Flipping the closed sign on the door to open, the dark hair girl unlocked the front door of the café. Located on the corner of 5^th and Main, it was appropriately called “The Corner,” so named by her mother when she and her father had first opened the shop. Out love for their mother, the sisters had changed nothing in the shop. Everything was exactly how it was before the accident, exactly how their mother loved it, decorations and all, with the exception of a few menu choices. I suppose it was their own way of keeping her memory alive in their hearts and everyday life.

 Peering out the window, she noted that the sun was almost halfway above the horizon; the morning rush was about to begin. Hurrying back behind the counter, Lindsay finished mopping up a few tables before throwing the rag in her hand into a tub by her feet. She tied her long brown hair into a pony tail and situated herself next to the cash register, preparing herself, as much as one could, for the unrelenting morning coffee mayhem.

Sure enough, within fifteen minutes, the place was packed with everyone from the local mailman to corporate business owners. That was one thing Lindsay’s mother had loved about this shop; it brought all kinds of people together under the same roof for a common reason. Tears began to well up in Lindsay’s eyes at the thought of her parents, but she quickly blinked them away. This was not a good time to start crying, not when she had to take on the morning rush all by herself. Pushing her feelings aside, she quickly got to work, pouring endless cups of coffee and handing out innumerable bagels and breads. She rushed around behind the counter like a frantic mouse trapped in a box. Forcing down her inborn desire to get irritated and angry, she tried her best to greet and smile at each customer.

Just then a cute girl with chestnut brown hair made her way into the shop and through the crowd of people. Noticing her friend struggling behind the counter, she hurried over and grabbed an apron.

“Heather gone this morning?” She asked as she appeared beside her friend.

            Lindsay nodded. “Went to the bank or something. She wouldn’t give me details.” Both of them had a feeling that meant there was a problem, but neither brought it up, refusing to entice needless worry. Lindsay looked over at her friend. “Allie, you don’t have to help. You know we can’t afford to pay you.”

            Allie rolled her eyes and smiled as she continued to fill up a cup of coffee. “And you know that I don’t care if you can’t pay me. You need help back here, and you know it.”

Letting out a laugh Lindsay shrugged her shoulders and got back to work, knowing that it was no use trying to convince Allie otherwise. That was the way Allie was. She was a lively, friendly person and a loyal, dedicated friend. She was always willing to pitch in and help, and always tried to have fun. She was definitely the outgoing one, always welcoming people and talking to them, and often times Lindsay wished she had Allie’s flare for meeting new people.

The two worked late into the morning, and were really only to relax around 11:00 a.m. as a few stragglers wandered in and out of the endearing little shop. It being summer, there were more customers than usual at this time, but nothing compared to the morning or even lunch rushes.

Suddenly an energetic, tall girl burst through the door. She plopped down in a chair near the counter. “Hey guys, what’s up?”

“Nothing much.” Lindsay laughed at the energy in her friend. Sometimes she would be a ball of energy and other times she would be more aloof. With Stephani, it was really hard too tell. She had grown up in a rather difficult family, a family who didn’t treat her like a family should and she had difficulties opening up because of it, but Allie and Lindsay were patient and supportive through it all. They understood and tried their best to build Stephani up as much as she was being torn down, if not more.

 Stephani, along with Allie, had been Lindsay’s neighbors for about ten years and they had been friends for just about as long. When Lindsay’s parents passed away, they were the only ones who didn’t say they understood what she was feeling when they didn’t, and they were the only ones who forced Lindsay to get back up on her feet. The three of them had been through a lot together, and none of them were going to let the other give up, no matter what the circumstances.