They say, there's still a land where kings bow to monks.

New York was not that.

Joey arrived to a flurry of sounds. Loud metal banging on metal. Jackhammers. Sirens. Motors. Horns.

He made his way to Jackie's. Took a few wrong turns. But finally arrived just in time before pissing his pants....

"What's up with you. Are you okay?"

Keith usually was nonchalant about these performance reviews. He'd been through enough of them now that they didn't affect him. But this time he wanted something. He'd been holding off on asking the whole meeting. Now it was almost over.

He'd learned the name of...

Yo I'm just messing with you.

Joey Blau looked up.

I'm messing with you. This is my neighbor's dog. Taking it for a walk. I did send you a pic of my dog.

Joey still looked confused.

Got ya! the man with the dog yelled.

They both began laughing.

Look, just text me and maybe you...

The sign was JC's idea. Kindness indeed was free at The Blue Moon Cafe. In terms of  money at least.

There was still something to be expensed though at the end of the day. The  employees providing the  kindness paid something of themselves. A smile, or a sincere grin was free...

Derick was thinking about  coffee . He had already drunk three. In the past drinking three, four cups made him excited. Information allured him. Replying to email s felt like a  video game . He could be doing the most boring thing, and it'd enthrall him.

The other day his barista...

I didn't drink  coffee until that  summer KJ and I became best friends. My entrance was not the usual morning pick-me-up.

Instead KJ and I, being underage and not knowing anyone who would buy booze for us, looked for some kind of social stimulation that resembled a bar. We really wished...

That night, she stayed at the  cafe later than she should've. Had she left with the final employee two hours ago then she would probably already be showered and ready for bed. Comfy at home.

Instead she was now leaving into an empty parking lot to the sounds of the summer...

"PT!" Zach shouted in glee as PT arrived in the lobby sipping the  apple juice . He still didn't think of it as his apple juice, but rather that lady's who was staying upstairs.

"Hey aren't you forgetting something?" Zach asked.

PT made a face to signal that he didn't know what...

His stomach sank. He thought once more, this trip is going terribly. He was sweating under his winter  coat . He took it off and the wind made him shiver. He looked around trying to spot his bike. Filled with determination, he started to walk the perimeter of the entire ...

When he entered the  cafe , it was shadowed. Not dark, the  sun 's light made its way, filtered, to the main area where people were seated.

People were conversing, in hushed tones, now that the music was off. The person at the counter couldn't buy their coffee . The  barista...

You asked about the  Final Friday party, just like so many other customers.

But your question felt heavier, like I could feel your curiosity.

There's nothing wrong with customers asking about an upcoming party for the sake of being nice. I don't mind. Most barista - customer chatter is this anyway: Small...

When I enter the  cafe she won't recognize me right away. We've both changed a lot.

In fact I wouldn't recognize her either except for the fact that the  barista in a cafe is always on display like a flower.

She will recognize me eventually though. I'll go when she's doing something...

She thought she might be able to be a  barista forever. So long as she owned the cafes one day. Making 12 bucks an hour plus tips was just not going to cut it for the rest of her life.

The people and their tips were nice. They meant well, but...

In front of the cafe they were greeted by Imogen Howe who was standing outside as if waiting for them old school style like people used to for someone at the train station before smartphones and gps .

Jake Raynor didn't know how to approach the greeting. He didn't actually...

After walking past the glass door she felt out of place. She never came to cafes without her journal, laptop, and a good book. And unlike most people she never met people at cafes. 

Today there was no time for her to cozy in the corner booth and get lost...