Used Coffee Makers
By Tom Kelly

"Two double latte's Rita." Sandra called from the register, as she passed the customer his change. "Rita!"

Rita stared over the counter into space. She twirled her blonde hair and tugged at her tight blue shirt to pull it to her waist. Her mind far from Granat's, off campus Cafˇ in Dallas Texas. Sandra walked over and waved her hand in front of Rita's face.

"Earth to Rita, hello?"

"What?" Rita blinked and shook her head. "Oh I'm sorry Sandy I can't seem to focus. What did you need?"

"Two double latte's sweetie." Sandra patted her on the back

"Are you alright, sweetie?"

"Yeah, I'm just out of it today. That's all." She began mixing the lattes. "I stayed up too late watching Danielle Steele again."

"Those dreamy novels made for TV movies are not going to get you anywhere." Sandra lifted her red ball cap and tucked in a strand of her auburn hair that annoyed her.

"I know mother hen." She sighed.

"Listen, honey, I can't help that I get close to my employees, and I get a little protective. It's my nature. Besides, don't you like friends who care about you?"

"Yes, but the last thing I need right now is a lecture." A few months ago Sandy had admonished her on the evils of dating customers as they cleaned dishes after the close of business.

"I mean it Rita, you have to watch yourself, these are not our kind here, and they couldn't care less about us."

"What's different about them? Are they from another planet?"

"Yes or something very close too it."

"C'mon Sandra what is different about them?"

"Their Southern Methodist University. A very expensive, and exclusive university."

"How does that make them different?" Rita dried a flask and set it on the counter.

"Listen, to them we're just back woods farm girls. They come from a world that makes decisions that affect everyone. They may try to forget that while they're here, but it is who they are. They are the elite whether they admit it, or not. We don't count to them. They can use us and discard us."

"They can't all be that way. Some of them seem very nice."

"Rita," Sandra lifted a heavy tray and placed it on a shelf above the sink. "It's just a good idea to stay away from them and keep with your own kind. They come for a few years, then move on. All we are to them is recreation. Don't ruin yourself for a good man here."

"But here is in the middle of nowhere."

"Yes, but here is our home. They are guests here." She shook her head. "They seem to forget that." She finished and unplugged the water drain. "Listen, we're polite, we treat them with respect. They may even be respectful back. But in their hearts, they hold us in contempt."

"I guess I see your point." Rita disagreed but wanted the conversation over. She wiped the counter, then her hands, and set the towel to the side.

"Rita, I'm just trying to protect you." Sandra put her hands on Rita's shoulders. "Don't get involved with one of them, you will only get hurt. I've seen it before, I'm serious. Every girl thinks it's different with her. But its not."

"Ok, I get it. I won't get involved with one of these."

"Good now lets go home we have to be in early tomorrow." Sandra turned off the kitchen light as they picked up their coats and left.

"She just doesn't understand." Rita said, as she drove through the empty street that night. "She's just never met anyone like Billy." She switched on the radio.

"Billy is different. He loves me. He's told me so. He does thoughtful things form me." She pulled to the curb in front of the frat house, and honked twice. A group of young men were talking on the sidewalk, one waved as he walked to her car.

"Need a touchdown, Billy." Another shouted as her car door opened. Billy smiled his boyish smile, waved again, and climbed in.

"Hey, babe," He leaned over and kissed her. "Oh, its good to see you after the day I've had at finals."

"It's so good to see you too." She said "I missed you today." His friends stared and laughed out the windshield.

"Let's get out of here, doll." He said, and she drove off.

"Your friends are silly, when are you going to let me meet them?"

"Pretty soon, probably at the next frat party. Right now I just want you all to myself."

"Where do you want to go?"

"I thought you said your parents weren't home. Let's go there. We can be alone there."

"But, what about dinner, I'm hungry."

He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"I just want to be alone with you. We can eat at your house." He kissed her face as she drove. "I love you."

She smiled, "I love you too."

"We never did eat that night," she muttered, as she finished the two lattes. "He was all over me the minute we got in the door that night."

"Two double latte's." She set them on the counter.

Her attention was drawn to the entrance as Billy and two friends walked in.

He caught her gaze, looked away, and darted for a table.

"Order for me Rob. I'll save the table." He said to a friend.

"Alright, dude."

"Sandy, cover for me a minute."

"But," Sandra tried to refuse as Rita walked off.

"How come you haven't called me?" Rita said, Billy's nose was buried in a text book.

"What do you mean?" he looked up.

"Billy I haven't talked to you in several weeks. You know I'm late. Aren't you worried?"

"No, I'm busy, I have mid terms next week. I thought everything would be fine now."

"Well it's not fine. I'm going to start showing any time." She sat down. "Billy what are we going to do?"

"What do you mean?" He slid his book over.

"What are we going to do now?"

"Do about what?"

"About this baby?"

"What baby?"

"Our Baby!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. We had a couple of dates, a little fun. That's all."

"You said you loved me!" Her eyes began to water.

"Oh, God, don't start that crap now." He looked around the coffee house. "Look, I like you a lot. We had a good time. I'm just not ready to settle down."

"You mean settle down with me, don't you?"

"I have a lot of important things to get done." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out several hundred dollars. "Here take this, I'm sure it's more than enough to take care of things."

Her jaw dropped, and she rose from the table as his friends returned.

"Hey Billy whose your friend?"

"You don't remember me?" She said.

"Should I?"

"The touch down? But someone forgot to tell me I was the game." Her tears began to roll. She turned and rushed off.

"I got to go, Sandy." She said, and grabbed her jacket.

"What?" Sandra said. "Don't leave me in the lurch, Sweetie. The rush is starting."

"I can't help it! I'll be more trouble to you if I stay." She put on her jacket and rushed off. Sandra shook her head.

"I tried to warn you about these pigs, Sweetie." She said as to herself as she watched her leave. "We all think we're different than the others." She opened, and kissed her locket. "I know I have the day care bills to prove it."