Magdalena: Totalled

Magdalena's Quest for Self Improvement begins in January of 2005.

Sunday morning a handsome, dark-haired man in tight skiing attire appeared at the snack bar. "Coffee."

"Would you like cream or sugar?"

"Black. Tall. Is there an employee discount?"

"No, sir."

"Hmph."

The dispensing nozzle of the coffee vat got stuck when the cup was half full, and no amount of fussing with the handle would dislodge another drop of coffee. The man fumed, and Magdalena sold him the coffee for the price of a small. She heard him grumble softly, "Teaching families at a place without coffee. Just great."

"Uh, excuse me, are you a ski instructor?"

He seemed surprised to be spoken to. He started a little and quickly answered, "Yes, yes I am."

"I'm sorry to bother you, but you wouldn't happen to know where Craig is, would you?"

"Never heard of him."

"Oh. He's a ski instructor here too."

The man shook his head. "Hate to disappoint you, but I'm the only one. There was some other guy, but he didn't show up this week. Something about totalling his car on a pile of manure. They don't like tardiness here. Listen, thanks for the coffee." He walked briskly away, shoulders squared, every movement purposeful and precise.

Well. This man was good-looking, but he was certainly not cute or friendly. Where was Craig? Did he really run into a pile of crap? And now that she put it that way, how often have all of us run into a pile of crap?