Chapter Text
“Amanda, once we get home we’re going to try to unbox like crazy. That maze needs to go and if we’re going to do that I need a nice cup of Joe.”
Amanda rolls her eyes, “Alright Dr Seuss rip off. That wasn’t even a good rhyme dad.” She looks out the window and watches the houses pass; the cul-de-sac and a few stores on the opposite side before they make it to the coffee shop. Her face lights up, “Aww dad! Look at this cute little place! The Coffee Spoon”
Sam looks inside and spots a decent crowd of people, his face falls a little. “Uhh maybe we should just go home and have some coffee…”
Amanda frowns, “Dad, this is a really short walk from home. It isn’t all that bad. It looks like it’ll be really nice”
“Yeah… I guess…”
“Dad, what’s wrong?” Amanda puts a hand on his arm to get his focus on her.
He sighs and looks away from her feeling somewhat ashamed. “Why would I go somewhere to drink coffee on a couch when I could drink better coffee at home on my own couch and not have to make awkward eye contact with other people?” He pauses to sigh, “At least when I’m home some random guy isn’t going to come up and sit on the recliner next to me and I won’t feel weird, like, a little weird about it because he’s not technically sitting at my table but still in my personal zone…” Sam rambles on more slowly convincing himself that this was a bad idea. In his head it’s time to head home to unpack.
Amanda smiles softly at him. “Dad, calm down, it’ll be alright. Are you just afraid about meeting new people?”
“YES AMANDA!” He feels a little bad about yelling. “I’m… I’m sorry, I just… I don’t know how meeting other new people will go. We’ve met one new neighbor and I don’t think it went that well…” He sighs, he knows it was his fault and his competitive streak that probably make the whole situation worse.
“Oh dad, don’t worry, Brian thought you were nice and wants you over again. He wouldn’t have invited you over if he thought you were a bad person. He wants to become friends with you, I know it. Come on, let’s go in. If you don’t like it then I’ll come over here on my own, deal?”
Sam grins, “Yes, thank you sweet pea.” He walks up next to her, hugs her around her shoulder and they walk inside.
The inside of the coffee shop is warm, but comfortable. The walls are a light lavender, and the furniture is all different colors and scattered around the room. There are vinyls hanging on the walls from different eras. The whole shop is very calming. There’s a stage on one side that has a guitar and mic perched on their stands but no one was playing. And then there was the counter, one is a glass case that holds an assortment of treats and the other is where you order and get your drinks.
“Hey,I’m Mat, welcome to the Coffee Spoon! How’s it going” Behind the counter is a tall man with a very energetic smile.
Amanda smiles and walks up to the counter, she’s ready for her drink. Sam trails behind a little bit. “Hey, we just moved here. I’m Amanda and this is my dad Sam. What’s up with the name of this place?” Amanda says and Sam puts his hand over his eyes. This is the last thing he wanted to happen today.
Sam gets ready to apologize but Mat beats him to it. “Oh… well it’s kind of dumb… It gets mentioned in one of the poems I like and I thought it was a good idea at the time, and I suppose now it’s still a good idea because, like, the business is still running?” He trails off a little at the end, as if he’s trying to convince himself a little. “People ask me that question all the time…” He rambles on for a while and holds onto his elbows for comfort as he realizes how long he’s rambled. “Sorry… I do that a lot… so what’ll it be?” He smiles brightly trying to cover up his embarrassment.
Sam looks up at the board and is overwhelmed. There are so many drinks and so many band names connected to them. “Uhhh… I’ll have a Goodspeed you! Black Coffee”
Mat smiles, “Oh a classic, nice choice.”
Sam frowns, “Uhh… I don’t get it.” He looks down a little, worried he’s offended him.
His smile gets bigger, “It’s a pun, you know Goodspeed you! Black Emperor is a really amazing and influential progressive band known for their sweeping soundscapes and... uh sorry… I did the thing again. But coming right up! And for you?”
Amanda smiles, “I’ll have Macchiato Demarco. Thank you”
“I’ll have these right up for you. Do you want that in small, medium, or biggie smalls?”
Sam takes the easiest route, “Uh.. medium”
Amanda doesn’t and she frowns, “Wait is Biggie Smalls big or small?”
Mat frowns, “uhh… I should change that shouldn’t I?” He walks away and prepares the drinks. Amanda and Sam scope out the room to find a spot to sit. They find some space away from the people on a small loveseat in the corner with a coffee table in front of it. It’s facing the stage and is a little tucked away but you can still somewhat see the counter from there.
