Fiction
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Had a bad day? Need a shopping fix? A new pair of shoes will solve the problem, right? Just one more click and they can be yours…
Or is there a better way?
Our constant need for more is destroying our planet—and in this quarter’s edition of How to Save the World, we’re asking how to do things differently.
Through a collection of poetry, short stories, essays and photography, authors from around the world ask where overconsumption begins—and challenge us to build a world beyond the need for “more.”
Are you ready to live a life where “enough” really is enough?
Features work by Amber Byers, Brigitte Cutshall, Christopher T. Dabrowski, Shubhaa Forrest, Mae Gesser, Norman Goodman, Donna Henderson, Ali Horriyat, Jill Kanyuk, Ilda Kurpejovic, Chris Law, Joan McNerney, Jon Nakapalau, Imran Nurkovic, KV Raghupathi, Adriana Rocha, Lesley Scoble, Matt Shore, Les Wicks, Lynn White, Tina Wingham and Isra Zaib.
A hundred percent of the sales of this anthology support Compassiviste Foundation’s global projects that seek to create a compassionate and fair world for all of Earth’s inhabitants.
The Coffee Pot
Table 4 at the Coffee Pot was Oliver’s favourite place to start the week; it was some kind of comforting habit: meeting Louise before work and sharing the events of the weekend gone by, in an attempt to ease the transition to the nine-to-five monotony.
That particular Monday morning, the sky was gloomy and grey, a fine drizzle slowly soaking the pavement and covering the café windows with a blurred curtain of sliding drops.
Somehow that bleak atmosphere had found its way into the café, unusually quiet for a Monday morning. The sounds of plates and spoons had lost their cheerful tinkling, bringing to Oliver’s mind an old Carpenter’s song: rainy days and Mondays can indeed get you down.
With that tune planted in his head, Oliver saw Louise opening the door, looking damp, cold and tired.
‛Good morning, Oliver said in a detached tone, being more polite than sincere.’
‛Let’s leave it at morning, I hate this weather.’
Oliver was tempted to let Karen Carpenter sing in his head, but there is always something awkward in silence at a café table.
‛Good weekend?’
‛Boring as hell, Louise replied, slumping into the chair.’
♫Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ ooooold♫
‛Busy day ahead?’
‛Same all same all.’
♫Sometimes I’d like to quit♫
‛Office or clients?’
‛Office, you?’
‛Same.’
Despite his efforts, silence took over table 4, Karen Carpenter quietly singing in Oliver’s head, Luise gazing through the windows, both in a world of their own.
♫Nothin' ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down♫
The sounds of Faye’s steps gently knocked on their castles in the clouds.
‛Here you are my darlings, she said with a sunny smile, as she placed two large cups on the table.’
A distinctive aroma rising from the steaming cups started floating in the air, looking for its way to Oliver and Louise’s senses, directing their hands to the cups, and drawing a subtle yellow brick road from the table to their mouths.
‛Mmmmmm, oh, this is nice! Louise said with closed eyes and a smile on her face, holding the cup tightly with both hands, as a child holding a precious treasure.’
‛My friend, no matter how bad the day starts, all you need is Sally’s coffee… shall we start again? Good morning Louise, you look great today, how was your weekend?’
‛Good morning Oliver, where to start? Do you remember I told you I had a date? Well…’
Faye looked at the two of them, lively, chatty, connected, as if the humble cups she had served them had magically become goblets filled with a secret potion, and couldn’t help but smile.
Hot water, freshly ground coffee beans, a warm cup and a touch of love can brighten up the gloomiest day.
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