Starbucks Monologue

I love being in coffee shops at night, because it always feels like Christmas. It smells warm like cinnamon and hot chocolate, but the air is always turned up too high. Most people smile at you because they feel obligated too, not knowing how long you’ll be in there with them. And those that don’t smile don’t affect you too much because you’re positive they must just be in a hurry. In a nutshell, that’s what Christmas consists of.
But that’s not the only reason it appeals to me. I like it because of the stories. The most stereotypical people go to coffee shops, including myself, who all pretend to have culture and class just because they’re drinking coffee or tea, or reading classic literature in a big cozy chair, or eating a croissant, or writing a philosophical essay for a class they’re taking.
Then on top of it all, you have the slew of pretentious music constantly playing. Usually it’ll be something like sad slow instrumentals, or Nat King Cole singing Cole Porter, or an obscure Indie band that isn’t obscure enough, so the majority of people that walk in know who it is and either smile to themselves for their exceptional knowledge of music, or comment to the person they’re with about the EP they own by the same people.
Then the art that hangs on the walls are all things that could’ve easily been done by a college art student experimenting with color, shape, the human form, and incorporating poetry and world studies. And anyone who goes out of their way to stare at one of these pieces for more then a couple seconds is either an art student (who is thinking of a prestigious sounding comment) or a little kid merely soaking it all in.
And there is always an above average looking person working, male or female, who gets hit on at least twice within the period of time you’re sitting/standing there. Part of you is disgusted at the predictability, and part of you is jealous that they aren’t making flirty eyes with you. It is only after this has occurred that you can truly understand Kristen Chenoweth.
Now I’m only allowed to mock all these people because I’ve done all of the above myself at one point or another.
But I love it. I love seeing these everyday people escaping from a life that may not make them feel as special or confident. They might have just come from a terrible meeting, or gotten a paper back that they didn’t pass, or just needed to get out of the house. But here, they can feel awesome about whatever they’re writing, or confident about whoever they’re talking to, because they’re drinking a double-shot espresso with foam. Every person that leaves, leaves feeling better about themselves. And truthfully, that is why there is a Starbucks on every corner; they serve as a wonderful escape.