Tea With Friends

    The most unpleasant tea imaginable sat in front of Naomi. She wouldn't leave until she overcame her apprehension, though. After the liquid had cooled down enough to drink, and a little more procrastination, Naomi grabbed the cup and attempted to drink. She revolted and quickly placed the cup back on the saucer when she smelled the memory-filled aroma.

    Immediately the young woman was taken back to the summer at her grandparents' farm when she was eight years old. They'd have her milk the cows every morning, and their idea of a refreshing break was a glass of freshly-picked-raspberry tea with milk. The drink itself was unpleasant, but now intimately knowing where milk came from, she was apprehensive toward drinking the drink. She did drink it, though because being berated for being ungrateful was less desirable.

    She was berated regardless, though, so why she did drink it she wasn't sure. Every day her grandfather scolded her for not enjoying the drink; evidently that was equivalent to not accepting the drink.

Naomi returned to the present, and her friends beckoned her to try the Red Gold raspberry tea. They insisted it was delicious. Naomi reminded herself that it was ok, this wasn't her grandparents' farm, this was tea with friends.

    She grabbed the cup again and sniffed, intentionally trying to disassociate the scent from the memories. Better she thought. Then as she brought the cup to her lips, the waiter approached their table and asked "milk?"

    Naomi threw the cup at the waiter's face and stormed out of the restaurant. Her friends followed shortly after in fits of laughter, but she stood sulking under the awning.

    They have no idea she thought.