Sam looks over at Amanda, “so… what’s his deal?”
Amanda looks offended, “Dad, let him make his puns. They’re better bands than you ever listened to.”
Sam gasps, “Hey! Ska was cool once!” He looks away from her and watches the counter for their drinks to be finished. He lets himself sink into the couch, it’s super comfortable. A lot more comfortable than the couch at home.
Amanda nudges him after a moment. “So dad… this place is right around the corner from our house and this guy seems just as uncomfortable with talking to people as you are. You should be friends. I’m sure once you get to know him more and stop making fun of his band puns that you’d get along really well.”
Sam looks away, “uhh. I don’t know…”
Amanda smirks, “Oh come on dad, what did we say about meeting new people?”
Sam sighs and looks down, “I can’t meet new people if I stay inside and also don’t go outside and also don’t talk with people…” he recites this with little effort and with little emotion.
“There dad, see! You’re making progress. You’ve already been outside and have been talking to people! You’re making great leaps, now we have to get you to keep doing this.”
Mat sets our drinks down on the table and Sam quickly takes a sip to busy himself from commenting back at Amanda. He then proceeds to burn the roof of his mouth. He groans in pain quietly to himself.
Amanda laughs a little. “So Mat, it’s nice to meet you. This is the first little shop we’ve been to since we moved in.”
“Oh? Right on! It’s a pleasure to have you two. You ought to come by when my daughter’s hanging around, I think you two might get along.”
Sam smiles, “Yeah I’m sure we’ll be in from time to time…” He hisses a little from the pain as Amanda kicks him under the table. “I’m sure we’ll be in here a lot!”
Mat laughs, “You know what? Lemme get your guys’ opinions on something.” Mat walks to the counter and comes back with a hot plate of banana bread, it smells amazing. “I’m working on a new banana bread recipe and I’m trying to come up with a name for it.”
Amanda and Sam look at each other thinking the same thing. “Well if you’d like for us to help you name it we’d have to try some of it. Right dad?” They go on for a little bit about getting the full ‘nana profile and getting a feel for it by tasting it before Mat stops them.
He laughs, “I was going to give you some free banana bread anyways.” He holds it out for them and each of them take a piece and try it, it’s delicious.
Amanda exclaims, “This is amazing!”
“Thanks, the secret is bananas.” Mat winks. “So any ideas? I’m stumped.”
“Well I think I’ll only be able to give you dad band puns but I’ll give it a shot. How about Banana Bread Kennedys?”
Mat smiles, “That sounds like a great name! It has a nice ring to it! Thanks baby...” His face drops. “Alright, that didn’t sound right. I wanted to say “baby” because I thought it would sound cool but once I said it I realized it didn’t sound good coming out of my mouth and maybe I should just leave saying “baby” to the professionals.” He pauses a moment. “Uhh… Enjoy your coffee!”
Sam smiles and tries to sound cool, “Thanks, baby.”
Mat smirks, “See? It sounds good when you say it.”
Sam blushes and waves as Mat walks away. He looks around the shop and catches the eye of a stranger across the room. He has tanned skin and grey showing through in his hair. He has a dangerous look from his eyes and chiseled face. The leather jacket and somewhat v-neck shirt help with that appearance as well. Sam stares a moment and blushes and looks away. He shouldn’t be staring at some random stranger in a coffee shop, it’s rude!
Amanda and Sam finish their drinks and put them in the dish bin by the counter. Mat grabs them and bids them a farewell as they head out. Sam scans the coffee shop to see if the stranger was still there but he is already gone.
They head back out to the car and drive home. “Dad, that place is going to be great. It’s within walking distance and it’s a quiet little spot. I could go over there to hang out with friends or work on homework and have a great cup of coffee! This is so great!” Amanda talks excitedly about her plans with the coffee shop and Sam just laughs and smiles while making little comments here and there during their short drive home.
“Alright 'Manda Panda, let’s get to unpacking!” Sam says with the fakest and cheeriest smile.
She groans and dramatically flails her arms. “But dad! We just got back”
Sam smiles and winks, “Which means it’s the perfect time to get everything situated. Come on, let’s get to work. The faster we get it done the faster we can go relax. Alright?”
Amanda laughs. “Sure dad.”