Most of the time I’ll go to Starbucks and get my drink to-go. But sometimes I stick around and either read or write in my journal. It’s those times where something strange in the pastry case happens…I see the CHEESE DANISH. There’s something special about the Cheese Danishes at Starbucks, I am not 100% sure about this…but I think they’re telepathic. (It’s probably the cheese that makes them telepathic) This is what happens: I order a drink and usually ask for a glass of ice water as well. Then I sit down and start reading. After about 30-40 minutes or so I usually want to refill my water. And then on my way to talk to the Barista I sense something from the Pastry Case. And I look over at the case, and I usually see the regular cookies and scones. But sometimes there is a Cheese Danish lurking on the shelf…taunting me. When I look at the other pastries nothing special happens, I see them and think, “Oh that’s nice. What a pleasant little scone.” or, “Those mini donuts don’t look very healthy, I want one.” But when I turn to the Cheese Danish, I stop thinking to myself, and I listen…The whole store seems to get quiet, like an empty church and then I hear a voice. It isn’t a voice like someone is talking to you. It’s more like REMEMBERING something that is already deep in your mind, yet has never been spoken by you or your desires before.
So I peer closer into the case and observe the sweet cheese of the danish, and its flaky delicious crust. And I hear…”Hey, you only had cereal for breakfast huh? That was hours ago. That latte you bought was good, but it wasn’t sweet. I’m not too sweet, but you know I belong with you…in your stomach.” I look away, not exactly sure of what is going on and check to see if the line has moved forward at all. But the line hasn’t budged an inch! In fact, time hasn’t moved forward at all. I try to see if I can squeeze ahead to get my water refilled, but the Baristas are busy and deep down I hate people who skip ahead in line just because they want water. What do you think this is? A drinking fountain? Wait in line.
I look to my left, and there is the Cheese Danish again…staring at me. As I peer closer my eyes become fixated on the Danish and the world makes this sucking sound kind of like the sound that happened in the show LOST when a character would shift from the current time-line to a memory sequence or alternate time-line. “You’re going to buy me. You’re going to buy me, then you’re going to eat me. Everything in your life has been preparing you for this one moment. We are one…at least, we soon will be. You need my cheese.”
With those words, “You need my cheese.” Something happened. I realized that this Cheese Danish actually knew me, the real me. So I decided that I would buy it. It finally was my turn to order and I asked for a refill on my ice water. Then I looked over at the case again and said, “And one Cheese Danish please.” The barista looked at my like I had spoken some kind of ancient code that was about to unlock secrets known only by a very small elite. She smiled and said, “Cheese Danish, huh? Looks good!”
I scratched my three day old beard as if to say, “Don’t toy with me woman, give me the Danish.” The pastry case opened and in came a piece of wax paper to pick up the Danish. Then the Barista asked, “Do you want your Cheese Danish on a plate?” I smiled and nodded. As she handed me the Cheese Danish on a plate I quickly returned to my seat, almost forgetting to take my water.
As I sat and ate my Cheese Danish, it sent me a final message…”The circle is now complete.”