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.

Little Fingers in My Coffee: The Story Continues

Gnomes are after my Iced Coffee again. A Loud Slurp “Ahhhh” I took another sip of the delicious flavor of Iced coffee, Mocha.  I placed a mark on the glass in permanent marker.  “Those Gnomes will not get the best of me.  I will catch them at it, if it’s the last thing I do.” 

A Delicate sip. “Yes. I love you.” My new habit each morning, I’m savoring each taste.  I place another marker on the glass as the liquid level goes down. 

I’ll get those gnomes.  If they try to drink my coffee I will find out and pulverize them.  Oh look at it.  It’s a thing of beauty. Mine.  I can’t take it any more.  “Ahhhh” another sip.  And another.  “Yum.”  I mark the glass again.

Okay I’m going to test them now. Bathroom break, I grab a book for a bit of light reading, well at least one page.  Leaving the beverage by my computer, I make my leave.  When I come back, Hah, the mark is still where the last level of liquid was.  My brows bunch in confusion. 

Oh darn those gnomes are wise to me just as I am wise to them.  They found out that I found out about them.  They’re hiding, maybe even went to another office.  Wait have I heard any scampering of small feet around my desk, or the whispered cackle of their laughter today?  They are playing me?  I’m sure of it, but if I know them, when I least expect it, they will be back to drink my scrumptious iced frappuccino.   I can’t allow that.  Not ever. 

“What,” Oh the disappointment.  My bottom lip protrudes out in a pout.  I drank the last of the sweet flavor.  I want more, must have more.  Let’s see during lunch I will quick drive and pick up another, or maybe at break it will be sooner.  Wait do I have any money?  

Until Next Time. 

Little Fingers in My Coffee

One of the things I like to do in the morning is drink a Frappuccino by Starbucks.   Most stores carry it in their beverage section so I don’t have to hit the Starbucks store to get it.  But I love the flavor of iced coffee, well it’s mostly milked down coffee but I like it, especially the Mocha.  I’ll drink the Vanilla or any other flavor if the Mocha is out.   If I see there is only one Mocha left and someone is near I will run and grab it as fast as my feet will fly and my grasp can hold.

Even thought I buy the large one, the thing doesn’t last as long as I want it to.  I think there is a gnome or some kind of Imp in the office taking sips when I leave my desk.  I take two sips and the Frappuccino is half gone.  I take another and then its way too low.  I swear I’m going to mark the glass every time I take a sip to make sure those iced coffee loving gnomes don’t get any of my stuff.  (Eyes darting back and forth quickly, looking for any kind of hiding place they could be.)

I’m keeping a watchful eye out for these gnomes.  They better stay away from my Frappucino, and if I see one I’m gonna…

Ha Ha.  I’m just kidding.  Even a normal girl can have a moment of, wait did I just see a shadow of a gnome?  It was there a moment ago.

Until next time.