Shorts4Dinos
Shorts4Dinos
The Minister of Love
wc: 296 2021
The burger place doesn’t accept cash. Papa Cyrus
disagrees with this policy. “Cash is king.” He says as a thin fold of bills
appears in his hand. “What happens if the internet goes out tomorrow? You’re
funked, buddy.” He grins and winks and you smile back as you put his order in
along with your card. “I love you. This extra’s just for you.”
He gives you a dollar tip. You put it in the communal tip jar in the back room. When you return, he’s opened a snuff box of weed on the counter but can’t seem to find his papers. You busy yourself organizing napkins.
“Do you smoke?”
“Not right now Papa Cyrus, not during work.” When you look up, he’s gone, although he’s left his paraphernalia; you move it all to the bench next to his traveling bags.
He gives you a dollar tip. You put it in the communal tip jar in the back room. When you return, he’s opened a snuff box of weed on the counter but can’t seem to find his papers. You busy yourself organizing napkins.
“Do you smoke?”
“Not right now Papa Cyrus, not during work.” When you look up, he’s gone, although he’s left his paraphernalia; you move it all to the bench next to his traveling bags.
When his burger’s ready he’s returned to the bench. “I love you. Extra napkins?” You’d forgotten he’d asked. When you bring the paper, he says he loves you again. He says you’re a light, to continue to grow and become who you’re becoming. He looks into your eyes as he speaks. A sincere smile under the fox grey mustache warms his words.
As he eats on the bench outside, you take out your dinner and sit at a table in the empty shop. You watch his Panama hat through the window, the way his layers of silk rustle with the breeze.
When Papa Cyrus leaves, he forgets his trash on the bench, his lighter too. You bring his lighter to him and he tells you he loves you again. You share that you love him too. His aromatic, citrus earth scent lingers long after he’s followed your hand drawn map to the nearest storage unit.