The girl at the counter is new, her face dolled up like a teenage Japanese girl. The black plastic butterfly clips in her hair bear a passing resemblance to the butterfly tattoos littering her arms. That is her theme today. Her eyes show a glimpse of happiness that the little line of scars on her arm betray. I order the usual, a cappuccino with oat milk and head towards a table compartmentalising that little interaction.
As I sit down at my table I glance up and see them. The Mafioso Boss, the Princess and the Scientist, the subjects of my latest intrigue. I breathe a sigh of relief. I knew they would be here, they always are. But there is that brief ever-present fear that one day I will turn up and they will be gone forever. Then the mystery and intrigue would all be over and the banality of everyday life would return to me with a smack in the face.
The Mafioso Boss is sat at the table today. A little unusual, his more familiar habitat being the tall comfortable armchair. His appearance is ordinary. Short tidy salt and pepper hair, a frank yet constantly disappointed face and a body used to a lifetime of mostly sitting showing very little signs of ever having had any real physical exertion. Yet it's his demeanour that sets him apart. He carries an air of confidence that wouldn't go amiss in a member of the royal family or a person of immeasurable wealth. It's as if he knows for certain that he has the full backing of the universe in all his endeavours. He casually saunters in every day at around 9:30am, orders his coffee, pays by cash (of course) and then reclines to the grand armchair in the back corner of the establishment.
Then there is the Princess. Her hair is tied back tightly ending in a small round bun planted delicately on top of her head. The large hooped earrings make her look a little cheap but of course she manages to pull it off. At the moment she is diligently tapping away at her keyboard, eyes staring intently at the screen occasionally smiling to herself as if her computer has just shared a small witticism with her. What you have to understand is that this is a modern day princess. She is not a lady of leisure like the princesses of old. No, this is a lady who is driven and independent and not afraid to get her hands dirty if she must. However, she carries an air of sophistication and dignity about her which leaves you no doubt about her origins.
Finally we get to the Scientist. He is a nerdy looking soldier type who carries his large bulk somewhat nervously as he aims head-down towards his ultimate destination with short little steps. He keeps his hair cropped extremely short and he has a tendency to keep pushing his wire frame glasses back onto the bridge of his sweaty nose whilst blinking profusely. His hunched shoulders show of strain built up over time and the computer sitting in his lap gathers up the majority of his attention. He's definitely working on something important.
What is strange is that I'm yet to figure out how this eclectic trio all fit together. I can't work out if this coffee place is their office or a secret rendezvous point. But what is obvious is the princess and the scientist both report into the Mafioso Boss. They individually sit with him in the armchair section. The body language of the princess and the scientist when interacting with the boss shows subservience. They lean across to him relaying their hard earned information. The boss reclines lazily in his chair quietly listening like a rich baron in the middle ages absorbing news of the events happening in his fiefdom.
I have some theories though...
My first theory is they are running a political campaign. The princess being the press secretary and the scientist running the analytical side of things. They're building up the Mafioso Boss's campaign to become president of something. The mall? The city? The country? I realise there are some holes in this theory but it makes sense on some levels. It would explain why they meet in Costa Coffee and not some regular office. The budget is tight and they want to save it only for the most important things!
My second theory is they are running an international drug smuggling ring. This would align more with the Mafioso Boss's air of confidence. He then actually would be the Mafia wouldn't he? I'm not sure on the exact definition but drug smuggling definitely falls under the mafia's area of expertise. I recall from the Fargo series that criminals work from offices these days so it would also explain the computers. However, I would imagine the drug smuggling business paying quite well so surely they would be able to afford to rent out their own offices?
My third theory is they work for the mall in which Costa coffee is situated. This theory is much more dull though so I'm dismissing it straight away on those grounds.
Now, I know what you are thinking. Why don't I just go over to them and ask them? Granted it would be a little awkward but once done I would no longer have to wonder what they do. The mystery would be solved and the intrigue would be over. A two minute conversation and then I can get on with the rest of my life. Simple.
But I would argue that would be the wrong thing to do. Yes I would finally find out the truth but at what cost? Chances are what this bizarre trio are up to is rather dull and ordinary and once I found that information out I would never be able to see them in the same light again. The whole story I have built up in my head would vanish with a 'poof' into thin air.
See, there is something quite wonderful when I turn up for my coffee and find this trio sat in front of me. There is a sense of familiarity but enough mystery to keep it interesting. Knowing too much is a curse. If you know everything about something it no longer holds your interest. The excitement is gone.
We are born to discover things and the excitement in life comes in those small brief moments between intrigue, fascination and wonder and then finding out the truth. If you are constantly in the intrigue stage then it can become frustrating but if you easily find things out whenever you want then nothing is ever interesting.
It's a dance we all must dance to keep life interesting. This trio keep my coffee shop experience exciting. Their mere existence there, which can't easily be explained, adds a whole layer of story to my overall experience. The mystery they provide is a good thing and it adds to the experience rather than taking it away. If I knew the reality of their situation I would no longer pay them much attention. The questions in my mind would have been answered and my mind would move onto the next problem. That's what the mind does, it finds and solves problems.
This trio represent a problem for me. It's not a problem I have to work out. Not like if I had financial problems that were really affecting the quality of my life. But it's problematic enough to keep the attention of my mind and pique my curiosity enough that it's fun to think about. They make an otherwise ordinary experience something a little bit special. And I think we should strive to have these experiences in our life. Scattered little moments of intrigue along the way that add some flavour and spice to our overall experience.
