I stretched my swollen feet out into the aisle, narrowly missing the trailing leg of a flight attendant. She scurried to placate a passenger a few rows ahead. His call light had been flashing indignant and unabated under heavy sweaty paws for some time. Glancing briefly at my watch, and then the flight path, I realised that we would be landing early. My stomach churned.
I was too hyped to sleep. I had tried to meditate but amidst the noise of the cabin, the exercise remained futile. My mind -frenetic - longed for the safety of my apartment in Rome.
... what can I get for you, sir?
The drinks trolley was making its final rounds. The same air hostess now smiled sweetly down at me, her cheerful demeanour belying her maligned spirit.
um... just water please,
I replied.
She caught the waver because she continued...
Are you sure, sir? Last chance for an Americano, Arrabiata...?
I knew I was in a privileged position, but I was already wired and didn't want to draw attention. It wouldn't be sensible, would it? I had the finest Columbian Arabica safely sewn into the silk lining of my luggage; beans from the greatest coffee triangle in the world. Why would I risk it? I sighed and politely declined - I'd have to take a hard pass.
She moved on, served a few more passengers, and then stopped alongside Sweaty Paws again. He wanted a coffee but was having to wait for another brewing jug from the flight galley; the dissonant tapping of his left foot revealed his displeasure. Two minutes later a second flight attendant marched down the aisle. Coffee jug in hand, he stood ready to dispense its golden hue into the white porcelain being gripped tightly between clenched hands.
Sweaty Paws remained unapologetic as he sipped from his mug, shifting back and forth in his chair, and avoiding direct eye contact.
As the attendant returned to the galley, the aroma of freshly percolated coffee beans wafted from the steaming spout and permeated my senses, wakening a desire in me too strong to resist.
Damn it! I swore under my breath. Damn that Sweaty Paws! I had almost made it without breaking. But now... the temptation was too much and I succumbed. A double espresso and an Americano later, we had dropped 20,000 ft and were preparing to land.
As I stood waiting for my luggage, my loathesome fellow traveller pulled up beside me with a trolley. Wedging his stout body between the edge of the conveyer belt and the other passengers, he commanded a front-row seat to the action. Suitcase after suitcase circled the carousel. Sweat beads lined the furrows of his brow, gathering in pools. The obnoxious odour coming from his pores was matched only by his abrasive attitude. I looked up to the Customs Channels ahead of us and heaved a little.
Alone and nauseous, I stood staring at the green and red routes. The customs officials were just finishing with the people in front of me.
If I made it through, I could write my cheque. If I failed? I would probably never again know the headiness of delicately perfumed coffee beans nor taste the rich decadence of chocolate caramel and nuts captured in a gentle medium roast. Tough choice.
Ouch!
My knees buckled slightly as a trolley rammed into the back of my ankles, removing several layers of skin. A string of expletives rolled off my tongue. I spun around to see Sweaty Paws, completely oblivious to his callous ineptitude. He was like a nefarious drunken sailor guiding his over-laden ship towards the NOTHING TO DECLARE signs.
Without knowing why, I decided at that moment to follow him. Within seconds the dogs were onto both of us, a frenzy of panting hounds, straining against their masters' leashes; trained to recognise the sharp scent of contraband.
Coffee most certainly fell into that class, ever since European governments had banned its production, import, and consumption within their borders. It was hedonistic! - they claimed, raising self-indulgence above moral value; a drug to rival all others.
Hedonism was the farthest thing from my mind as the pain still seared through my ankles. I hobbled backward in an attempt to avoid the curious canines.
Fermare! Fermare! Fermare! (Stop! Stop! Stop!)
The official line rang out. Rifles were waved in my direction. As their words echoed inside my head, I froze.
The dogs, however, were taking a far keener interest in my fellow traveller than they were in me. Sweaty Paws was surrounded. Officials were pushing and yelling. A sombre-looking suit ushered me to one side. With my paranoia fully engaged and now feeling slightly terrified, I decided to 'fess up. I choked back a nervous laugh and spluttered,
I have... coffee.
I paused, head bowed, waiting for the hammer to fall... but instead, the official broke out in guffaws of laughter. His colleagues were too busy with Sweaty Paws to notice or care.
I looked up to see Sweaty Paws stagger, and then collapse to the floor, convulsing and writhing, and clearly in pain. The official caught the look on my face and, pointing to Sweaty Paws, laughed again,
It's ok. Your lucky day. Drug mule.
... and with that, I felt the colour drain from my face before emptying the contents of my stomach over his Italian leather shoes.
