First Visit to Starbucks

Ten years ago, Starbucks all over the world played Paul McCartney's new Album Memory Almost Full . I was walking though a mall minding my own business when I noticed a Starbucks.

I walked into the Starbucks. First time ever. Perceived enemy territory.

I saw Paul's album standing there.

I asked about the price. Fifteen ninety five plus tax.

I walked out of Starbucks. I walked into the Book Outlet next door. I was looking for a 70% off copy of Travels with Charley. I was directed to the literary table. No Charley. This meant that I still had eighteen dollars in my wallet.

I walked back into Starbucks. I decided to buy Paul's CD. The person at the register seemed normal. I told her "Look at the power of Paul McCartney" She asked me what I mean't. I told her that I had never been in a Starbucks before and it was Paul that got me there. She told me that I wasn't the first person in the last two days who felt that way.

I said "Apparently it was a good idea for Starbucks to get Paul off Capitol. Not only will Starbucks make money from the royalties but they will also attract people like me and those other folks to Starbucks who would never visit Starbucks"

She asked me why I had never been to Starbucks before.

I told her Starbucks was the enemy.

She said "Funny, I used to feel the same way. Now I work here"

I said " Hey we never know where we're gonna end up working. So how do you like the place now" She said she liked it. She meets a lot of interesting people. People like me. She said.

I said "Oh, people LIKE you?"

She said "Some people do but I'm talking about people like you"

I said "Oh you mean like as part of a simile rather than as a verb"

She said "That's what I mean"

I said "So you think there are a lot of people like me?"

She said "well alot of people have come in here over the last day and a half who said the only reason they were here was to buy the CD.'".

I said, "it's always nice to know that I'm not the oddball and I'm interesting not because I'm an oddball but because there are other people like me"

She said "Maybe you'd like to try some coffee on the house"

I said "That's very nice of you. Can I get that to go. I'll give it to my wife"

She said "How bout two for free, one for you and one for your wife?"

I said "one would be great" She poured out my Starbucks coffee.

I thanked her. I took the coffee home. I gave it to my wife. She seemed happy and surprised. I told her that I bought the Mccartney CD.

She wondered why the hell I did that.