"Just the coffee?"

The cashier starts pressing buttons.

"And a blueberry muffin, please."

The button-pressing stops. That's new. She doesn't say it, but I can almost hear her think it. I don't come here a whole lot, but I guess it's often enough that we recognize each other. Maybe it's because when I do make my way over to this area, I tend to stop in for coffee in quick succession until the next time I'm down this way again.

It's early-ish for a Sunday; like 7:30am or so. And the temps are finally cooling down a bit. New England does this every year, though: fake Fall. It'll get hot as hell a few more times before we actually move into leaf-peeping and apple cider season. Shaw's already had pumpkins out front for sale when I drove by. I'm all for cooler weather but that's something I'm not on board with. Whatever. I'm wearing a hoodie and life is good.

After setting the bag down on the counter with the muffin in it, the cashier resumes pressing the buttons on the register. She doesn't have a name tag, and at this point it seems awkward to ask.

She pauses, but doesn't look up before asking "do you work here?"

My eyes widen, then narrow.

um... wut??

I feel my chin pull in toward my neck and my head tip to the side slightly. No, I'm pretty sure you're the one who works here... ? I don't say that but she can probably hear me thinking it, because it does take me a second to process what she's really asking: do you have an employee discount? And that actually makes sense—we're near a ski resort, and the resort owns this place now. I always forget that, even though it's been a few years since that happened.

"I uh—no, I'm not."

I used to be.

But I don't say that part either.

Only after scooping my coffee and my muffin from the counter, and completing the "you too!" portion of the "have a good one" exchange, do I realize the hoodie I'm wearing has the resort's old logo on it.

---

Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
364/365

When the universe calls you by the wrong name, do you correct it? How long does it take you to figure out it's talking to you?

onward. 

For more on this daily column and The MAP Year Project, read the backstory here. And if you know someone who'd appreciate this, pass it along.