Overheard at Chipperfields ... Part LI ...

A new vistor stood at the counter looking up at the blackboards, trying to decide what she wanted to order.

"What kind of cookies do you have?" the woman asked, her eyes still firmly on the boards.

Dani turned and looked up at the Boards, checking to see where it said 'cookies' amongst the mocha and lattee listings. She answered cheerfully, "We have a wide variety of cookies, that change each day. Today we have Chipperdoodles, Peanut Butter Oatmeal with chocolate chips, Oatmeal raisin and our special Triple Chocolate Chip with walnuts."

"Hmm," said the regular without a trace of enthusiasm, "what else do you have?" She didn't look down to the jars and containers to see for herself the selection of delicious baked goods available.
Kriss, her back to the customer rolled her eyes as she prepared the order of two White Cows mochas for her customers, "can't she look at the containers for herself?" she thought to herself.

"Well," Dani remained cheerful, "we have a very wide selection of cheesecake silces, carrot cake, a number of muffins and Kriss just brought out a fresh batch of cinnamon silces," Dani paused and smiled before continuing, "and we have a selection of ice cream."

"It's snowy and cold outside," snapped the visitor, "why on earth would I want to have ice cream when it is snowy and cold outside?"

"Oh," answered Dani in a chipper voice, "I wasn't aware that there are rules about when you could and couldn't have ice cream," she paused as her voice moved to a conspiratorial whisper, "I must have missed that in the manual."

Dani smiled inspite of the icy glare from the customer, "I guess you're NOT interested in hearing about our coolers or iced drinks then?" Dani's eyes were sparkling, and the corner of her mouth was twitching with a smile. Behind her Kriss snorted as she finished up her order and turned to hand it to the customer ahead of the visitor.

"I will have a medium coffee, and one of those triple chocolate cookies," snapped the visitor, her index finger pointing at the jar by her right elbow.

"For here or to go?" asked Dani with a smile.

"For here," the visitor offered in a monotone.

Dani prepared her order and slit it across the counter, "There you are. Enjoy." She said.

The visitor said nothing as she slid her payment across the counter, and scooping up the change without leaving a tip.

"Oh You're most welcome," Dani said cheerfully, stretching out the last syllable, "It was such a pleasure to serve you today ..."

Kriss snorted yet again as she busily wiped the counter down behind Dani.

The visitor raised an eyebrow, and said nothing as she took her coffee and cookie and turned with a "humpf". As she headed to the couches, Dani smiled.

Dani stepped out from behind the counter to where J-- and a group of regulars were seated. "Refills anyone?" she asked with a smile.

"Sure," answered J--. The other regulars shook their heads.

"Nicely played by the way," observed J--.

"What do you mean?" asked Dani innocently, "I was simply serving a customer."

"Oh sure," laughed J--, as she took his mug and headed back to the counter to refill it. The crew around the table laughed, drawing a scornful glare from the visitor at the front.