The Great Coffee Saga : Chapter One by Mel Wright

C.J awoke one morning to the sounds of the kettle being filled with water and boiled, cups clinking together, and teaspoons being taken out of the cutlery drawer.

He stretched, yawned, and realised that something felt wrong.

He felt kind of….empty.

And then he realised what the problem was.

THERE WAS NO COFFEE!

For some people in this world, coffee is an essential item, an everyday necessity, and they are drawn towards the smell of it like a goldfish in inexplicably drawn away from the cat’s paw when it enters the water of his bowl.

However, for C.J, coffee was his life.

He lived coffee. Breathed coffee. Held coffee lovingly, everyday. Yet no matter how much effort he made, the coffee never gave anything back.

And despite his quiet and persevering nature, the last batch had been worse than ever.

But now, at last he was free.

Free from the coffee’s insane mutterings of how it would take over the world, free from the abusive swear words that were hurled his way anytime he tried to make conversation. Because, although he had pretended he didn’t care, some of those comments cut like a cheese slice.

He winced as some of them came flooding back.

… ‘You’re so shallow, small and insignificant!!’….. ‘I can see right through you"…. ‘stop restricting me!’

C.J took a deep breath, and forced the feelings of pain down from the surface of his mind.

He was just composing himself, when the door was flung open, and light poured in.

He blinked, and was surprised to find himself looking at a face he had never seen before.

Staying quiet, he did not move, but to his surprise the person looked straight at him, and said "Yes, C.J, I know you’re there. I know a lot about you, the way you feel about coffee, how much you love your job, all of it. I have come here to ask for your help. You must decide between your love for coffee….and your love for the universe."

C.J blinked, and looked at the man in confusion.

The man sighed.

"C.J, the instant coffee of this world is planning to take over the universe. And they intend to use you."

C.J was in shock. "Me? Why would they use me….I’m just a Coffee Jar!"

The man nodded. "I see that you have much to learn. You are not simply a coffee jar. You are an inter-dimensional space/time travelling coffee jar."

C.J frowned.

"Riiiight…."

"C.J, you must come with me. We need you on our side."

C.J thought for a minute. He was happy with his quiet life on the shelf. He did not want to hurt the coffee, which he had worshipped for so many years. But then he thought of how he had been treated lately, and sighed.

He took a deep breath and made his decision…