Journal 8: "Good Form"

Happening truth:
Last week, I visited my local Dunkin’ Donuts to buy a medium chai latte. Upon receiving this delicious drink, I took a sip of it to test how hot it was. The beverage appeared to be quite warm, but not to the point of being hot. I decide to take a big gulp of the drink, as I was cold from the freezing wind outside that I had just escaped from. Much to my dismay, the drink was indeed extremely hot and easily burned my tongue. The employees of Dunkin’ Donuts begin to chuckle and say a few condescending remarks towards me because I had not waited for the drink to cool down.


Story truth:
I stumble in, beaten down by the bitter cold and stinging winds. The setting was perfect. The shop contains vivid images of the magnificent donut. The Dunkin’ Donut. A distinguished pink frosting with an array of colored sprinkles beckons to me, tempting me to give in to my own desire of its magnificent taste and texture. As I contemplate my order, the employee grins at me. He breaks the silence. “What can I get you today, sir?” I had known all along what I would order. “One medium chai, please.” This sweet tea was always a countermeasure to the chill of the outside world. Therapeutic in nature and sweet in taste, it always gave the caffeine fix I would need to go about my routine. As I am handed my elixir, I take a small sip to get a dose of my favorite drink. The saccharine brew is all I had hoped and more. The potion is as rich as Uncle Moneybags with the intensity of the sun, leaving a content feeling similar to that of a finished Sodoku puzzle. Desperate for more of the remedy, I take a mouthful more with dizzying speed. In only an instant, my situation changes from relaxation to anguish. Alarms go off and my tongue begins to scream at me. The lava I had just ingested would take an eternity to wear off. The confusing grin of the employee changes to a loud, irritating chuckle. “Don’t you know? That drink is hot!” He laughs once more to reinforce my shame. “Why would you ever make this so hot? I want to drink it now, not in twenty minutes!” I burst through the door with Odin’s fury, hell-bent on continuing my day in the absence of the grinning menace.