Kindred Roots Cafe Novels & Stories

Why are you so indecisive? "Well, aside from this school and Punder's café. They own Chicklit—a well-known shop for dresses, outfits, shoes and accessories for ladies and women. They also own Crust—a famous restaurant for its delicious Pizza. I think they have at least 20 chains in Brampton and 34 in other cities. They—" I immediately cut her by putting my index finger on her lips. "I don't want to hear it anymore," I said and messed my hair. "Freaking oreos, it's frustrating me." I sighed.

Maybe speak to Sharlene if I actually see her. I walked into the cafeteria and was engulfed by the familiar smell of multiple meals and pastries. I wondered what was today's special. Walking to the counter to make an order, I greeted the lady that usually serves lunch. She looked to be in her sixties as her large grey afro was visible under the hairnet she wore. Her dark skin was full of wrinkles and she had the kindest smile I've ever seen. She was absolutely beautiful, just like her home in Africa.

“Oh! Always.” We drive in silence for the next 20 minutes and he pulls into a classy looking cafe with a medium sized signage that reads, ‘Brown Cafe’. I pull out my phone and turn on my location to know the address of the cafe for future purposes. I go inside and the smell of coffee greets me, and some freshly baked bread is staring at me. The whole cafe is filled with brown everything, brown tables and chairs, staff in brown uniforms, brown floor and brown wallpaper with some touches of cream. I find a seat, and a waiter comes to my table with a menu. “I’ll have item 6. Thank you.” I tell him, and keep looking around in awe of this cafe.

The moment we stepped inside, I could hear the faint sound of "You should see me in a crown by Billie Eilish." The whole place smelt like coffee beans which totally made sense cause it seemed like this people grinded the beans every minute. We made our way to a counter and the girl that was standing there smiled at us. "Welcome to Kitty's Cafe. What would you like to have today?" She asked beaming with smiles. The smile looks practiced though. I mean, why not? She has to smile every day.

I muttered under my breath. Mara snorted playfully. “Come on, starving Luna. There’s a new cafe down the road.” She hooked her arm through mine, tugging me toward the exit. Pedro, our driver, stood by the car. “Heading home yet, my Luna?” I shook my head. “Not yet. Pedro. We'd like to go get something to eat.” “Sure. Let's go.” The drive was short and in no time, we got there. The cafe’s atmosphere hit me the moment we stepped inside. Faded checkered curtains, the scent of rosemary and burnt sugar, the murmur of old men arguing over chess—it felt like stepping into a forgotten story.

Finally, when they reached the location, the first thing that greeted them was the name of the cafe. "Cinder and Cream," Isla read aloud, pausing at the entrance. “Fancy name for a lunch spot.” Ryan shrugged. "It’s close to Blackwell Enterprise. What did you expect? Street food?" "Still feels a bit too polished," she muttered, though she was already stepping inside. "It must be new." The café was sleek, quiet, expensive, but not intimidating. Ryan glanced at the menu board. "Okay, no overthinking. What are you getting?"

People who still thought of me as the wild girl who snuck tequila into Bible camp and danced barefoot in warehouse raves. I tapped Kendra. Kendra: Pen? Is this really you?? Me: Still breathing Kendra: If you’re in town and don’t come out tonight, I’m filing a lawsuit Me: I have like… two hours max Kendra: We’ll make it count. Cafe Reverie. 8 PM. I stared at the screen for a second too long. Cafe Reverie was just like I remembered cozy, loud, and a little chaotic. Music drifted through the air, something jazzy and warm. The lighting was low, all amber and gold, and the scent of espresso clung to everything like a memory.

The Daily Dose Café - Two Days Later The smell of burnt espresso beans and wet wool was usually enough to mask anything here in the cafe, but today, it wasn't enough to mask Zara's exhaustion. She stood behind the counter of The Daily Dose, a cramped, humid coffee shop three blocks from campus that catered to sleep deprived students and budget conscious locals around the area. It was 3:00 PM on a Thursday. Outside, the sky was a bruised shade of purple, threatening another storm.

If I knew it was this easy, I would have camped out here the first time he shouted at me. God, how long has it been since that first day he crashed into me and wrecked my bike? “Hi, what can I get you?” the guy behind the counter asked. “Uhm… caramel macchiato and chocolate chip cookies, please,” I said. The prices are actually not bad. Hmm… for such a preppy-looking cafe, its customers are diverse. And this place despite looking high-end, sells used books? And has budget-friendly prices? That’s something. A different guy hands me my order at the end of the counter. “Hey, it’s on the house,” he said.

A world where I wasn't defined by my lost wolf or my botched mating. A universe where anything was conceivable. As we rounded the corner, I saw the cafe Jade had mentioned. It was a little, run-down establishment with peeling paint and an unsteady neon sign. The windows were covered in posters for local bands and art exhibits, which obscured the view inside. "This is it?" I inquired, lifting an eyebrow. It appeared more like a health-code violation than a café. Zeke grinned and slung his arm over my shoulders. The weight of it was unusual, but not wholly unpleasant. "Do not judge a book by its cover, sweetie.