MEOW: Episode One to Three
What did I just get myself into?
Episode One
The job ad seemed normal enough. It had been in an email along with a long list of other ads from one of those job sites. I had signed up on such a website hoping to find anything after graduating last week. Those student loans were a heavy weight waiting to drop. While I had a few interviews, nothing had jumped out at me, and I had nothing lined up. Each night I would surf the web looking for anything that caught my eye. During high school and college, I worked in several coffee shops, so it was my fallback plan. It seemed like my business degree would be a waste but I really didn't care. I ignored the warning bells and went to college anyway, yet this position seemed perfect.
Barista and Caretaker for a bookstore - experience wanted. Room and board included plus student loan repayment. You must like cats. The shopkeeper is going to retire and needs someone to help the cat, run the small shop and keep the coffee flowing.
I mean any job with student loan repayment was amazing on its own, but this one involved cats too. That was why I was standing outside the storefront in the sunshine. A wooden sign depicting a cat and a book hung out above the door and the writing in the window seemed to sparkle in the sunlight: Magical Emporium of Wares. The window showed stacks of dusty books, along with an old wingback chair that held a knitted throw.
All I wanted to do was curl up in the chair and never leave. Still, I needed to pass this interview. I received a reply almost immediately after I sent my resume in, which was a positive sign. It said they were looking forward to chatting with me and to show up at a certain time. I couldn't find an online presence for the store, but directions came up when I searched for them. The interview time was in five minutes, and I was hoping to explore the shop first.
The wooden door was a bright blue, and the latch was silent as I opened it. The door rattled and the sound of a ringing bell filled the space. I jumped ever so slightly at the jarring sound. Eagerly I glanced around the bright room. In front of me and to the left were bookshelves lining the wall, filled with books of different sizes. Wooden signs hung above the very top of the shelves noting the various genres. It seemed nonfiction books were first before changing into my favorite section, fantasy and science fiction.
On my right were big bright windows with the chair I’d seen from outside, but the center of the room was a wide open space. Along the wall was a long wooden counter. It had to be someone's pride and joy since the wood almost sparkled in the sunlight streaming in from above. An old-fashioned cash register was on one end. The register seemed to have buttons like on a typewriter, along with a more modern screen that faced the shopkeeper. On the other end of the counter was a high-end espresso machine.
I did a double-take. Look at that baby. The Yas400 and in bright red. Getting to use that was worth almost anything. The cost alone could keep me on a decent budget for almost a year. I moved closer before catching something out of the corner of my eye. It was a sign like an old-fashioned poster hung on the wall over the register:
Do not upset the cat
The cat is always right
Do not go behind the counter
Do not upset the cat
That was strange. They spoiled the cat for sure. Note to self, do not upset the cat. That would be the key to acing this interview. Inside my head, all I could picture was a cat in a tie asking me questions. Too much caffeine and not enough sleep. An old bell sat on the counter next to the register, and I figured I would need to tap it to get some help. After tapping the bell, quiet returned to the space.
"Meow!"
A cat suddenly jumped up onto the wooden counter. Bright green eyes were staring right at me. I totally felt judged.
"You must be the cat the sign is talking about. Do you like pets?" He was such a pretty black cat, though his eyes were such a vivid color. All I wanted to do was see if he was a cuddler. Some cats loved pets and others hated them. I held out my hand for him to sniff. Hopefully, he liked me and he wouldn't get upset. It was in the rules after all.
The cat meowed again loudly. Talkative cat. That was new. All the cats I had been around didn’t really make much noise unless it was time to eat. Or I was eating.
"Coming!"
The voice came from above and I jerked back my hand. Woah, the ceiling was so tall. They hid a second floor up there, with a railing above the counter on the second story. An older gentleman came out of what looked to be a doorway and peered over the railing. This place was bigger than it looked from the outside.
"Ah, you must be Sable. I will be right there. Too many emails today."
He then vanished. The sound of someone going down wooden steps followed, and I walked closer to the counter before the white-haired man came out from a different doorway behind the counter. I hadn't noticed that doorway until just now. So many secret nooks and crannies. He could be someone’s grandpa with short white hair, thin glasses and a kind look. A knitted vest covered a white button up and his pants looked pressed.
"I totally get having a ton of email - especially with that job ad. This is like a dream job." I couldn't help but blush as the words tumbled out. This was not the impression I wanted to make, but either I would get the job or I wouldn't. The worst-case scenario would be getting hired for a week and then being fired. I would rather they saw me for who I was upfront.