The laughter stopped immediately, and he waved me through the exit gates amidst a flurry of technicolour speech.
I did not know if he had misheard me, but I didn't wait to find out. I wiped my sleeve across my mouth and, staring straight ahead, strode off without a second glance.
Within a few hours, I was sitting on my balcony, in the upmarket neighbourhood of Aventino, drinking the finest Columbian Arabica in the world.
The newspapers that evening led with the arrest, at Fiumicino - Leonardo da Vinci Intl. Airport, of a drug mule, who had swallowed two keys of coke in tied-off balloons. One of the balloons had burst and the man was lucky to be alive.
A gentle breeze wafted through the leaves of newsprint adorning the table for one. Leaning back into my chair to enjoy my spoils, I sighed, shaking my head in disbelief at my good fortune. Perhaps too close a shave... I thought, and perhaps my last coffee adventure abroad.
I focused my attention back on the newspaper and turned the page.
This post was inspired by a previous #spillthebeans contest post. Since the deadline for that has long passed, I have used the #coffee-fiction tag instead.
Header image by Kseniya Budko from Pexels in Canva Pro Library
Dreemport banner used with permission of @dreemsteem and @dreemport and designed by @jimramones
Hello @samsmith1971
I enjoyed reading your story so much!
It was well written, with vivid scenes that came alive.
I hope you'll check out future weekly prompts, and be in time with the rest of the entries, to add to some excitement.
hi Milly 😊 Thank you so much for your kind words. I will check out the prompt on Sun/Mon for next week... and see if it sparks something hehe. I enjoyed writing this. I can never see the countdown clock... is it visible in a specific front end only? is the deadline effectively 10pm BST on Wednesdays? !LUV !PIZZA
Ok, I release a new prompt just after midnight Sunday/first thing Monday morning to give enough time. I close it off at 10:30 pm on a Wednesday. This is to give ample time to process each post appropriately, still allowing time for myself and my community MOD, time to carry out regular community tasks.
The `Countdown timer should look something like this, in purple at the top of bottom of the post... this one says Countdown in 2 days....
Thank you...I will look out for it !LUV !PIZZA
I've never had proper coffee and this post makes me want to have any "ccino" drink asap 😂😋
What an adventure! It is a great read. 🤗
Sweaty palms sure had it coming. The drugs he swallowed and the fear of being caught must've been the reason behind his behaviour both on and off the plane.
Lesson for the kids, "don't do drugs and don't be a wannabe Pablo Escobar"😂
yep!!! Pablo is not a good role model, kids! haha. Thanks for visiting my post, Chikamara (see full name - 😉) 🙏 and thank you for the supportive words. I wrote some sections over and over again - it was a bit frustrating trying to get them to feel right! Eventually, I was like... stop mulling and just hit publish 😅 !PIZZA
I see 😂
Visiting is always a pleasure🙃
I totally understand this. I hesitate to publish posts because they sound cringe-worthy sometimes😂 but I just publish them anyway cuz I've got nothing to lose 😏
I was captivated through it all. How funny that I was drinking coffee while reading. That explains sweaty paws odd behavior. I have never been on an airplane but I'm sure I wouldn't mind those hums one bit... I'm desperate here 😂
hehehe...one day, my lovely... andI hope I get to meet you someday... wherever you find yourself xx
Yep yep yep!!! Good Morning Rosebud!😁❤️
Hi @samsmith1971,
Thank you for participating in the #teamuk curated tag. We have upvoted your quality content.
For more information visit our discord https://discord.gg/8CVx2Am
hehehee what a fun "escape by the seat of your pants" adventure!!!
so .. did he sell this contraband and love a life in the lap of luxury for the rest of this life? or...was it just about the last delicious cup of coffee available to him???
great story telling!!! from start to finish! hehehe
!LOLZ ... after that close encounter, there is another tough decision to be made I guess... Keep all the coffee beans for himself... or sell them and make a mint... maybe a part 2 at some point 🤔🤷♀️ !LUV !ALIVE
@dreemsteem! You Are Alive so I just staked 0.1 $ALIVE to your account on behalf of @samsmith1971. (2/10)
The tip has been paid for by the We Are Alive Tribe through the earnings on @alive.chat, feel free to swing by our daily chat any time you want.
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I agréé 12 hours on a plane is too long.
Hey Sammy girl! hahaha
I didn't even read this post yet - but Im' here with creatr! haha and showing him how to boost posts - so yours was the guinea pig :)
I'll be back to read another time! He says hi :)
💗 ... thank you. hi right back at both of you...I hope you are having a lovely time xxx
Yay! 🤗
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This was very vivid and the scenes played out nicely in my head. It is how he survived the entire horror of a trip. Tough times don't last. Only tough people. Haha.
