Jonestown Cafe
it was the hottest new spot
on the east side
of course
and
of course
all the hipsters went there
dressed in sheik ironic clothes
the house specialty was
The Jim Jones KOOL-AID
“BETCHA ONLY DRINK JUST ONE”
was the motto
i just ordered a tea
but most of the patrons opted for the lethal cocktail
THUMP
as one fell to the floor
only halfway through his NEW YORK TIMES crossword puzzle
THUMP THUMP
as an Art Major couple had their last date
THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP
went a party of friends after a poetry reading
hipster bodies were dropping all around me
even the barista was dead by the time i went up for some more hot water
but there was a girl sitting in the southwest corner of the cafe
drinking coffee
i went behind the counter to get my own hot water
grabbed my pen and notebook
and went over to her table
“hey, mind if i join you?”
she looked up curiously and excited
and said
“please do”
i took a chair
“my name is Danny”
“Antoinette”
“Nice! I love that name!”
she blushed and said thanks
“how long have you been hanging out here?”
i asked
“since they opened
i live just down the street
and they have the best coffee”
she asked me the same
“this is my first time here
thought it sounded different...”
THUMP
went the bass player for a local indie rock band
“...so
i thought...”
THUMP
went the drummer
“...i’d check it out”
she smiled as hipsters continued hitting the floor around us
“so”
she asked
“you don’t drink the KOOL-AID?”
“nahh
i ain’t that KOOL”
she giggled
“me neither”
so we talked for a while
and by closing time
were only two of five left alive
it struck me as a poor business model
i used my body language to suggest my leaving first
because that seemed like the KOOL thing to do
“hey Antoinette
it was good meeting you
we should hang out again sometime”
“for sure”
i grabbed my phone from my pocket
“what’s your phone number?”
she gave me her number
stood up to give me a hug
and i left
i texted her a couple days later
with no response
it was my day off
and despite the smell of fresh decaying hipsters
they served a damn fine tea at Jonestown Cafe
so i go
i walked up to the new and living barista
“hey man”
he said
“what can i get for ya?”
“hey brotha...”
i paused for a second
“...hey
do you know a girl that hangs out here
named
Antoinette?”
“yeeaa man
Antoinette
was KOOL
man”
“was?”
“yeeaa man
she was in here last night
and drank a JJKA”
“a JJKA?”
“yeeaa man
it’s our house specialty
The Jim Jones KOOL-AID”
“oh yea”
the acronym almost made me want one
he tried to entice me
“you wanna try one?
they’re pretty popular”
“ahhh”
i hesitated
but decided
“nahh
i’ll just have an earl grey”