His bright blue eyes studied me and flicked up to my hair. At the moment, my hair was short and a bright purple, but his eye color made me want to change it to blue. It had been a while since I last changed colors. The cat meowed again and broke the tension, drawing my attention back to the black furball.
"Well, we are looking for a great fit. That matters more than anything else. This place is special and the person who gets hired needs to be special as well." He motioned to the edge of the counter. "How about you come around this way and make us some coffee? That will get a big requirement out of the way."
My eyes flickered up to the sign. "Are you sure? I know what the rules say."
"Come, come. You have permission," the old man said with a smile.
I scooted behind the rounded edge of the counter and my jaw dropped at how much room was behind it. It was practically roomy. The red machine seemed to glow in the light and I smiled at the man. "What would you like to drink?" I resisted the urge to rock back and forth in place. I was actually going to get to use this baby even without getting the job. No matter what, I was going to make her sing.
"I am simple, what is your favorite?" he asked.
I thought for a moment, then replied, “I will drink just about anything. How about a few shots? Then I can make a mocha for you to try, and I will have a latte.”
Everything I needed was nearby. There was a grinder, plus a mini fridge under the counter and syrups in a line near the wall, along with a canister for the used grounds. It was a nice little setup, but it was clear that while they made drinks, they must not have a morning rush. The last coffee shop I worked at had a morning rush, and this setup was just a little inefficient. It was off in one corner without a staging area to line up multiple drinks and get them done quickly. Still, maybe the personal touch was what they were going for. Especially considering the space on the counter was clear, giving you a direct line to chat with the customer.
I started my dance with the orders. If barista work paid just a little bit more or if I hadn't gone to college, I would have just stuck with it but everyone had pushed me to go, so I went. Under the counter, there was a row of different coffee mugs along with mismatched teacups. Way too cute. I couldn't help but reach for the teacup.
“I would like a latte - I love the foam,” came a voice from over my shoulder.
The grinder was going, but I still heard the soft request. It sounded simple enough. I nodded in response. The shots were easy to pull, and I tasted the first to make sure it was okay. Then I poured the second shot into one teacup, for a straight espresso. Next up was a mocha and then finally the latte. For that one, I went with a large mug instead of the teacup, topping it with a ton of foam.
Finally, after a small breath, I turned back to my audience. Both the shopkeeper and the cat were watching me. "Have at it..." I motioned with my hand.
The cat padded over directly for the latte and I glanced at the man in confusion. Caffeine and cats, I wasn't sure if that was a very good idea. Not to mention he was taking a drink requested by the shopkeeper. Plus, who let their cat drink coffee? It couldn’t be normal. The black head darted into the teacup, lapping eagerly. I didn’t know if I should stop him. The cat was always right after all. His whiskers came out covered in foam. It was so cute, but I resisted taking a picture with my phone. I needed to be professional after all.
"He can decide on what he wants," answered the gentleman. He didn’t seem worried at all.
The guy took a sip of the espresso and then the mocha. "Both are delightful. How about you make yourself a drink and then we can walk through the shop? I want to make sure you know what you are getting into."
I must not do a happy dance. Play it cool, Sable. You got this, I thought to myself.
I grabbed a bigger mug that was a bright blue color with glittery stars on it. A vanilla latte took little time and it would be tasty. All the ingredients were high-end, from organic milk to imported coffee beans, with only the vanilla syrup looking homemade.
"Who does the ordering?" I asked to keep the conversation going. More information was good. Plus, I had trouble with silence.
"You will, eventually. You can do it on the register."
That made things easy. Usually, someone else was in charge of that and it sucked not having any input. "What about the syrups?"
He chuckled. "I made them. The recipes are in the kitchen. I can show you if you want to follow me." He headed through the doorway that he came through earlier. "This door on the right is the storeroom for dry goods." His fingers tapped on the door, but he kept moving. To the left-hand side a staircase traveled upstairs. "We will go upstairs after the kitchen."
The short hallway opened up to a gigantic kitchen. It was an industrial kitchen that you wouldn’t be out of place on a cooking show. It had a large, gorgeous island with a wooden countertop made of the same wood as the counter out front. I could feel my eyes growing wide looking around. "Isn't this a little overkill?" I didn't know how to put this big and nice of a space to good use. Why was it here?
"It depends. I like to cook, and this is the kitchen in the building. While the shopkeeper's room is upstairs, it only has a mini fridge and an electric kettle. So any of your personal cooking will be down here."
I spun around in the giant kitchen. A list of different things I could learn how to cook or bake came to mind. I had put off learning how to cook since I had cheap fast food and ramen during school. But with this as an option, I would learn. Somehow. I would find some good cookbooks in the store. Plus, with the compensation package, I had a decent budget for food. They included it with the job posting after all. "The store only serves coffee, right? No food service?" I asked just to confirm.
