Little Fingers in My Coffee: Part 10

I have a surprise for you, I told the little Gnome.  I brought out a bag of  full coffee beans, roasted.  from Starbucks.  The ones he wants and the ones his village lost. 

“It’s a bag of coffee beans for you to take back to the village and grow more trees.”

His eyes popped out and he stood there for a moment.  Then he jumped into the air about six inches.  Which is a lot considering his small size.  Then he started saying a word I didn’t recognize in his native language.

“Excuse me what does that word mean?  The one you are saying over and over.”

He stopped, “Means, many thanks.”  Then he started dancing again.

He took more sips of the frappuccino and after a while he disappeared.

The next day he was on my desk just as I came to the office.  I poured his shot glass of frappuccino and he drank it.  I drank mine.

“I have something for you...”

“Mikos has present for you.” He blurted out, then took out of his pocket a small item and placed it on the floor.  Which was my desk.

I looked at it in confusion.  “What is it?”

Mikos took his hand and ran it over the item and it turned into a gold coin.  “Mikos gives to you.  For help to village.”

Inhaling I looked at the shiny coin.  Beautiful. “That is very generous.”  I took the coin and looked at it.  The coin was shiny gold and real smooth but I knew that I could not use it as currency in my world, but the coin was given in friendship.  “Thank you Mikos, I will treasure it always.”

Mikos looked down and did his foot in circles again.

“Now it’s my turn to give you something.”  I placed on the desk near him a small pin, it was a fake diamond earring, just one, with the post in the back, and a tiny barrette I had laying around the house. “For your girl.”  I told him.

He picked up both.

I explained, “The diamond earring can be used as a pin on one of her outfits, and the barrette is for her hair.  Do you think she'll like it?”

I will never forget the way he looked at me.  He didn’t say anything for a moment.  His emotions to much for him to speak. Mine also. The moment bonded us.

“Come on, now, don’t get mushy.  As long as you don’t steal my frappuccino we can be friends.”  I chided him.

Mikos smiled.  “Promise I.”  He said putting his hand over is heart.

I poured him some frappuccino in his little shot glass and he took a big swill.  We talked and drank until it was time for him to go.

“Will you come back often?”

Mikos made a slight bow and then disappeared taking the coffee beans and the trinkets for his girl.

Prologue: 
Mikos comes by often and we share a drink of our favorite coffee flavor.  I give him cute human trinkets to sell to his village.  And of course he will tell me stories of his travels in the human realm and his life in the village.  It’s a match made in Gnomes.

The end.

P.S.  Shall I repeat his stories and travels he tells me?

Little Finger in My Coffee: Part 9

The next day at work Mikos showed up. He just appeared in front of me right in the middle of my desk. I had my frappuccino in its usual spot near my computer.  He eyed it longingly.  He still had is faded hat and worn out clothes on.   His outfits never change.  Does he have fairies or something that wash his clothes each night?  Anyway.

“Would you like some?”  I asked.

Looking sheepish, he nodded.

“You know after talking with you yesterday and hearing your story I got to thinking.  I really don’t like to share my frappuccino.  I like it as much as you do.”  I shuffled some papers and moved a few things around my desk.  (I moved them around him)

Mikos just starred at me while I talked.

“I understand that your village is back to its glory but how is your family business.  Were you able to start that up again?”

“Operations small.”  Mikos said.

“Oh.”  I looked thoughtful.  “And I understand you found a new girl you might be interested in.”

Mikos was looking at the frappuccino until I said something about his new girl.  His head whipped up and he looked at me.  He smiled wide getting a little red in embarrassment. The look was charming.  He shuffled his foot as before, going in circles.  “My girl pretty.”  He said in his strange accent.

“I’m sure she is very beautiful.”

He looked at the frappuccino again.

Man, he is relentless. I guess I cannot get his attention away from the frappuccino.  “Would you like some?”

MIkos nodded emphatically almost loosing his hat in the process.

Smiling I pulled out a small shot glass that I brought from home, not that I have wine or anything, and I picked up my glass bottle of frappuccino, I stopped in mid motion.

Mikos licked his lips.

“Wait,” I said.  I put the glass bottle back down and went into the kitchen.

Mikos watched me as I walked into the other room.  When I came back, “What do you think I have behind my back?”  I asked him.

