Photo by Heather Shevlin on UnsplashWallace and Gwen are a newly retired married couple. They are about to go on their dream vacation. Gwen always wanted to go on a cruise, and Wallace to see the glaciers in Alaska.
While Gwen sips her coffee, looking out the balcony and enjoying the sea breeze in sunny California, Wallace is finishing packing. In an hour, the cab will be there to take them to San Diego airport to catch a flight to Vancouver and onboard there the cruise.
–Honey, do you want me to help you finish packing? –says Gwen.
–No, dear. I have everything under control. Take your coffee easy. I know how much you enjoy it. I want you in your best mood so we can enjoy our vacation. Without your morning coffee, you turn into the mother of Throw Momma from the Train, and I don't want to feel like throwing you overboard.
–Very funny –Gwen smiles at her husband with a mocking pout as she walks back to the window while inhaling the aroma of her coffee.
Already settled in the ship's cabin that same afternoon, Wallace and Gwen get ready to have a snack in one of the ship's cafes.
The ship is everything Gwen dreamed of and more. And Wallace can't contain his happiness. Finally, his dream of visiting Alaska will come true. In a couple of days, they will be touching land in the first port of the cruise.
They arrive at the cafe and sit at a table near a large window, from where they can see the deck. The cafe is elegant. Most of the tables are occupied. They weren't the only passengers who had the idea of having a coffee snack.
A smiling waiter approaches to ask them what they want to order. Gwen smiles back.
–We would like two large cappuccinos and a piece of chocolate cake with two teaspoons, please –says Gwen.
The waiter's smile fades, and instead, an expression of shame invades his face.
–I'm sorry madam. We've run out of coffee. I just brought the last cup to the table over there –says the waiter as he glances at one of the nearby tables, where a woman sips a steaming cup of coffee.
Gwen looks at him puzzled. But then she says with a half smile. –We're not in a hurry, we can wait for until the coffee arrives. After all, we can't get off the ship for now.
–I'm sorry madam. I think I'm not explaining well. We run out of coffee. We won't have any later today. Our supplier made a mistake. Instead of sending us our order of coffee, tea, and chocolate, he sent us only Mate. We won't have coffee on the whole ship for another two days when we arrive at the port in Juneau –says the waiter.
Gwen's face turns from bewilderment to fury. And raising her voice slightly, she rebukes the waiter. –You've got to be kidding, right? Are you trying to say that there will be no coffee on this huge, luxurious ship for the next two days?
–I'm very sorry, ma'am. We've had a logistical problem –says the waiter.
At other tables, the scene was no different. People were whispering and some were raising their voices.
–You're telling me we paid $2,000 for a vacation aboard a ship where I won't get a damn coffee for two days? And you say it's a logistical problem? Really? –says Gwen.
Wallace looked at his wife with a strange expression on his face. The protest of the rest of the passengers was getting louder, and Wallace didn't even want to think about what it would be like in the morning at breakfast time. He tried to calm his wife down and asked the waiter to serve them a couple of lemonades and a piece of chocolate cake.
He took his wife's hand. –Honey, calm down. Everything will be fine.
–Maybe I am overreacting, but this is supposed to be our dream trip. You know the headache I will have this time tomorrow if I don't drink my morning coffee. Do you remember that time we went camping and forgot our coffee?
–It was the worst weekend of my life. You were in an impossible mood, and I confess I had to control myself not to drown you in the lake.
The waiter arrived with the lemonade and cake, apologizing again.
While they were eating the chocolate cake, a lady at the next table seemed to have lost her manners and loudly threatened to sue the cruise line for not having coffee on board.
Later in the cabin, Gwen can't stop talking about the coffee issue. Her husband tries to calm her down. –Honey, can you calm down and think about something else? Trust me, everything will be okay.
–I hope you feel the same way tomorrow, instead of wanting to throw me overboard.
The next morning, when Gwen wakes up, on the nightstand, there's a box with a note. Everything is under control. Wallace comes out of the bathroom and looks at his wife with a smiling face.
When Gwen opened the box, she found a French press and a package of coffee. She looked at her husband with a big smile.
–I told you, I had everything under control. After what happened to us that time we went camping, I never forget to bring coffee whenever we travel, just in case. –says Wallace and winks at his wife, who still can't get over her astonishment
While Gwen takes her coffee on the balcony of the cabin, Wallace approaches her smiling.
–Honey, I have ordered breakfast in the cabin. I don't want to witness a mutiny on board because of coffee.
THE END
This is my response to #STB Creative Writing Prompt No. 30.
Thanks for reading!