THE COFFEE HUT EXPERIENCE
By Karen Carr

The Coffee Hut was humming with customers. All the seats were taken as the clientele enjoyed the specials of the day. Joe looked up from the cash register as the door opened to admit one more.


He smiled as he saw that it was Glory. ÒThought for a while there you werenÕt going to make it today. But there are no seats, as you can seeÓ


ÒThatÕs okay, Joe. I canÕt stay. IÕm going to have to get my latte to go. IÕm meeting a client all the way on the other side of town and you know how that traffic is at this time of day. I shouldnÕt even have stopped for the latte.Ó


Glory paid for her drink and rushed out the door. She had parked out front (in the no parking zone,) but she had known she wouldnÕt be long. The latte was too hot to drink so she put it in the cup holder.


Soon she was on the freeway and heading to this important meeting. Glory was an interior decorator and the meeting was with a well-to-do business mogul who wanted to talk to her about decorating the new house that his family was building. To say the least, she was excited.


As she glanced at her watch, Glory told herself she should not have taken the time to stop for the latte. But as nervous as she was, she knew sheÕd need her caffeine to keep the edge down.


As she sped along the freeway, daydreaming of the possibilities involved in this prestigious assignment, Glory was suddenly brought back to the moment by a horrific explosion. It took a few moments to realize that she had been stuck by a pickup. Then she felt a searing pain below her right knee. Looking down, she realized that the latte had tipped over in the crash, spilling its scalding contents down her leg.


With a sharp intake of her breath, she tried pulling her pant leg away from her leg.


ÒI should never have stopped for that latte,Ó she said to herself.


It seems that the pickup had been in the left lane and had lost control of his vehicle, veering across into the right lane and hitting GloryÕs car on the left rear side. His vehicle then pushed her into the concrete side.


As luck would have it, a police cruiser had not been far behind and had witnessed the accident. The officer pulled up behind the two cars involved in the accident. With his lights flashing. The officer stopped at the pickup and seeing that the driver was not injured, he continued forward to GloryÕs car. Her vehicle had taken on much more damage what with both the pickup and the concrete.


ÒMiss. Are you okay?Ó


Glory looked up into his kind eyes. ÒWhy yes. I believe so except for this pain in my leg.Ó


The officer touched his radio on his shoulder. ÒOfficer Dan Harris here. Send an ambulance. One injury. Possible broken leg. Also head woundÓ


Glory shook her head, ÒNo officer. My leg isnÕt broken. My latte spilled and burned my leg. And my head feels okay.Ó


ÒMiss. You may not realize it, but you have blood running down the side of your face. We need to get that checked out.Ó


Glory looked in the mirror. Sure enough. There was blood on the left side of her face just under the hairline. She must have struck her head on the window when the pickup hit her.


By this time another cruiser had arrived and that officer was getting information from the pickup driver.


Officer Dan Harris began taking down information also. ÒYour name miss?Ó he asked.


ÒGlory. Well, Glorianna actually. But itÕs such a mouthful everyone calls me Glory.Ó


Officer Harris looked up from his book. ÒAnd?Ó He questioned.


Glory looked at him confused.


ÒYour last nameÓ he stated.


ÒOh IÕm sorry. ItÕs Holiday,Ó she said sheepishly. ÒMy parents were romantics.Ó


He smiled and nodded. The officercontinued taking the information and soon the ambulance had arrived.


ÒI really donÕt think I need an ambulance,Ó she said.


ÒYou have a head injury that needs to be checked out. Not to mention that burn on your leg. Besides youÕre not going to be driving this car anywhere.Ó


Officer Harris stood by while Glory was placed into the ambulance along with her purse and briefcase. As he placed them in the ambulance Glory was suddenly reminded of where she had been going prior to the accident.


ÒOh, no! My meeting,Ó She cried. ÒI need my phone.Ó


He handed the purse to her and she retrieved her cell phone. Glory quickly called her client and told him of the accident. After being reassured that she was okay he said she could call later to schedule another meeting. Glory breathed a sigh of relief. It sounded like she may still have the job.


The emergency room doctor, after examining Glory said she had a minor head cut but was not serious. The burn, however, was going to need some ointment. When he asked what had been the cause of the burn, Glory said, ÒLatte. I should never have stopped for that latte.Ó


ÒWell, I see no reason to keep you any longerÓ the doctor said. ÒYou are free to go. Do you have a ride?Ó


ÒShe does now,Ó said a voice from the doorway. It was Officer Harris. ÒIÕm heading back to the station to file the report. I can take you there, get your signature and then take you on home, if you like?Ó The last was added with a question in his voice and softness in his brown eyes.


Glory liked! Yes indeed, she did! Glory thought, ÒIÕm sure glad I stopped for that latte!Ó