He shrugged perplexed and a little annoyed.  Bringing what I had behind my back to the front I said, “I bought you your own frappuccino.”  I put the large glass bottle next to him and his eyes bugged out.  The bottle was bigger than him.  Mikos jumped into a jig dance.  It was so funny to see this little man dancing a jig in happiness.   I burst out laughing.

Mikos started laughing himself, his laugh being very contagious, and then he started clapping.   While he danced I poured the liquid into the shot glass filling it up.   The glass was really too big for him, it looked like a gigantic mug of beer, compared to his sized.

“This is your own bottle and when you come to visit I will pour you some, this way I don’t have to share mine, agreed?”

Mikos nodded as the frappuccino spilled from his little lips.  His little hands holding the shot glass such as a child holds a sippy cup, with both hands.  His little head going up and down licking the delicious coffee from his lips.

I smiled at him. “Can we be friends now?”

“You human is curious.  Why?” he asked.

“Because I like you and I think it’s cool to have a Gnome of my very own.”  I put my hands out. “Friends that is.  I don’t own you.  So will you visit me, and not just for the frappuccino?”

“Mikos happy.”  He said. “And he took another big swill from the drink. 

“I have another surprise for you.”  I told him. “It’s a …

Until next time.  

Little Fingers in My Coffee: Part 8

The Gnome and I come face to face.

The Gnome began to speak.  “My village beautiful.  Many trees.  My family helps with work.  We, how you say it, harvest the bean.  What you humans call coffee beans.  We harvest the beans and it feed all of village.  When humans come they take beans.  They destroy my village.  Many family die, including my wife and kids.

I place my hand on my mouth, “OH, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

The Gnome continued.  “Only a few live. When we see our village, we cry.”

“Is that why you take sips of my iced coffee?”

Mikos nodded.  He smirked in embarrassment, but then he got serious again.   

“We take revenge.  But humans are many.  We take back the beans, we also take other things.  Our village is back to glory now but all of Gnomes has changed.  We like the new stuff.  We come and see what other new stuff that we can take.”

This explained why he was so sneaky.  “Mr. Mikos, what happens when you take the stuff?  What do you do with it?”

He points a finger at me. “I take it back to village.  We use to trade for other things, clothes, food and wine.”

“Have any other humans found out about you or your people?”

“We are mostly myth.  Only a few humans believe mostly children and people like you.  In order to see us the humans must believe in us.”

That’s interesting I thought.  “What will you do now?”

Mikos put his hands behind him.  He rocked his body back and forth.  “I wants coffee.”  He looked sheepish.

“If I give you the coffee will you stop all the trouble?”  I asked.    Before I give him an answer regarding the coffee I asked him. “What have you learned today? I mean I told you I wouldn’t hurt you, and I didn’t?”

Mikos said, “You first human to ask.  shocked am I.” He looked down at his right foot, moving it around it circles.

“I want to be your friend.  Can we be that?”  I put my pinky out for him to shake.

Mikos nodded and shook my pinky.

We talked for a while and I asked him questions about his life, village and if he found another wife.   After he answered them I told him to come back tomorrow.  I will have some coffee for him.

Smiling Mikos disappeared.

Don’t you just love the way they leave a room.  Anyway I have an Idea.

Until next time.

Little Fingers in My Coffee: Part 7

The office was no longer an office.  It was a battleground.  Not only did every appliance come on. Gnomes came out of the woodwork and started throwing thing all over the place.  Plants were dumped, papers were strewn everywhere.  Picture fell off the walls.

Little Gnomes were laughing and playing with everything that can be moved.  They jumped on me and started pulling my hair and poking my eyes. I did my best to stop them but they persisted.  Still they jumped on my back and hung on, meanwhile laughing in hysteria.

I was beside myself trying to keep up with the stuff flying across the room, and tying to pick up the things that were dumped, only to have the Gnomes dump them again.  It was like something you would see out of an animated children’s story. Only this is not a story. This is real life.  I stopped trying and just watched.

The little Gnome named Mikos was watching the mayhem just as I was.  He seemed pleased that he could cause all this.

I crossed my arms and waited.

Realizing something was a miss he turned and looked me in the eye. 

I just shook my head, letting him know that despite this turmoil I was not giving in.

Mikos then understood.  I could see it in his eyes.

He made a sound much like a whistle and the bedlam ceased.  All the other gnomes stopped in mid motion and looked at him.  He did some kind of hand gesture, and then all the mess was cleaned up and the other gnomes disappeared.  Everything was back in place including my manuscript.  The only thing left was him and me comparing each other.

