LIDIJA
It’s 6.45 a.m., July morning. Lorena has just entered the coffee bar “Lidija” in a small coastal village. She is about to open the place at 7 a.m. Local drunkees are already waiting for their ritual morning shot to start the working day. She is tired from the night before. The whole gang stayed late last night, and she couldn’t make herself go to bed on time, although she knew it would be hell to get up so early. “You have to make the best of these summer days”, she thought, she wishes now she hadn’t. She is unconsciously going through the tedious morning working ritual (opening the bar, turning up the coffee machine, arranging the tables and chairs on the terrace, serving her usual customers – good thing they are not that much interested in coffee – you can them serve them anything as long as there is the usual alcohol shot available). The rest of the village is still sleeping, only garbage people and other ‘losers’ like her are about. It’s already too hot. It will be hell today. Good thing there is this cool and shaded terrace. Paintings of Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Bob Marley on the walls make her smile every morning. Bless her father and his artistic sensibility!
Slowly, she goes through the usual motions and makes herself a strong cup of coffee. Her mother will be in soon, telling her about today’s tasks and plans (she’s still not ready for that). Adam, her brother, has already been here before going fishing; some fishing gear is missing (who knows if he ever went to bed after last night’s party). Mornings are so nice and quiet… There is her mother on the way. “I better get moving”, Lorena says to herself. A new working day has started.
Slowly, the terrace is getting more crowded. The usual middle-aged customers going from their early-morning grocery shopping are stopping by for a cup of coffee and a nice chat with some friends. There are some enthusiastic tourists asking about the nearby countryside and for directions to get there. “Please, don’t make me speak Croatian, let alone some other language!”, Lorena is praying silently, but is all smiles when they signal for her to come. It comes with the job. At the age of 21, she’s already had several years of experience in this catering business, and is used to be all smiles even if she doesn’t feel like it. “Why don’t they just leave their money and leave…?” “…how typically Croatian!”. “Lorena, one macchiato with cold milk and a glass of water, please”, someone shouts. “Coming…”, she replies, while dragging her feet. She shouldn’t have drunk so much… And it’s only 8.30…The crowd is getting bigger...
