Katsuro pulled up his financial records on the register and began a general audit. The unusual man in the corner sat sipping a cup of cranberry red tea, reading the news on his Blackberry. The sun shone brightly through the glass wall across from Katsuro, allowing him to enjoy the spring morning while he audited his store.
James walked in at around eleven, a sour look covering his face. He slumped up to the counter and mumbled something about green tea.
Katsuro looked up from his files and burst into laughter. “You look awful. What happened, you drink too much last night?”
James cringed. “Just get me some tea.”
Katsuro set about blending some herbs and spices, grinning all the while. “This’ll cure that hangover, guaranteed.”
James took the cup. “I think they’re trying to kill me.” He handed his card to Katsuro.
“Who are?” Katsuro rang the transaction: $6.50.
“Tiff and Shelly. I met up with them after the club last night. They had a two hundred year old bottle of Absinth.”
Katsuro’s jaw dropped. “I told you they were bad news, man. Your fist time with the green fairy?”
James nodded. “And it didn’t mix well with my dinner, or the beer, or wine.”
“Yeah, stay away from the French tarts from now on, right?”
“Sure. Hey, how much was this?” Katsuro showed James the bill. “You tryin’ to kill me too?”
Katsuro laughed again. “You’ll feel better, or the next one’s on me.”
James raised his cup to Katsuro and made his way to class, leaving Katsuro to chuckle to himself as he returned to his records.
After another hour of research and budget calculations, he finally came up with a way to hire Rachel at a decent wage. Coincidentally, she walked into the shop just as he finished putting away his files. “Busy morning, Katsu?”
Katsuro looked around at the nearly empty tea gallery. “Not really.” He grabbed a rag and cleaned up the table left vacant by the Blackberry reader. “My rush will probably come around two.”
Rachel smiled and leaned against the counter, pondering the menu. “What’s your favorite drink?”
Katsuro grabbed a cup and several loose-leaf canisters. “You’ll have to guess.” He started mixing ingredients.
“Family secret?” She cocked an eyebrow. “It’s not gonna kill me is it?”
“No, but if you ask me that again, I might.” He grinned. Katsuro poured hot water over the teabag, releasing the flowery scent of Jasmine, cherry blossoms, and just a hint of ginger. “When do you want to start training?” He asked handing her the cup.
Rachel’s face lit up. “Whenever. I’m free all this week, and next. Except for Monday. You gonna make me a brew-master?”
“For fifteen hundred a month.”
“I told you, I’ll work for free.” Rachel sipped her tea. “Mm, magic.”
“You won’t work for free, it’ll be fifteen hundred, or not at all. You want to start next Tuesday?”
“Fine, twist my arm.” Rachel beamed. She sipped contentedly on her tea for a few minutes, enjoying the sun with Katsuro. “Hey, where’re your parents at?”
“Right behind you.” Just then the door opened and Mr. and Mrs. Hanaka walked into the shop.
“Hello, Rachel,” Mrs. Hanaka smiled. “How are you?”
“I’m well,” Rachel replied. “You have a good trip?”