My arms still crossed, I addressed him.  “Did it ever occur to you to ask for the iced coffee?”

Mikos looked down.

I continued, “I might have shared if you just shown yourself.  I don’t like people taking from me.  It’s rude.”

The little guy’s eyes went wide.  “Share? You.”

“Is this your first contact with humans?” I asked.

The Gnomes eyes went grave.  He shook his head.

I went back to the desk and sat down.  “Would you tell me about it?”

The Gnomes disappeared and then appeared right on the desk.  He eyed me curiously.

I could see he wanted to tell me something, but he was cautious also.  I wanted to reassure him. “I won’t hurt you.”

He began to speak…

Until next time.

Little Fingers in My Coffee: Part 6

There it was, an honest to goodness Gnome standing right in the middle of my desk, only about four inches tall, if that.  He looked the same as before, faded red hat and worn out clothes. He had his hands on his hips “Sterbeks Want.” He demanded.

After a moment of not understanding, suddenly a picture of iced coffee frappuccino from Starbucks came into my mind.  “Oh, you want my iced coffee?”

The gnome nodded.

 I said, “Well it is mine. I made it therefore I should be able to drink It.” then I widen my eyes, making them real big to get the point across. “All of it.”

“Sterbeks Want.”  He stomped his foot and yelled, his little face turning as red as his faded hat.

“No.”

The little guy just disappeared.  He was there a moment then all of the sudden he was gone.   I waited to see what would happen.  Nothing.

Hah, maybe he’ll leave me and my iced coffee alone now.  I’m sure I’m not the only person around with an iced frappuccino.

Later that day I had my manuscript out.  I had it in my book bag and took it out for a moment then was distracted by a tenant.

“Hay where’s my manuscript?”  I said out loud.  “It was just here.’  I begin to look franticly for it.  I mean everywhere.  In my book bag, thinking I might have put it back.  “Is it under something?”  No scratching my head.  “It’s got to be here.”

“He he he he.” I heard the laughter, but no Gnome.

I stopped what I was doing.  “Oh God, that little guy didn’t just take my manuscript?”  Wait I just realized there was other information that was taken.  It must have been in with my manuscript.  Dread.  That information is pertinent to the office.  We have a new owner and Oh God I’m in trouble. Not only with my boss but with my self, that manuscript is the culmination of months of work.

The Gnome appeared on my desk again.  “Stekbeks Want.” He demanded.

“Why my Starbucks Iced coffee frappuccino?”  I asked him.  “I buy the stuff. I purchased it because I wanted it and you were taking sips.  That’s stealing in my book little Gnome.”  I can’t believe I’m really talking to a Gnome.  Anway.  He just stared at me.

Pointing to himself  “Mikos.”

It must be his name.  “Look Mikos, you are not to touch my iced coffee and that is that.”

Poof.  He disappeared again.  Only this time the lights started flicking.  The phone started ringing. My computer went dead. Then the doors started opening and closing.  The microwave came on.  The ceiling fans turn on high.  The copier started flipping papers all over the place.  The alarm started blaring then stopped, then started again.

I’m watched as things fall apart and total chaos brakes out.  I tried to stop things but so much was happening all at once.  “Oh God I’m going to be fired.”

Then it happened.  If I thought this chaos was bad, I was wrong.  Pandemonium just came…

Until next time.

Little fingers in my coffee: Part 5

WHEN I DECIDED TO BREW MY OWN COFFEE TO SAVE MONEY
I DIDN’T REALIZE I STARTED A WAR.

“Another day another dollar as my grandmammy used to say.”  Opening the door to the office, first thing I did was turn off the alarm.  Then turned around to put my things on the desk. “What the heck is that?” There was a piece of paper with a pen next to it.  It read.  Sterbeks want.

 “Sterbeks want? What does that mean? Who wrote it and why is it on my desk?”  I shrugged then threw the note away.

"Okay time to check the emails." someone emailed me with the name Mikos at puncnt dot com.  “Mikos?  I don’t know anyone by that name.” so I deleted it.  I’m not going to answer an email from someone I don’t know.  That makes good sense.  One never knows it might be a virus or something.

Sip, slurp, ahh,  taking a few swills of my home brewed frappucino I place the glass next to my computer.  Taking a look at my drink in pride.  "Yeah and I get it at a fraction of the cost.  I'm brilliant.  

