I pulled into the parking lot of Dunkin’ Donuts just a few minutes before I started my shift. There were cars flying down the street with music so loud I could hear the bass shaking their cars. The drive thru was packed like usual. Nothing seemed out of the normal this afternoon except for how I was feeling. I was under the weather. The night before, my boyfriend had broken up with me. I also had family complications back at home. My aunt and grandma were in North Dakota taking care of my cousins because one of them had cancer. She had to go in for surgery, but she needed help around the house with the kids. Family comes first for us. I was helping take care of my sick mother, two little brothers, and my grandpa while they were gone.

My mind was going a million miles an hour in every direction. I stepped out of the car into the warm summer air and said to myself. Push it all aside for work. Just put a smile on your face. You can do it! I took a deep breath and walked up to the front door with a smile on my face. The sweet scent of donuts and fresh brewed coffee caressed my face.

As I stepped through the door, I looked behind the counter making eye contact with my co-workers and softly shouted, “Hi everyone!” 

I put my bag by the office door around the corner in the back. Then I clocked in at the front register and grabbed a headset to help in the drive thru. I couldn’t wait until two o’clock for my favorite co-workers to come in: Angel and Cassie. I always enjoyed working with them mid-shift because we always had stories to tell  and got the store cleaned up early. We had to make sure we washed the dishes and machines. I tried my best to enjoy the couple hours I had before they came in. It felt like forever, although I kept a smile on my face and made sure that I gave each customer great service.

I continued to wipe down the smooth gray metal countertop with my soft blue rag soaked in warm sanitizer. I couldn’t stand seeing a small puddle of creamer or milk under the machine. I had to keep myself occupied as well as productive.

Soon enough Angel and Cassie came in. They moved my drawer over to the counter side so I could get out of the corner. Now it was about two o’clock and things were starting to slow down a bit as usual. We were all chatting and goofing around as the counters were wiped down for the hundredth time and donuts were switched around in the donut case yet again. We saw our regular customers and joked around as always. At about three-thirty service started to pick up again and I got a small rush of people at the counter. I had to work the counter by myself while they handled the drive thru and helped me make sandwiches.

Then there was this guy who looked about five foot four, maybe five foot six that came through the front door. He had slightly curly, dirty blonde hair that poked out every which way. It seemed to me that he had just gotten out of work. He came through that door smiling like there was no tomorrow.  First I noticed he was wearing a black and white wooden beaded necklace. It gave him a rustic but friendly look. Next I noticed his slightly worn out pair of Jordan shoes which I believe were light blue with a touch of black. He also wore a pair of blue denim shorts along with a red plaid flannel that had the first two buttons undone with the sleeves neatly rolled up to his elbows. I then noticed a red bandana tied around his wrist with the classic paisley white and black design on it, followed by his contagious smile, that surely caught my eye. He looked like a modern hippie to me with the way he was dressed. It seemed as though he was about eighteen to twenty years of age.

He came up to the counter and I said, “I’ll be right with you, hun. I have a few coffees to make.” I held up three cups.

He replied, “No worries, take your time.”

I shuffled off to the side with my three cups and added the cream, sugar, flavor, then coffee. I grabbed a carrier and brought them to the swinging half door, for the customer. I came back over to the register to this guy keeping a smile on my face making sure my sour emotion was hidden.

He says to me, “You’re so pretty.” Instantly I could feel my cheeks flush a rosy pink.

I gave a little giggle and said, “Thank you. What could I get for you tonight?” His baby blue eyes were sinking right into mine, they glistened slightly while he looked at me. I could feel the happiness radiate from him standing in front of me. His smile was like a cool refreshing sea breeze.

He asked, “Where might I find a bathroom?”

I pointed to the left side of the store and replied, “ It’s right down the hallway there. You can’t miss it.”
He chuckled. “Thank you.”

I proceeded to wipe the small creamer and coffee puddles off of the counter.

He came back over to the register after a couple minutes with a delighted grin still on his face. He looked me right in the eyes and said again, “You’re so pretty.” He awkwardly put his hands in his pockets as if he was trying to cover from being nervous.

“Thank you,” I replied. “Can I get you anything?”

He replied, “Yes, you can. Do you happen to have a blank receipt and a pen?” I then passed him a receipt and my permanent marker. I couldn’t see what he was writing. He glanced up at me with an eager smirk and handed me the receipt. The last thing he said to me as he was walking towards the door was, “Maybe we could hangout sometime. You’re very beautiful. Have a wonderful night.” He ambled out the door leaving me behind the counter speechless.

I looked down at this receipt in my hand and it read, Jason  802-***-****. This guy Jason gave me his phone number... I couldn’t believe it. For the rest of the night I had an even more prominent smile on my face.

With everything going on at home, I forgot how much little things like this could change my outlook so quickly. Sometimes miracles do come around when you aren’t feeling so great. Jason was my little miracle that night. He was my beam of sunshine. I couldn’t be more thankful for his presence. Ever since that night he’s definitely made a huge impact on who I am as a person. Jason showed me that it doesn’t matter what kind of situation you’re in because something good can come out of anything.

As soon as service slowed down at the front counter, I quickly went around the corner in the back of the store. I had to show Angel and Cassie. I pulled the receipt out of my back pocket, holding it out to them.

“Look! This guy gave me his phone number! Can you believe it?!”

“What?! Was he cute?” shouted Cassie as she swiped the receipt from my hand.

“Well Yeah he was!” I exclaimed.

Angel smirked and asked, “You didn’t even ask him?”

I replied, “No, he called me cute and asked for a blank receipt with a pen.”

They both giggled at me as we returned out front, so they could complete an order for the drive thru.
The rest of the night was quite enjoyable. At six o’clock I punched out at the front register. I hugged Angel and Cassie before I walked out the door, coffee in hand. I felt refreshed with an upbeat life again.

I turned the corner of the building to the once busy parking lot, with the scent of coffee trailing behind. I stuffed my bag on the floor under my legs while my mother turns to me and asks, “How was work today?”

“It was good mom. In fact, It was very enjoyable.”