It's no wonder sweaty paws was so sweaty.
How lovely you have written this that I couldn't resist reading to the end just like the Americano coffee.
Thanks for making the day with this piece.
Waltzed in through dreemport.
Hey there fellow Hive blogger, I found your post on Dreemport. Write on bud.
What a rollicking read! Enjoyed this muchly. Love your writing - what a pleasure to catch it.
Great writing, I enjoyed it very much, good writing and great learning and life lesson.
I was immense in it all the way. So beautifully written, how lucky he was to be able to escape. I love every bit of this
From dreemport
Great piece of fiction, although maybe not that far fetched, if this climate change keeps up.
Ahh captivating ehh...those words aligned properly.
I enjoyed his trip that was narrated in such a way that it can make one glued to the screen and grasping all it entails. The narrative part of the article portrayed an imaginative visualization and it's super cool.
I dropped from Dreemport as always
Oh Sam; I was reading this as a real life experience. I kept thinking, you poor thing - bloody fiction drew me in! ;)
hahaha, oh geez!!! ROFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
I'm literally rolling right now, Tim! 😂😂😂
Thanks for dropping by; always appreciated !LUV !LOLZ !PIZZA
I have tabs for my Ink Well faves open on my laptop all ready for the weekend when I get to not work and instead just ENJOY my reading... so I'm looking forward to visiting your blog 🤗
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Ah yes, that dreaded Ink Well prompt - chatterbox. I opened it yesty and had been thinking about where to go with it - I'm nearly at an idea, will see how it ends up.
Glad to see we're both hanging on for this weekend ;)
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This was one amazing post, it really sucked me into it and I actually climbed right in hahahahaha!!! Magnificent storyline @samsmith1971, I felt like I was right there! Except for the smell! lol, sorry hehehe!
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Great writing @samsmith1971. The description of Sweaty Paws is totally brilliant. Glad that “you” were able to enjoy the aroma of a really good coffee, and not the smell of a dank customs’ prison cell. Haha
Holy moly... who knew coffee could be so inspiring!
And you write really friggin' well! 👀
Did you study somewhere? Writing? How did you learn to do this fiction thing so well???
p.s typo last line. Worth fixing because this is so good! (focussed) 👏
Aah... the ol' focus/focussed story- do we double up the s or don't we, hehe? It's an old English thing... I know... I should have changed over by now but old habits die hard... I've changed the spelling for you hehe... I read up a little more about my faux pas... and whilst both are completely acceptable variants... the single s is more popular now in mainstream publications. I guess I don't always follow the trend !LOLZ but there is always a time to start... who knows if I'll remember hehe. It seems the UK decided to simplify things a couple of decades ago 😂 and made both variants acceptable in our written language. The double s is still seen in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand... according to proofed.co.uk
As for fiction... I have loved books and writing since I was really little. I wrote a fair bit during my teens and then backed off almost completely and only recently (last 2 years) discovered my passion for it again. I love it when creativity strikes or interesting ideas form that I can explore through fiction. I try to learn from each piece, through constructive feedback etc... I research a lot for my stories and I use a free editor that simply points out where I can improve my writing without doing the work for me. eg: suggests sentences that may be too long or word use that may be too multi-syllabic... or identifies where cliches may have been used etc... there are a whole host of things that affect readability and enjoyment of a piece... but then I am able to reread and make my own adjustments to improve the readability score. I only recently found the website and I love it as it focuses (note 1 s used hehe) my attention on improving my writing, and I have to do the work to do it. I am finding that each time I have fewer things that I need to address as I adapt my writing naturally.
!PIZZA
Wow and hey I learn something new every day!
Who knew focussed and focused had so much depth.
p.s. now feeling ignorant as I honestly had no idea you could use both 😁 Please don't ever change for me.
As for the writing... well... there's machine generation suggestion and there's a way with words and a fluidity and humour that only real humans can generate.
So methinks you struggle to accept a compliment ;) And one is due here. That's for sure.
hahaha... I do deflect a lot! I shouldn't... but I do... !LOLZ The actual writing is all me... and the changes I have been making of late have really been focused on reducing the length of my sentences and reducing the number of monosyllabic words to improve readability... I still leave in the ones I feel would negatively impact the message of any particular sentence if I were to remove them.
So, I'll just say thank you, Nicky 🤗. I love that you have an appreciation for my writing 💗 It means a lot to me !LUV
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