I can’t see the coffee cups. They are under the counter, and the shelf opens on the barista’s side. She doesn’t look as she grabs one and sets it on the counter. It’s the wrong one. I’m not a regular here, so it’s not like I have a cup that I always get. I don’t even have anything in mind. I just know that I’m not drinking out of that burnt orange oval mug today. It just doesn’t feel right. So, I stare at the mug, and then I stare at her. “I can’t use that mug. Can I have a different one?” She looks at me. She looks hard. I look hard back, knowing that I will fight to the death on this if need be. She had dreadlocks. In a peaceful Rasta sort of way. I am bald. In a “you can’t kill me if I’m already dead” kind of way. Her pupils and irises are black coffee, blended together via gentle smoke right before her coffeeshop shift. The clock ticks slowly. There’s a line behind me. I don’t care. I am surefooted. A heavy stone. I breathe in and I breathe out, quietly and intently. She takes the offensive mug off the counter. She hunches down below the counter, digging through the coffee cups presumably. Either that, or she’s getting a weapon, and it will be a full on Kung Fu show down. I’m ready in either event. The Rasta dreads pop back up, she sets two cups on the counter. “You choose,” she speaks softly. Both mugs are black. One has a yellow Batman logo. One has a Skull and Crossbones. “Both of these seemed like they could be the right one,” she offers, seeing me evaluate both mugs. It’s quiet. People are waiting. “My aunt (pronounced “aahnt”) practices Santeria,” she offers …. for reasons unknown. But then she explains, “She can be kind of spooky…” which I suppose she intends as a compliment. The clock ticks slowly. “I’ll take that one,” I spoke softly also and pointed at the Skull and Crossbones. I picked up the mug, and examined it. “Everything is a little bit Angels/Devils isn’t it…” I told her … a nod to her spooky Santeria Aunt. She smiled and rang me up. I smiled and paid. … No actual Kung Fu required. Go toward the light… y’all.