It was a cool, crisp morning as Bunty scurried along 7th Avenue.
It was early yet and nary a vehicle passed by on the street.
She hoped that Pippa would be on time at the coffee shop. Pippa was not good early in the morning.
She always had trouble rising from her warm cozy bed. Bunty didn't like having an early start either but she managed to push herself just a little bit harder. She had pulled on an extra pair of socks this morning to keep the cold at bay. She hated cold feet. The earmuffs Aunt Flo gave her at Christmas held tight against her ears.
At the corner of Elm and 7th a delivery truck backed out from a short laneway behind a fruit store. An early delivery from the docks. Fresh fruit and veg from who knows where she thought.
The street lights flickered and turned off.
It must be just past seven. Bunty could have looked at her watch but her hands were too cozy and warm inside her gloves that were shoved in her pockets.
As she walked along the strap of her brown leather bag slid down over her shoulder.
She anxiously shoved it back up in place.
Boy, I hope Pippa's on her way to the Coffee shop. She'd call once inside just in case that girl had overslept. If she had Bunty was would be jealous knowing Pippa was still safe and warm beneath her sheets and a warm duvet.
In the distance a siren wailed.
Bunty could hear the deep-throated whistle of a passenger train scooting down the tracks a few blocks away. For a few seconds she imagined what it would be like all warm and cozy on the train, a cup of coffee and fresh croissant on the tray in front on her, heading for a destination several hours away. Goodness only knows where. She was thinking about that "where" when she could see Pippa a half a block ahead of her waving frantically.
She had made it up after all- and in time.
Will wonders never cease...
Bunty picked up the pace and was embracing Pippa in a quick minute.
"Gosh, I thought I might have to call you when I got to the coffee shop"- says Bunty, just a bit out of breath on a icy city morning.
"My Dear, you have no faith in womankind!" laughed Pippa.
"Oh, I do have faith in womankind, it's just my faith in you is a little less at times!"- Bunty smacked Pippa across the shoulder and grabbed her right arm sliding her left arm into to Pippa's, locking elbows as they walked the rest of the way to the shop and their morning coffee.
"So my Darling Bunty-" Pippa held the word "Darling". It seemed to hang frozen in the February morning air, "What should we do after our coffee?"
"Coffee and a breakfast sandwich of some sort-" interjected Bunty her breath hanging in the frigid air, "I don't now why I am so hungry this morning."
Pippa looked Bunty straight in the eye and said-" Well maybe it's just the early hour. Your insides are all confused!"
"Probably. Here we are!"- Bunty pointed to the Coffee Shop's entrance- "Let's get warm."
They entered the front door and could instantly feel the warmth of the shop's inside. They chose a table by the window near a hot air vent. Taking off her hat and gloves Bunty looked at the menu behind the counter- "What are you having Pip?" As she perused the menu board, she slipped her brown bag over the back of her chair.
"Goodness, I don't know- well, a big coffee with double milk of course."
"Ditto"- agrees Bunty.
In a few minutes they had ordered and taken the trays- on which their breakfasts and coffees were placed, back to their window table.
"Did you want to eat first or...you know..." Pippa seemed impatient.
"Doesn't matter to me. You decide this time." Bunty took a sip of hot coffee and waited for Pipa's answer.
"Let's get it out of the way now." Wow Pippa had made a decision."Righty O Pippa." Bunty took the gun from her coat pocket and shot the server behind the counter-
ten or twelve times.
The shots rang out loud and clear. Customers ran from the Coffee Shop.
"Your turn My Dear!" Bunty sat down and took another sip of coffee. As she did Pippa walked away from the table, slipped behind the counter and emptied the cash till. She took it's contents back to the window table where they sat.
"Shove these bills in your bag will you?"
"Of course." Bunty took her bag from the chair back, stuffed all the cash inside and replaced the strap over the chair's back. "Gosh, the sausage muffins are very, very tasty this morning Pippa. I'm so glad we came here."
"Mmmm." Pippa agreed. "I am so glad we came here as well. I've been wanting to knock off this place for a while!"
