Don’t tell, it’s our secret as best friends.

I was always close to uncle. He was one of the first to carry me after birth, and as I grew, he was my best friend.

We didn't live in the same house, but he frequently came to visit. And when he came, he always brought my favourite candy with him.

I was six when he asked if I wanted to lick something else. I did not like the taste of the new candy, but he said I will get used to it.

He never gave me the new candy when people were around, only when we were alone at home. He told me not to tell anyone, it was our secret as best friends.

Mother forgot something at home one day and she returned without us knowing. The door was slightly open and I was with the new candy.

She screamed loudly, she could almost wake the dead. I sat on the floor confused as uncle got up hurriedly and began to apologize.

I don't know why, but a family meeting was called. I overheard the family elder tell mother to let things be and protect the family image.

Mother protested, but she was hushed by father and others. She wiped a tear, and I saw the look in her eyes change.

There was a celebration and the elder visited us along with uncle. I was playing outside when I heard screams from inside.

I ran in to find mother with a knife in her hands. Uncle, father and the elder lay on the ground with blood flowing from their bodies.

As mother was led out by the men in black clothes, she had a smile in her eyes. The neighbors were whispering, but mother did not care.

Mother was marching into hell with the demons hailing her on both sides. She had fought and won.

Everyday is extraordinary in my ordinary life as a coffee shop.

I’m not one of those chains of popular coffee shops around, I’m just a little shop in a quiet part of the city. I probably won’t feature as one of the top fifteen shops if you check online for coffee shops in the city, but I do have an appreciable amount of patronage. I guess it’s because I give off a small town vibe for those who want to escape the feel of the busy city for even just a few minutes.

As you turn round the corner and approach me, the familiar smell of roast coffee beans fills the air, and becomes stronger, -but never overpowering- the nearer you are. When you push the door and step in, you’re welcomed by the warm ambience and soft music playing in the background, drowning out the sounds of the city. The cool air in the summer and the warmth in the winter embrace you, as you slowly feel like you’re shedding off the stress from the outside world. I hear the best part about coming in is seeing Barry’s bright smile as he says, "Welcome to Café Moore."

Barry Moore is my present owner and he doubles as the barista. I was once his grandfather's, and then his father's, before I was passed down to him. Barry has always loved hanging around since he was a kid, and I knew I was going to belong to him one day.

Barry is in his mid forties and very much happily single, which worries me a bit, because I keep wondering about his succession plans for me. He says the shop is his whole life, but I really think he should get a wife. I mean, he's not out of options, not with those ladies who come in everyday just to see him smile.

Apart from the swoony ladies, there are different sets of customers who pop in. In the mornings, we have the regular dash in - dash out folks who want to grab a coffee on their way to work, parents on their way to or from a school run, and the ones who have more than a few minutes to sit in and eat a slice of cake or a sandwich as they slowly sip their coffee and stare out through the window.

Afternoons are the busiest times, as everyone is out for their lunch break or one brief meeting or the other. I like evenings the most, seeing tired folks come in for a drink and sitting for a while to relax before heading home.
Trisha is one of the evening regulars, she always shows up at half past 7 and stays in her favourite spot by the window till 8. She loves cradling the warm mug as she sips her coffee and stays there in silence.

Barry is very particular about packaging. His mugs are custom made, and he only uses eco friendly paper packaging for takeouts. Something about saving the planet, I think. I do appreciate his efforts, as I’ve been around for three generations now, and I hope to be around for more......if only Barry hurries up to bring to life the next generation of Moores. Yep, I’m old fashioned like that.

But the world is changing, and I'm slowly changing with it. I'm learning to accept that people now have remote jobs, and I'm going to have to get used to the freelancers who take advantage of our free WiFi to spend a good part of the day sitting in front of their laptops.

They order coffee after coffee, and I think that much caffeine has to be unhealthy. Just like the relationship of a particular couple who frequently come around. I've seen the guy with three other girls this week alone, and trust me, it wasn't just a friendly meetup. I think it's nonsense to bring his hookups to a place he comes to regularly with his girlfriend. Apparently, it's okay to cheat on your girlfriend, but not on your favourite coffee shop. Barry gave him the stink eye the last time he came around, but unfortunately, he has a policy of attending to all customers except the especially rude ones.

I’ve seen my fair share of rude and overly entitled customers over the years, and while Barry’s grandfather and father were more strict towards those type of customers, Barry generally has a lot more patience. I think that’s why he is liked by everyone. He always has a listening ear and is always open to suggestions from customers. Like demarcating a spot for pets to play because Mrs Jones wanted a space for her puppies to move around. I really don’t like those dogs as they always make a mess, but trust Barry to always clean up after them.

As a coffee shop, I've seen it all; from the people who come once or twice and I never see them again, to the regulars. Birthday parties, business lunches, proposals, laughter, sighs and tears. Listening to people sharing their wins, and consoling themselves over a loss, shaking my head at those trying to use the WiFi to access prohibited sites, and those trying to take advantage of Barry's niceness. Happy days, sad days, changing alongside all four seasons of the year, and experiencing every other thing that happens at your regular coffee shop.

I love that I'm a part of these everyday moments, and I get to experience it in real time with the people who own those moments. It makes me feel like I'm needed in this world, and I'm grateful that my existence is a part, albeit a small part, of their lives.