So, did that talk with Roscoe help?
“So, did that talk with Roscoe help?” Angie leaned over the counter while Sierra drank her water. Sierra shrugged. “I guess. He said that he and Roscoe had a talk about how he needed to find a hobby that has nothing to do with computers, but he hadn’t decided yet. Then he immediately bought a huge riding lawn mower to take care of the weeds that were overgrowing our property.” Angie nodded and Sierra continued, “I thought maybe he was thinking that mowing weeds could be his hobby, but he said he was just worried that they might catch fire. I don’t know what Roscoe showed him up on the mountain. He came home mumbling about living dirt.”
Angie nodded. “Ah, yeah. The crypto.” Sierra shook her head. “Crypto?” Angie shrugged. “Yeah, it’s some bacteria that grows over the soil. It prevents dust storms and stuff. It’s pretty important up there.”
Sierra laughed, “I thought he was speaking metaphorically. You know, like the Earth is alive and needs to be taken care of.” Angie laughed with her, “No, just don’t step on the crypto.”
Roasters was empty. Sierra usually timed her runs for Angie’s slow times so they could talk a bit afterward. She considered it her reward for running in the mountains. Her lungs still hadn’t adjusted to the altitude and every mile was still a struggle for her.
“So, have you heard about your test?” Angie looked at Sierra with needy eyes, but Sierra didn’t notice. “No, not yet. It should be soon, though. I think I did well, so I’m not worried. I don’t really know why I bothered taking the Bar here. I’m not going to join a firm. I guess I didn’t know what else to do so I just started studying for the test and took it.”
Angie fingered a thick envelope. “Well, do you know how long until you know?” Sierra finally noticed the anxiety lying under the surface of Angie’s face. “What’s going on?” Angie handed the thick envelope to Sierra and looked at her with large eyes, nearly moist with tears.
Sierra looked at the papers in the envelope and read through them. When she was finished with them, she looked up at Angie, “You’re not a franchise of Roasters Up North?” Angie shook her head, “I don’t know what them papers mean. I think they’re telling me we can’t be called Roasters anymore, but we’ve been Roasters since I was a little girl. Auntie Doris ran it back then, but these folks say I gotta change my name.”
Sierra was still confused. “You don’t serve Roasters Coffee?” Angie shook her head and pointed at the red and green neon sign behind her. “No, we serve Rimini.” Sierra looked at the sign, never realizing that it meant that she was drinking Rimini Coffee instead of Roasters Coffee.
Sierra had a flash of adrenaline and started talking, “Well, this is just a standard Cease and Desist warning. Most of the time we just send these out and see who complies. Since you’ve had the name for so long, you might be able to fight it in court, but I’m thinking it isn’t worth your money to do that.” Angie wiped her hands on the bar towel and listened to Sierra continue, “Since Roasters is so famous, people are going to assume you’re serving their coffee. It’s in your best interest to just change your name so you’re not accidentally misleading people. It’s cheaper that way, too.”
The cafe was quiet and Sierra became aware that Curly had turned off his radio in the kitchen. He was listening to their every word. Angie put a hand on her hip and the other stayed on the counter with the bar towel. She looked past Sierra and nodded her head. She blinked and a few tears squeezed out of the corners of her eyes. She brushed them away and started wiping the counter.
“Snow tomorrow. You gonna run in the snow, too?”