"Only beverages, unless you want to change that. Sometimes, I had to order cookies or something for events, like book readings or such in the store. This is a creative job with lots of flexibility as long as you follow the rules. "
"That cat is always right?" I asked with a grin, though he didn’t grin back at me.
"Yep, that’s the big one.” He shook his head lightly, “Let's head upstairs. You can get a good view of the shop." He turned and slowly walked up the wooden steps and vanished around the corner. He moved quickly on his feet and I had to rush to keep up. There were bookcases along the walls, but I didn't see another staircase. This must be all private space. You could put a chair up here and keep an eye on below while being hidden.
Not to mention how bright it was from the skylights.
"This is your area. Customers aren't allowed up here." He motioned to an opened door. "That is the studio with a private bathroom. Feel free to look around."
An excuse to snoop around was perfect, and I headed into the bedroom. The hardwood floors continued in this room from the rest of the shop. Bright skylights covered the ceiling. A big queen bed was against one wall with a desk on the other. A small counter with cupboards and a mini fridge were in one corner, along with a kettle. Multiple suitcases sat on the floor and the room was bare. Another doorway piqued my interest. White tile and a massive clawfoot soaking tub came into view.
You will not squeal, I thought to myself. This shop was perfect. This studio was absolutely perfect. Now, I just needed to get the job.
When I turned around, he looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "Does it meet your expectations?" He smirked at the joy I was radiating.
It took everything to not start gushing about the room. "So, I man the coffee machine and the register. I order supplies on the register. What about the bookshelves and merchandise?"
"You won't be ordering that. The owner will be."
I would do this job well. Very well. Plus maybe put my business degree to use after all. "That sounds fantastic." I headed back out of the room and leaned on the railing looking at the bookshelves below. The balcony wrapped around three walls. On the far side there was another wall of glass and what looked to be plants growing. There was so much I kept missing.
"Ah, that's a small rooftop garden. I do not have a green thumb, but there is some space if you want to plant things."
Warning bells went off in my head. This place was too perfect.
Episode Two
"Tell me about the benefits," I asked. I had to ask something. Otherwise, this might seem weird to him, especially depending on how many people they must have interviewed already. I tasted my vanilla latte and wished I could crawl inside it and take a bath. This was a dream come true. That I’d have lattes on tap for the next year was unbelievable. This whole thing was a little unbelievable. But at some point you just had to win the lottery, right? Right?
"We listed the compensation in the ad. I’m not in charge of that. I can forward any of those questions to the owner. Just send them to me tonight."
Hold up. "Wait, I thought you were the owner?" I asked. I assumed he owned the place and was retiring to a warmer location.
He chuckled and shook his head. "I’m just the shopkeeper, though I’m retiring. My contract is up and I’m excited to step away from the place. I don't own the store but I get to pick the replacement." The cat hissed. I jumped, glancing around for the little guy but he wasn't in my sight. "And the cat. He gets a majority vote if I’m being honest here."
That cat must be someone special.
"Good to know. The compensation is fine, I was just wondering about things like health insurance. I know the student loan stuff was mentioned."
The cat appeared at the top of the stairs and padded toward us. He rubbed against my ankle and health insurance be damned. The cat was worth it. He was so fluffy. I bent down to scratch him on the head, careful to not spill my drink. Not to mention I didn't want to share it with him.
"The compensation is higher than normal since it is a 24-hour job because of looking after the cat. The work schedule is 6 days a week, and the store is open 8 to 10 hours a day. You are the only one on staff. We are only closed one day, and it’s your only day off." That was true. I hadn't ever lived on the property for a job before. He continued, "And the cat can be a tough master."
I reached down and scratched his head. "Awww, can this awesome little bud be a tough one?" I didn’t resist keeping the cuteness out of my voice. Picturing the cat getting into trouble was hard. Maybe he drank out of any cup left down. He had gone after that foam like no tomorrow. Or he might knock over glasses like you saw on the internet.
“If I’m the only one working, what happens if I get sick?” I asked. It had slipped my mind that I would be the only one in the shop and not have any backup.
He frowned. “Well, if you get sick, you can close the shop early. Your health is a priority here.”
“So if I have to close the shop for a week because of the flu, the owner doesn’t get upset?” Most jobs freaked out if someone had to miss a shift. Here being the only one on staff had some downfalls.
“If needed, the shop can be closed, or the owner will find someone to help temporarily. That’s not your responsibility.”
