The Tenth Cup

The coffee began pouring after the Counterman left the register.

Not from the machine. Odessa had watched the machine’s glass pot remain empty, its heating plate cold beneath a skin of dust. The sound came from behind her instead: a patient, liquid trickle, followed by the delicate clink of porcelain.

She turned.

A white cup sat on the counter beside the lottery display. Steam rose from it. The coffee inside was black enough to reflect the fluorescent tubes, though the tubes were still flickering from the lot-light incident. Beside the cup lay the laminated card.

Odessa did not touch either one.

The Counterman had gone through the stockroom door. She had heard it close. There was no back exit in the stockroom, only shelves of motor oil, paper towels, and a freezer full of ice that never melted. Still, the door stood shut with the solemnity of a door separating countries.

From the diner came Femmie’s voice. “Dess?”

Odessa’s hand moved toward the bell beneath the counter, then stopped. Rule Four said the lot lights were out. Rule Four said get behind the counter and count to sixty. She had counted to sixty. It did not say what to do when the dark came inside with you.

“Femmie?”

“I’m here.” A pause. “Are you alone?”

Odessa looked at the steaming cup. “No.”

Femmie came through the pass-through carrying a pie knife. She saw the cup and went still. The knife lowered until its tip touched the linoleum.

“How many?” she asked.

“Customers?”

“Don’t be clever.”

“That’s difficult for me.”

Femmie’s eyes remained on the coffee. “How many cups?”

Odessa counted the visible ones. There were seven stacked beside the machine, one in the sink, and the new cup on the counter.

“Nine,” she said.

Femmie slapped the pie knife down. “Don’t count things he pours.”

The phone rang.

Both women looked toward it. The red numbers on the wall clock read 2:22.

Odessa reached for the receiver. Femmie caught her wrist.

“Once,” Odessa whispered.

The phone rang again.

Femmie’s grip tightened. “No.”

The ringing stopped. For three seconds the store held its breath. Then the phone rang a third time.