Coffee: Part I

Photo credit: Markus Trienke via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

“I can’t do it.” Dennis sat down heavily in a pile of snow. The drifts were deceptive, so he didn’t realize how deep the snow was just there until he was up to his armpits in it. “I can’t take another step.”

“Come one, Dennis, you can’t give up now,” said his sister, Brogan. “Just a few more steps.

Dennis looked all around them. “A few more steps? To what? There’s nothing in sight.”

“I saw smoke just ahead. It must be coming from a house or a cottage.”

“Or a wildfire.”

“In the middle of winter?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised, given the luck we’ve had so far.”

Brogan tugged on his arm. “Just a few more steps.’

“You’re lying.”

“Am not. Just get up and start walking.”

Dennis groaned, but he obeyed.

Brogan had, in fact, been lying about seeing smoke, so she was surprised when a cottage soon came into view on the horizon. She pointed it out to Dennis and began walking a bit faster. Dennis wasn’t about to pick up speed, but he followed behind.

By the time they reached the cottage, they were both breathing heavily and leaning on each other for support. Brogan tried to keep up a brave face for her brother’s sake, but it was all an act. She pounded on the door, hoping someone would let them in before they collapsed.

She was not disappointed. The door swung open momentarily to reveal a tall man whose age was difficult to discern. His long white beard was that of an old man, but he had the posture and bearing of a young man.

“May my brother and I please come in? We are but poor travelers and require nothing more than to rest by your fire for a few minutes.”

“It looks like you’ll need more than a few minutes,” said the man, as he looked them over. “Come in, by all means.” He opened the door wide and waved them in. They both gasped their thanks as they hobbled in.

The man hurried to bring a spare chair and a stool to the fire, but the pair had already crumpled to the floor before he had a chance to complete the task.

“I have just the thing,” said their host.

Dennis had already fallen asleep. Brogan struggled to stay awake, but she dozed in and out of sleep as their host went to work. She was vaguely aware of him working what sounded like a nut grinder while a kettle came to a boil over the fire. She hadn’t the faintest idea what he was doing and she was too tired to care.

To be continued …

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