The Jumpstart

The smell when you walk in to The Jumpstart Coffee cafe was amazing. You could smell the coffee being brewed as well as the baking of the desserts. There were little nooks that customers could sit in, one lonely old computer if anyone wanted to use the internet. Some bean bag chairs in the corner for the younger kids that didn’t want to sit on the armchairs or stools and a swing right in the middle of the coffee shop.

Sure, The Jumpstart wasn’t a big chain like it’s competitors but it was also more homey. Troy enjoyed his job, it wasn’t too hard and it was helping him save money this summer before college started. That’s not to say the summer time was all work and no fun, the party at the beginning of the summer at the Blacksmith’s was amazing but Troy hadn’t really gotten to see his friends since the beginning of the summer.

Troy began wiping down the tables with cleaner and a rag, it had slowed down considerably after the rush. Troy heard the ringing of the door, indicating a customer approaching the counter. He grabbed the two plates from one of the tables and brought them back behind the counter to the sink. Troy washed his hand’s and dried them before turning around to the counter.

“Welcome to Jumpstart, how can I help you today?” asked Troy.

“Oh just the usual for me,” said Charles Blacksmith.

Mr. Blacksmith was a regular, even before Troy started working there. He used to come in every Sunday with his wife before she passed away. It’s kind of sad to see him in here all by himself, but he still orders the same thing when he comes in.

“Two coffees, one with cream and sugar, the other black and two slices of the Death by Chocolate cake?” Troy asked.

“You’ve got it kid, you have a pretty good memory” laughed Mr. Blacksmith.

“I’ll bring it right over to your table Mr. Blacksmith” said Troy.

Troy prepared the two slices of cake and two coffees and brought them over to Mr. Blacksmith’s table. Troy went back behind the counter to clean the dishes he had brought to the sink before Mr. Blacksmith had come in. It was pretty quiet except the music that was playing, Mr. Blacksmith was Troy’s only current customer. Troy walked up to Mr. Blacksmith’s table, he was reading the newspaper and drinking his coffee.

“Can I get you anything else for the moment Mr. Blacksmith?” asked Troy.

“No thank you, I’m quite okay with what I have. The coffee is excellent just like every other time I come in” replied Mr. Blacksmith.

“Would you mind if I stepped outside for my break?” asked Troy. He was the only one working, they didn’t really staff too many people in the Jumpstart especially on days that the owner felt like it would be slow.

“Not at all! Go right ahead, I shouldn’t need a refill until well after your break.” said Mr. Blacksmith.

Troy was relieved. He took off his apron and hung it on the rack behind the counter. He made a quick trip to the restroom before stepping out front of the store and going to sit in the employee break area. Just far enough from the entrance to not interfere with people walking in and out, but close enough to still see the entire cafe so he would know if he needed to end his break early.

He pulled his lighter from his pocket and his pack of smokes, put one in his mouth and lit it. His mind began to drift off a bit. What he would need to get done after work. He’d have to go home, shower and start dinner. He wasn’t entirely sure what he would make yet but he would figure it out when he got home. His mom usually would but she had an afternoon shift this evening meaning she wouldn’t get home until about 10pm.

“My I see your ID please?” asked a voice.

It was enough to snap Troy out of his thoughts.

“What?” answered Troy.

“Your ID. I need to see it. You match the description of a subject that we are looking for,” said the officer.

“I don’t have my ID, it’s inside the shop where I’ve been working all day,” stated Troy, motioning towards The Jumpstart.

Troy’s brain was throwing warning flags. It’s a conversation he’s had before with his mom, but he’d never actually encountered a run in with the police before now. ‘Don’t over react, don’t do anything stupid’ his momma’s words rang in his head as a warning. Troy knew that any incorrect action wasn’t just the potential of being arrested and going to jail, but not making it home that night. Not being able to make dinner for his little brother and not waking up tomorrow morning.

“Can you place your hands behind your back for me?” asked the officer.

Troy did so immediately.

“Am I under arrest officer? I haven’t done anything I’m just out here on my break,” asked Troy.

“You are not under arrest. I just need to make sure what you are saying is true,” replied the officer.

Troy heard the bell for the cafe go off. He prayed it wasn’t an additional customer going in, he was going to get in so much trouble by the owner. He might lose his job, then he wouldn’t get to save for college. Troy began to panic a little bit more than he previously was. His anxiety was bad enough, but this was definitely adding to it today.

“Is there a problem here Officer Runick?” asked a familiar voice.

“Charles! No problem at all. He matches a description for a suspect we have. “ replied Officer Runick.

“Take him out of those things. This is Troy Denning and he’s been serving me all morning in the Jumpstart!” said Mr. Blacksmith.

“I have to confirm-” started Officer Runick

“Is it because he’s black? What exactly was the description you received Officer Runick?” spat Mr. Blacksmith.

The officer had already begun to undo the handcuffs.

“Chief Moreno will be be hearing about this,” said Mr. Blacksmith. You could tell that he was angry by the tone in his voice.

Officer Runick had a history. Mr. Blacksmith and him were well acquainted and not in a positive way. Charles had lived in this town his whole life and knew that certain officers were just looking to slap handcuffs on whoever they think they could justify.

Officer Runick scribbled something down in his notepad and grumbled, walking off.

“Are you okay Troy?” asked Mr. Blacksmith.

“I’m a little shaken up, but I’ll be alright” replied Troy.

“Come on, I’ve got an extra piece of cake and a coffee at the table waiting for you” smiled Mr. Blacksmith.