A Cup of Coffee…
~Part 1: The Costumer~
I, the costumer,
Enter the Starbucks,
Thirsty for the sweet and slightly bitter
Taste of a mocha frappachino.

  As I walks towards the counter
I look around to find
A seemingly empty store,
Only occupied by about
Three other costumers, enjoying
A drink of their choice and snacking on
A scone or muffin.

  I arrive at the counter,
Glance and the menu for a
Split second before staring the
Woman working at the counter
Directly in the eyes.

  “What would like today?” she asks.
“I would like a small mocha frappachino please.” I reply softly.
“Will that be all?”
“Yes thank you.” And with that I sat and waited.

    ~FIVE MINUTES LATER~
“One small mocha frappachino!” someone
Says in a slightly raised voice
From behind the counter.
I walks up and says
“Thank you once again”
And walk out the door
Sipping his mocha frappachino smiling,
Glad to see the new day.

~Part 2: The Worker~
The worker,
A mere child,
Only about thirteen.
He climbs into the tall bush,
With only a bag by his side.

One at a time,
He picks off individual little fruits,
Each containing a coffee bean.

They ripened in the shade of the taller trees,
Keeping the boy the slightest bit cooler.
“It’s so hot, I want to go home.”
He whispered to himself.

He looked around,
Surrounded by about 20 other workers,
Scattered around the small
Designated area of forest.
They were all more or less his age.
Some girls, some boys.
His guess was that they were all
Thinking the same thing as him,
“I want to go home.”

The fruit that incased the
Coffee beans were all coated
With a layer of pesticides.
Each of the workers breathed in
A large dose of this about
Eighteen hours a day.
Making their immune systems weaker
By the day.

~Much later that day~
The end of the work day was drawing near.
His lungs were heavy with fumes,
Making it hard to breath.
He saw a small bus arrive.
For now it would be his savior,
From all the repetitive work,
Boredom and intoxication.
It would take him and his family home.
Tomorrow it would be his reaper,
His ride back into the boring
And sickening world of picking
Coffee beans.
But for now,
The worker will eat,
Laugh and play with his family,
Using his remaining energy.
Then he will sleep,
Regaining it for the
Hard day to come.