Alright, I didn’t need to find a temp employee if I was down with the flu, that was a good thing. I did not want to upset the owner or risk my job because of illness. Not that I got sick all that often, but while in college, I had gotten a few different bugs from being on campus. Having so many people in one area, it was easy to catch a cold. I had nothing else to ask, and I dug deep to keep the conversation going.
“So, are you happy to be retiring? This position seems like you would keep doing it for a long while.”
He shrugged. “I have done this job long enough. I’m ready to not have to deal with customers any more and while I like cats...” His voice trailed off, but he didn’t continue. The cat was glaring at him. He might be sick of the cat as well. I understood getting sick of customers. Customers could make or break a job and after a certain point, you were just done with them.
"Are you interested in the position?" asked the shopkeeper.
"I am." Yep, I was in with both feet. “I think I would be a great fit and can handle everything we have gone over.” Or at least I would fake it until I learned everything.
“Great. I will get the contract for you to sign and go over.” The guy headed down the stairs whistling a merry tune. The cat was staring at her from the top of the stairs.
"Sounds like we are going to get to know one another," I said to the black, whiskered face.
I leaned down and scratched behind his ears. He purred, and I melted. This cat was so adorable and fluffy. The realization that I got the job, and this was going to be my life over the next year was shocking.
“Are you coming?” echoed up from below. The cat darted down the stairs before I had time to respond.
“Be right there.” I glanced once more over the railing at the sun-filled room below. The bookshelves gleamed in the light and I saw little bits of cat hair floating in the air. I would need to put a cleaning schedule in place to deal with the cat hair, but it was still so worth it.
I was going to get to work here, every day, and run this little bookshop. This would be my home. The paperwork was just a couple of pages that I barely glanced over. It was a yearlong contract to stay on the property, run the shop, and take care of the cat. The details were light, and I didn’t have questions. It caught my eye that I was required to find a replacement before leaving the position. It made sense. The owner probably didn’t want to leave the shop closed.
By the time I finished my latte, I had signed and dated the last page. The shopkeeper flashed me a bright white smile and his shoulders relaxed.
“So, what time do you want me here tomorrow morning?” I asked.
“Around eight a.m. would be perfect. It will give you time to settle in upstairs. I don’t think we will be open tomorrow to give you time to unpack and get some training in. I will have a copy of this for you tomorrow once the owner signs it.”
He held out his hand, and I shook it. “Sounds good. I will see you tomorrow.” The cat wound around my ankle one last time before I headed out the door. It was time to pack! I couldn’t wait. The bell rang behind me as I headed out the door and into the sunlight, grinning from ear to ear.
Episode Three
I owned little, so packing was easy. A suitcase of clothes and then two more, one full of books and the other my bedding. I was broke while in school, so I kept things simple. I paid my rent through the end of the month, but my roommates wouldn't have a problem finding a replacement. It was cheap. I needed to remember to let my family know that I found a job, but I wanted to wait until after I got settled in first.
The taxi dropped me off in front of the bookstore and was gone in a flash. It took a hot minute to get everything inside. The door made a racket with the back and forth of getting my bags inside. There were several other suitcases sitting by the door, the ones that were upstairs yesterday.
"Meow," said the cat. He appeared as soon as I set my first bag down as I went back out to grab the rest. He seemed to sniff everything before padding back to the counter and jumping up near the register.
Realization dawned, I didn't know the shopkeeper's name. The owner had been Mr. Cearnachain, but the shopkeeper had mentioned he wasn't the owner.
"Ah, Sable, you’re here. Good, good. I have a flight to catch. I don't want to be late." He appeared out of nowhere from behind one bookshelf.
"Wait, what?"
Panic rose. Today was supposed to be for unpacking and training. Not being thrown into the deep end. A horn honked outside. He grabbed a bag and set it outside the door. "The extra copy of the paperwork is on the counter, near the register. Feel free to bring your stuff upstairs. The room has been cleaned and straightened."
“But…”
He really was leaving me here. In the really cool bookshop with the awesome coffee machine. I grabbed one of my bags and moved it closer to the counter. The espresso machine seemed to glow. I needed a coffee to handle this. "Do you want any coffee for the road?" Hopefully, he would slow down, and talk.
"Nope.” He moved another few bags outside. “I’m good to go."
A stack of papers was on the counter, and I pulled it closer. "Are you sure? Caffeine is important."
"I’m sure. Good luck, and I hope your years fly by."
“Wait, years?” But he was gone with suitcases in each hand. The door closed softly behind him without any response. The contract was only for one year, though I didn’t grab the paperwork just yet. I breathed deeply. This was actually happening. The cat jumped onto the counter next to the pile.
