6 Another Day, Another Dollar

The day continued in much the same way as Alan continued to make coffee for people, doing his best to pay attention to the small details. There weren't too many customers, maybe fifty throughout the entire day.

As the day progressed, the system criticized him less and less as he honed his coffee making skills. However, despite this, Alan was not pleased. He had just finished serving coffee to a pretty woman dressed in a power suit. He watched expectantly as she took the coffee, but she just turned and walked out of the shop.

Alan sighed.

"Host, you correctly made coffee for the 20th consecutive time. Congratulations. You now have met the most basic requirement for being a cafe owner. Continue to work hard."

Alan ignored the system. He stared at the tip jar. That's right, his melancholy had nothing to do with system's condescension. What had Alan feeling so down was the fact that, aside from Tom, no one bothered leaving him a tip.

"What's with people these days? No appreciation for the work of others! How rude!" Alan cursed his customers for being stingy.

"Host, an owner must not be so petty. You should appreciate the patronage of each and every customer and focus on perfecting your own work."

That caught Alan's attention. "System, how can you say that? By not tipping me, they are saying they do not value the coffee making method you provided. Are you really okay with that."

The system remained silent for a minute. Alan thought it was not going to respond, but then it suddenly said. "Host, it is more likely that the people just find you unattractive. After all, people tip attractive waiters and waitresses better. Host, please endeavor to make yourself more attractive."

Alan scoffed. "Nonsense. Look at this face. These chiseled features. Not only that, but I can make such an excellent cup of coffee. How could I possibly be unattractive?"

"Host, please endeavor--" The system began again, but Alan cut it off.

"I think the problem," Alan said. "Is that the coffee you have me make isn't that incredible. You kept saying how it would give benefits, but I didn't notice them."

The system responded. "Host, you cannot experience the benefits of the ultimate cup of joe. You must succeed through your own efforts. Please endeavor to become the owner of the world's most luxurious cafe."

"You're as stingy as the customers." Alan accused the system. The system didn't reply.

Alan sighed again, staring at the tip jar forlornly.

The day ended without Alan receiving any more tips. He cursed in his head as he walked home, with only a dollar in his pocket. If he counted the cost of the coffee he had payed for, he actually lost money today. Of course, his paycheck at the end of the week would fix that, but still, it bothered him.

That night he dreamt that all of his customers were pretty young women who tipped him huge amounts of money and asked for his phone number.

He woke up smiling.

As he went downstairs he found his parents in the kitchen.

"Good morning," His mom greeted him.

His dad continued reading the paper, not looking up at him.

"Good morning." Alan replied, sitting down at the table and digging into the plate of food waiting for him.

"I'm just so happy to see you working," His mom smiled, chatting happily as she cooked eggs on the stove. "Isn't it just great, darling?"

His dad grunted, lowering the paper briefly to eye him and give him a nod.

His dad was a man of few words.

Alan finished eating his breakfast, wiped his mouth, and thanked his parents for the food before heading out.

His parents were lovely people, really. However, he couldn't wait to get his own place.

As he walked he thought, "It's so nice that my house is close to the cafe."

The system chimed in. "Host, it is nice to see you so enthusiastic about being close to work. Please continue to work hard."

"Oh." Alan stopped midstep, before continuing his stride. "Right, I was enthusiastic about shortening my commute time. That's what it was."

"Host, taking a cab would shorten your commute time even fur--"

"Yes, oh yes, so nice to have this short walk to work." Alan interrupted the system before it could finish.

Who was he trying to fool. What Alan was really excited about was that he didn't have to spend money on cab rides.

The system was silent for a minute. "Thank you Host."

"For what?" Alan asked.

"System did not understand what Host meant by humans being cheap; thank you for clarifying for system."

Alan was speechless. Finally he just said, "System, this can't be called being cheap. This is being cost conscious. Cost conscious, understand?"

The system remained silent. Alan grumbled to himself as he finally arrived at the cafe.

He walked inside. Wendy hadn't arrived yet, but John was sitting at his desk. It was almost as though he hadn't moved from yesterday.

Alan grabbed his apron and went behind the counter.

He stood there for a second, before moving back around the counter and putting the tip jar in a more prominent position. He nodded to himself before going back behind the counter and waiting for customers to come. As he stood there Wendy walked in, staring at her phone before going and standing by the side. She didn't bother greeting him or John, wrapped up in her own little world.

"Kids these days." Alan shook his head, conveniently ignoring the fact that he didn't greet John either.

As he did, the bell on the door rang and a man walked in.