If we were having coffee, I would start by sharing the full story of Bramble that began when we had our first coffee in January 2023.

Are you familiar with that deep-seated feeling of tiredness? The kind of tiredness that weighs down all your limbs and clings to your thoughts like sleepy spiderwebs? Maybe you’re working too hard and sleeping too little, or life is just coming at you from all sides and wearing you down. Well, that was how I was feeling the morning coffee changed everything!

It all started on a morning very much like this one with a strange crystal-like mist plugging the air. The sun fought and failed to break through the gloom. My ivory pumpkin-shaped coffee mug sat on the table before me empty, and me to desolate to rise and fill go fill it. So, we (me and my coffee mug) sat like this staring out at the icy air waiting to see which of us would break first. When a voice like crackling leaves cut into the silence, I was sure it was me who had cracked.
“Energy, energy. We need energy.”
I scanned the room for the source of the voice, but it was just me at home.
“En-er-gy,” the voice crackled from directly in front of me. I looked down. My mug was talking! And if that wasn’t enough, I watched as stick arms pushed out the sides of my cup looking like veins on a maple leaf. My eyes froze, unable to blink. My mug sprouted bent stick legs next. The last thing I saw was my ivory pumpkin mug run and jump off the edge of the table before I passed out from shock.

I woke with my head on my arms bent over at the table. My body felt as if I’d slept there a full week through. I creaked my eyes open and scanned around. I’m nose to nose with my ivory coffee cup, or I would be if coffee cups had noses. I stared off the end of my nose assessing my memories of this cup when it opened its eyes. Two eyes, the brightest white I had ever seen. White eyelashes, white iris and pupil, the works. The cup blinked at me. Then its beautifully shaped snow-coloured lips moved, “Coffee is hot and fresh.” Its white eyebrows wiggled as I screamed and pushed back so hard, I overturn my chair and found myself with my feet and legs flailing in the air like I’m an overturned turtle.

When I clamber to my feet I see my coffee cup sitting quietly on the table watching with wide eyes. I blink, rub my eyes, and refocus on my cup. It’s still staring at me.
“How?” I mumble.
“Louder, Shari. I can’t hear you.”
“That’s because I wasn’t talking to you,” I fire back without thought. I smack my hand on my forehead. “Oh man, I’m talking to my coffee.”
“No, not your coffee Shari. I’m your coffee cup.”
I peek at the cup through my fingers. “Excellent point, cup. And now my coffee cup is correcting me! What’s next?”
“My name is Bramble.”
I drop my hand and look directly at my cup. “Pardon?”
“My name is Bramble and not cup.”
“Nice to meet you, Bramble . . .”
Resolving to ignore Bramble, my living coffee cup, I sit back down at the table with my laptop. I have writing to do. The rich smell of coffee is teasing my nostrils. I eye the cup.
“So, Bramble how does this work? I mean do I just pick you up and drink?”
“Oh yes, very simple. You drink and I provide.”
Hesitantly I pick Bramble up and bring the cup to my lips. A small sip. This isn’t so bad, it’s just like normal. I think to myself. I set Bramble back down.
“I really wanted to giggle, but I think you might have dropped me.”
“Thrown you is more accurate.”
Bramble goes silent. His snow-coloured lips working to come up with a comeback, but can’t.
I find my groove, sip and type, sip and type. I even become immune to Bramble running from the table to return with a fresh hot brew.

Bramble and I have fallen into a routine. Things have been going well. Today as I sip, Bramble speaks. “Let’s get married.”
I choke on my mouthful of coffee and slam Bramble down onto the table with unintended force.
Bramble waits for me to be able to breathe again before repeating. “Let’s get married.”
“I’m already married, Bramble.”
“We have so much in common.”
“You’re a coffee cup!”
“True.”
We lapse into silence.

After the rejected marriage proposal Bramble withdrew to the cupboard. I thought my cup was just taking a break, but Bramble ran off with an antique tea cup named Bee. They sent a coffee-scented postcard to let me know that they were happily married and are living in a tea and coffee shop on the west coast of Canada. So, it looks like we will be back to sharing coffee descriptions in the weeks to come . . .

If we were having coffee, I would share images for my contribution to this week’s Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC). This is a wall mural at a local business.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I’m excited for next week. The Fantasy Writer’s Week summit starts Monday and The Women in Publishing Summit starts Wednesday. I’m looking forward to a solid week of submersion in the writing world, learning, learning, learning.

If we were having coffee, I would pass you the pot and ask about your week.

By Shari Marshall – 2023

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Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I hope you have a chance to join us for a virtual cup. Coffee share #8 in 2023.