"Looks like it's just you and me bud. Time for some coffee."
The beautiful red machine was calling my name, and I patted it on the top. The contract could wait. Caffeine was first on the list, second was checking the paperwork. "We are going to get to know one another so well. Hmmm, let’s start with a cappuccino."
"I would like a cappuccino as well, extra foam. This time in a teacup, please."
The metal cup to froth the milk tumbled out of my hand and I spun around. What the heck? The cat was staring at me.
"Use the teacup, so I don't get my whiskers covered in foam,” echoed in my mind. “I don’t want to clean my whiskers again.”
This wasn’t possible.
"You can talk?"
"I am the Cat. You agreed to be the shopkeeper. So yes, we can talk." He ran a paw over his face, then stared. “Are you going to make that cappuccino?”
Nope, nope, nope. I grabbed my backpack and the suitcase handle for my books and headed to the door. I froze. My two other bags were gone. They had been right next to the door. "I’m not doing this." My hand hit the doorknob and pulled it open, the bells ringing loudly. It was blocked. My hand hit a surface in the doorway. I couldn't get out. I dropped the handle of my suitcase and it banged to the floor. Both my hands ran along the invisible boundary. I spun around in place, glaring at the cat. "Let me out. Now."
"You signed the paperwork. You are now the shopkeeper for the next year. I thought you said the compensation was fair?"
"Not for being trapped! How are you freaking talking to me? What the actual fuck?" My words came out in a rush. My hands shook, and I didn't know what to do. The cat was somehow talking to me and I held my backpack tight into my arms. This couldn’t be real. I had to be dreaming. It was time to wake up. This dream needed to end.
The cat jumped down from the counter and ambled forward. “You heard me bright and clear yesterday, then you made a great drink. The hearing-me part was the most important requirement.” He stopped about a foot away from me. “Come on, you have some coffee to make and need to unpack. Tomorrow is going to be your first actual day on the job. I'll keep it simple.“
Deep breaths. I wasn’t waking up. No one was going to believe me. What was I going to tell my family? I got a job at a bookshop and the cat talks. I knew the money had to be too good to be true. "Where did my stuff go?"
The cat's tail flicked in the air. "To your room of course. Unless you want to lug it up the stairs. Chop chop, I would like some coffee."
The suitcase stayed where I dropped it. My backpack stayed on one shoulder as I skirted past the cat back to the coffee machine. I did not want to upset him. If he could move my bags what else could he do? Where was I actually working? “What is this place?”
"The Magical Emporium of Wares, of course."
I shook my head and set the backpack on the counter. The suitcase had vanished. It must have happened once I took my eyes off it. “A magical bookstore?”
"Something like that. Any of the teacups will do. Several years ago a friend got them for me as a present."
My hands continued to shake as I worked my magic on the lovely machine. What was I going to do now? I couldn't leave, but the money was great, and this place was awesome. This was only a dream, right? The contract was for a year. It had to be better than school. Somehow I would deal with the cat. I poured a shot into the small teacup, then followed with the milk with foam. As soon as I placed it on the counter he was over to it, lapping it up.
"So you are a cat that likes coffee?"
"Who doesn't like coffee? Cat or otherwise."
"Good point." I quickly made my drink and poured it into the bright blue mug with stars. The mug was sitting in the same spot as yesterday. At least I had superb caffeine. That helped. I sipped at the coffee and took another deep breath. The job paid well but I was stuck in the building. At least for now. The contract had to have more answers, but it wasn’t my first stop.
The cash register was strange. I ignored the cat as I touched the screen. It looked like an old-fashioned register with buttons like a typewriter, but there was a screen. It flickered on. The front page had various tabs for inventory, ordering supplies, and checking out customers. At least that seemed normal enough. The ordering supplies section had a grocery spot as well. They better deliver.
"So, you are the one who does inventory ordering, right?"
No answer. I peered over in the teacup's direction. Empty, and the cat was nowhere to be seen. Just great. Magical cat, locked in the bookstore, and no more answers. For now, at least, and maybe not for today. I cleaned up the espresso machine and gave it a pat on the head.
The next stop had to be the kitchen. I had a quick breakfast on the way here, but lunchtime would be here quickly. Time to see what the pantry had in the way of foodstuffs. Otherwise, groceries needed to be ordered as soon as possible. Dream or not, I just had to do the best I could. I hoped it would all seem normal soon enough.
Wonderful! I loved it. I'm thoroughly hooked. I found you through The Library.