a story by mal coppenrath

A hamster moves his paw methodically at an espresso machine.
He’s making a latte.
When wiping the machine down, he burns himself. Screams “FUCK” loudly.
A lot of people look at him. A tall woman in large sunglasses snorts.
His small eyes move downward.
He puts the rag on top of a puddle of milk on the counter.
Two hours later his boss calls him into the back room.
Tells him he must know why he’s been called into the back room.
The hamster nods.
He isn’t sure if he should’ve nodded.
His boss tells him, he says, “You can’t scream FUCK when you’re working. In fact, you cannot scream FUCK even if you come in here on your free time.”
Every time his boss says the word “fuck” he makes sure to say it loudly.
The hamster feels as though he’s being threatened, but he’s not sure why.
His paw is throbbing when he closes the door behind him.
He works at Starbucks, with several other hamsters.
One day, he puts skim milk in somebody’s drink instead of soy.