“Gosh it’s getting hot, time to put the ceiling fan on.” turning the fan on to medium setting, than I  flipped the radio on for a little of Ryan Seacrest. The music playing in the background, I was typing up some thing for the boss when I heard some cackling laughter.

“Wait was that on the radio?”  I looked around, my fingers poised on the keys.  I shrugged and kept typing.  Then I heard it again.  Just as I was getting a chill down my back someone walked into the office and I had to attend to the window.  (When tenants come in they ring the bell at a window much like a medical or dental office.)     

After helping the tenants I turned around.  “What the heck.” The ceiling fan some how was on high and blowing stuff off my desk.  Quickly turning the fan down a notch I looked around. “Hay the radio’s off.  How’d that happen?” Must be a fluke.  I turned it back on.

"He he he he."

“Was that the sound of laughter?” That was definitely the sound of cackling laughter like before.  It sounded as if it was in more than one place within the room.  Then the chills went up my arms and across my neck.  I shuttered.

 “Sterbeks want”

I distinctively heard a strange accent with a deep voice, although it wasn't loud. I looked around and…

Until next time.

Little Fingers in My Coffee: Part 4

Forking out another $3.00 from my wallet, I give my money to the cashier.  “Man $3 bills for a Frappuccino.”  Shaking my head, “Gosh this stuff is expensive.”  I said to no one in particular.  As I get into the car, a light bulb comes on and the gears start turning.  “Ya know what I’ma gonna do. I’ll make my own. It has to be cheaper.” 

Later that day as I purchase the components to make my favorite drink, I realize how expensive the ingredients are.  And the different varieties to, which ones do I choose?

I decided on a regular grown roast with 50% caffeine, why, not sure.  Then I found a creamer with a chocolate flavor, like Mocha, see, my favorite flavor. I have sugar at home.  Rubbing my hands together, I am brilliant.

Arriving at home, I put my plan in action.  First Batch…  Whewww, way too strong.  “I‘d like to see the Gnomes taste this?” I said, anyway I get three Frappuccino’s out of the batch at a fraction of the cost.  Saving the glass Frappuccino bottles from Starbucks I fill them up and store them in the fridge.

Next day I bring my new concoction to the office.  Some time during the day I had to leave my desk and was in the other room.  On my way back I hear coughing.  Now mind you I’m in the office alone.  It’s the Gnomes.  I ran back to my desk?  Little drops of iced coffee on my desk and drips from the glass bottle.  He he he he he. My laughter rings out.   “Think you can handle my strong coffee?”

Silence.  

“Don’t touch my coffee” You’d think because it was too strong they would stop? 

Until next time. 

Little Fingers in My Coffee: Part 3

“Oh Yeah,” Slurp.  I’ve been waiting all week for this.  Frappuccino.  (I say it with reference.)  

Is there such a thing as a Gnome?  I laugh at myself.  Being a writer, my imagination sometimes gets the best of me.  Having not seen or heard anything strange since my last iced coffee, I’m still suspicious whereas the coffee doesn’t last as long as I want it.  Perhaps I’m drinking faster than realize.  Or need more.  (Yeah it the more coffee.)  

As soon as I arrive in the office, the phone rings.  People came to the window. Work started to pile up.  Drinking a sip at a time, I get into the rhythm of the day, the caffeine doing it thing keeping my mind up to snuff.   Copies needed to be made so I went into the other room.  It’s times like these when reality and imagination merge.

As I came around the partition of my desk and stopped…  “Oh My God.”  I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was an honest to goodness Gnome.  He had my mug tipped and he was taking a sip.  When he turned around and saw me, some of it spilling from his lips.  His eyes popped out.  The mug fell back to the desk when he let go.  For the next moment he measured me, and I him.  The little Gnome had gray hair and a little red faded hat, and his clothes were worn out. Me I had my mouth open and my copies dropped to the floor.

As he took off impossibly fast, I heard his cackle laughter.

The movement brought me back to life and I jumped for my frappuccino, plopping in my seat, my hand covering the top of the mug.  “What the Heck.”  My eyes darted everywhere.  I yelled, “Don’t you touch my frappuccino.”  Breathing hard.  I half believed it was truly a Gnome, or was I hallucinating. 

“You hear me.  Don’t touch my frappuccino.”

Nothing.

Until next time.