Tea House Stake-out [Scene 6]

I pulled into the parking lot of Emerald Cove Tea Shop. It was located on the edge of Glendale, tucked away in the small hills of the city. In the distance, you could see the dusty mountains and the valley that engulfed it and the surrounding shops. 

Yunaria didn't want a ride because she found cars 'unnecessary' and a waste of time. She said she would fly to work. Whatever. She was getting quite used to life on Earth. Recently, I added her to my cellphone plan and discussed the concept of a mobile phone. Apparently, she assumed all humans had an interconnected system of telepathy and location. Filming didn't start for a couple of hours and to make sure she didn't get kidnapped or fired on her first day, I decided to pay a visit. As a customer of course. 

Outside was foggy. The grey skies ran across the atmosphere and the only thing I could see clearly were the stores around the tea shop and a large, diamond-shaped yellow sign that read 'Beware of Coyotes. Will Beg.'

I really should be focusing on the movie, given the state of things. Little inspiration was coming to me these days. Only one and a half months remained on the filming schedule, and I felt that I had made no serious headway. I couldn't figure out the angle or how much control I could truly exert over the film. With all the idiotic producers and true lack of vision towards the movie, it began to weigh on me. But we'll save that for later.

Nine a.m. struck the clock. Opening hours began at seven, so a small rush of people with their work bags and morning thirst filed in the cozy cafe. Right as I was about to open my car door, I saw one. A coyote. Man, they weren't lying. It was grey and mangled, with its fur shagged to no ends. God, it looked pitiful. I'd almost take the guy for a round of beer. I couldn't even be scared. Maybe it was animal's intuition, but he stopped in front of the store and stared at me. Oh no. It's not like I had a fear of coyotes; I just really hated pathetic creatures. 

It trotted towards me and came up to the driver side window. They looked like dogs, but from the rough side of town. I assumed at this point, being that I had a robot girlfriend from space and all, anything was possible. So, when the coyote started to scratch on the window, I sort of thought it was trying to rob me. Either that, or it wanted to eat me. 

I knocked on the window to scare it away, but the coyote only scratched harder. There was no malice or hate. Not even hunger. Just desperation. I felt obligated to help, but at the same time it was annoying. This was not the way to gain sympathy. I found a marker and a loose piece of paper and pressed it against the glass.

'I don't have any money. Please find a job.'

The coyote stopped scratching and took some time to read and reflect on what I told them. It was harsh, but reality. It seemed to understand that money didn't grow on trees. But God, the look it gave me was despicable. It was like I got scolded for giving solid advice.

It scurried away around the corner, and I finally got out to head in the store. The line was out of the door and for her first day, she couldn't have had worse luck. An elderly man sat on the ground, laying against the bricked wall of the cafe. His clothes were dusted and tattered, and when I walked by, he stopped me. 

"Excuse me sir, I don't have any money. My wife left me and since then, I've fallen into a terrible depression and lost my job. Could you spare a dollar, maybe a few quarters, sir?"

Well, now this won't do. I reached into my back pocket and opened my wallet. I realized I only had hundred-dollar bills and felt that a couple of them would do. I knew a thing or two about unfair jobs.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you!" He got up and limped off in the distance. 

I guess the coyote never left because when it saw me give two-hundred dollars to the man, it snarled, growled and shook its head in disappointment. You can't blame me because I don't support panhandling. 

After waiting in line, I found a seat in the corner. It truly was a cove. The tea bar was a solid dark brown with stools lined underneath. Chairs and seats alike covered the wall and empty space in the room. Soft ambient music played loud enough to be heard, but low enough to not disturb you. 

Chatter was busy and the sound of coffee machines ran noisily in the background. I held a newspaper up to my face, scouting the place for Yunaria. I hoped it wasn't a backdoor scam to kidnap robots who didn't know their way around Earth. It was her first day, it had to be scary. I remember the first movie I directed. I threw up three times before making it on set. And this was on a planet I was from. Who knows how an alien would react or how they would react to her? I mean she didn't exactly look human. 

Coming out the back kitchen, I saw her. She was wearing a light tan apron over a long-sleeved white shirt with a black hat that sported an emerald on the front. Her black hair sprouted from the back in a ponytail, and she was accompanied by the manager on duty I imagined. Urgently hiring wasn't even the word. The cashier had to take orders, make coffees and teas, call out orders, dispute claims...why was the manager even there?

I readjusted the newspaper when I saw Yunaria look over in this direction. Incognito, Haruka. Incognito. Well, now that I know she's not across the border somewhere, I could leave. But my body wouldn't let me move. An odd sensation washed over me watching her work. She was...good? Actually, no. It was spectacular. It's not like I wanted to see her fail or anything, but damn. At least be a little incompetent. 

She made all of the coffees and teas, the food and snacks, learned the register and took orders. Not a single mistake. It was like she was doing the work of an entire staff. Occasionally, not very often, I wondered why it is she came to Earth, or how. Anything she did turned out to have no learning curve. If only the production team had a shred of her intelligence. Although, she has got to stop watching vampire movies. I caught her late last night in my bed trying to extract blood...

Once the morning rush died down, I looked at my watch and noticed that filming was supposed to start soon. Hopefully, that swindling and greedy coyote wouldn't be out there. It's not like it was going to clean the scratches they left on my car. Even the animals that followed me were idiots. 

It seemed I worried for nothing. I folded the newspaper up, tucked it away and headed out the door.

"Did you find everything at Emerald Cove pleasant?" 

I turned around to see Yunaria looking at me with her hands folded behind her back.

"I... did."

"You're not very good at blending in, I noticed. By the way, this is fun! It's exactly as I read in the books!" Yunaria smiled.

"Really...?" Maybe she hadn't gotten used to wage slavery yet. Wait until she found out about taxes.

"Yeah, the humans are amicable. They asked me where I was from and I said Yalina but like you said, they had never heard of it. It is weird. However, they said I can end my day since it was the first shift. Time elapses quickly on Earth."

"Right..." I paused, unable to hide my embarrassment. She was actually impressive. "Anyways, I have to go to work. Glad to see you're not roped up in a trunk somewhere and liked your first day on the job. See you."

"Well, since I'm done, can you give me a ride?" she asked softly.

"I thought you wanted to fly?"

"My feet are tired. Humans work all day like this?"

She didn't even know the half of it but give it some time. True despair had yet to set in. A small part, a very small, and indistinct part of me, was glad to give a ride to her. It was disgusting, but it raced my heart. 

I'm hopeless. 

***