Mick was making his flask of coffee when I came downstairs for breakfast. “Hey, Nina, how’s things?”

“Not bad. Linda is opening up today so I’m going for two slices of toast.” I opened my cupboard to find honey.

“Two slices, very posh. Has she made a new year’s resolution to become a hard-working librarian?”

My housemates know Linda is just putting in the years until she early retirement and becoming a full-time baker.

“Nope, she needs to leave early. I’m closing up tonight.”

“Fair.” He set his coffee pot on the hob to boil, or brew, or whatever it does.

He has a large collection of strange coffee related contraptions. When did coffee become so complex? My parents still use a spoonful of dried instant coffee...

Please subscribe to keep reading.