed in his phone call, taking a seat at the front bar. On stepping toward the back, I noticed another female student, Ms. Studious, busy at work on her computer in the back hallway, lit by a globe of light from the single lamp on her small table. I also glimpsed another sphere of light at the far end of the hallway, a lone computer the only occupant. Perhaps this is the workspace of Mr. Subdued. This back space seems well-suited to studying due to its subtle lighting, and quiet--the radio and dessert case are hardly audible.

Also present since my arrival are an older woman and young man, what I believe is a mother and son. They have been engaged in study and note-taking the entire time and from the snippets I can overhear, a family history of some kind.

The two young female students, Jasmine and Green, have each been brought tea by the female staff member, Artist. No doubt a calming treat as they study. Jasmine and Green appear to be enjoying each others company as they study, though they have been mostly silent since the books have opened and tea served, getting to work.

Mr. Subdued has gone outside to continue his call, one part privacy and another part to escape the ambient sound in the shop.

Artist goes back to cleaning, taking over from the male staff member, Gaijin, and his speedy cleaning. He has since moved to the back work area tending to the roaster.

Mother and Son continue to discuss, the son with a cup of milk which leads me to suspect that he is a high school student. The mother has a pot of tea. A large flower arrangement sits at one end of the table. Indeed, flower arrangements can be found on a few of the other tables, though not all.

Mr. Subdued has returned from the patio, sat, then returns outside, still in the midst of a phone call.

Gaijin and Artist now engage in chit-chat at the front counter, Gaijin on the inside and Artist on the outside where she moved from cleaning unoccupied tables. Ms. Studious has emerged from the back hallway and left the shop. She was casually dressed and loaded down with both a backpack and large tote.

Mr. Subdued has come back in, helped himself to the ice and soda machine near the back and returned outside.

Two new patrons have come in, both casually dressed, the male Khaki with slacks and a t-shirt and the female Floral with a floral top and jeans. Her phone is placed in her back pocket where most young women seem to carry their phones for quick and ready access. Artist takes their order, then Khaki and Floral go sit outside on the patio.

The sky still threatens rain, though Mr. Subdued has moved from the patio area to stand by the street, seeming to let whim carry him as he is preoccupied on the phone.

Interestingly, Khaki has ordered a coffee beverage while Floral has ordered tea. The consumption of tea seems to be quite common amongst female patrons here.

Mr. Subdued finally returns to the shop from his phone call sojourn, where upon he heads directly, if slowly, to the back hallway.

Mother and Son have packed up and headed out, and now Jasmine and Green have packed up and headed out as well.