Part V: The Coffee Shop in the Sky

(Play the music for ambience while reading the story)

Zeus was not alone as he stood in front of Kafés. Demeter approached as well with a fiery look in her eyes. He knew then that he had messed up big time. She somehow knew that he had stolen those beans from her and now he would pay the price. 

Demeter speaks as she approaches, “Foolish mortal. You stole from me. You thought I did not see you swipe those beans? What do you have to say for yourself?” Kafés cowers before them and speaks in a quiet voice, “I-I tried to ask you f-for help. You did not answer me.” This only seems to anger the goddess more. Zeus speaks up for her, “That is not an excuse. You must now pay the price for your insolence.” 

Zeus’ fingertips crackle with lightning and his eyes glow a bright white. The earth begins to shake and his hair begins to arrive but it is interrupted by Demeter clearing her throat.  “Excuse me. I can do my own punishing,” she says, holding a hand up and stepping in front of Zeus so she stands towering over Kafés. The earth resumes its shaking as her eyes glow and her hands emit a light. Vines from under the ground shoot through dirt and wrap around Kafés, holding him down. Another vine shoots up, large and sharp and gets ready to pierce Kafés’ chest when someone calls for them to stop. 

“Wait! Please!” Tsái comes hurrying out of the house where she was hiding and watching the scene unfold. She steps up to the goddess although she is much smaller, “Please. I know my husband is an idiot but spare him!” 

Kafés looks up at his wife from the ground with wide eyes. He would normally be offended by those words but they were somewhat true. He did steal from the gods which does make him one of the biggest idiots in the village, but this seemed like a little much. Tsái clasps her hands together, “I apologize for whatever he has done. There must be a way around this. There has to be.” 

Zeus looks at her in annoyance, “Move, foolish woman or you will be punished too.” Tsái shrinks into herself and backs away, scared of the powerful god. Kafés goes from scared to angry, “Do not talk to my wife like that.” Demeter also looks at Zeus with a disgusted look, “Foolish woman? Now I know why your wife hates you.” 

She sighs and turns back to Tsái, “I suppose a bloody death might be a little much for his crime…What did you do with the beans?” Her gaze was now directed to Kafés who was now free from his vines. He stands up and goes to his wife, shielding her from the two immortal beings that stand in front of them. “What?” he looked at her in confusion. Demeter waits impatiently for an answer. He clears his throat and tries to seem confident, “We…We drink them.”

Demeter and Zeus look at each other and then back at them. They drank beans? Tsái speaks up timidly, “We heat them up in water and drink them with sugar and milk.” Demeter stands there flabbergasted, “You drink hot bean water with sugar and milk? Maybe you did need the beans…” Tsái shakes her head, “It is better than it sounds. Please, come inside. Try some.” 

With much hesitation, the god and goddess enter the cramped hut while Tsái prepares the drinks. They sit at the small table, their powerful forms far too big for such a small room. Tsái serves them the drinks and they stare at them skeptically. Kafés looks anxiously at them and blurts out, “for goodness sake, you’re immortal! Bean juice will not kill you!” He is quickly shut up by a smack to the back of his head by his wife. The two gods pick up their cups and take a small sip. Demeter’s eyes widen and Zeus looks at the liquid in astonishment. “It is not bad,” Zeus spoke lowly. Demeter agrees with a nod, “I have tried everything to make those beans taste halfway decent but nothing has worked. You have figured it out and it is delicious.”

Kafés lets out a sigh of relief, “Does that mean I am spared?” Zeus stands, “No.” Kafés jaw drops and he holds onto his wife who clings to him. Zeus sighs, “But I will spare you if you continue to make this bean concoction for me and the others on Mount Olympus.” Kafés mouth stays open but not in fear but shock. He would be spared if they would make this drink for them again? Tsái speaks for both of them, “Deal!” Demeter stands, “Say, what do you call this drink?” Kafés had been thinking about that for a while and gives his answer, “Coffee.” 

From that day on, Kafés and Tsái served coffee for the gods. Every morning they would file in a line in front of the stand and order their coffees. Other mortals caught onto this movement and soon there was a coffee shop in every town and at every corner.