Hipnosis

Hipnosis-
It was a long day at the office and I was wiped. I had neglected my morning coffee run in order to get to work early for a big marketing meeting and I was definitely feeling it. I decided that a “pick me up” was needed.
Since my day lasted until about seven instead of the usual five thirty and it was Friday I felt that I deserved a little treat. No McCafe or Starbucks for me. I wanted something different. I was about to cross the street to my apartment when I noticed a flier on a telephone pole. “Drown the office away down the mainstream. Enjoy a cup in the new Tributary Coffee and Tea shop located in the art district.” That definitely sounds intriguing. A new place is exactly what I needed.
It was about a twenty-minute walk to the shop but I had finally made it. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the city block and I was drawn in like a moth to a flame. However, my daze was shattered when I entered the intoxicating shop. Here I was in my business gear. Crisp light blue oxford shirt, blue and red stripped tie, black slacks, and polished shoes when all around me were men in woman in flannel, skinny jeans, and boots. I don’t think there was a man there who didn’t have some form of facial hair. I had to be clean shaven for the office. It was policy. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me.
I approached the counter and the barista turned and gave me a once over and smiled. He was a thin guy. No bigger than a 27” waist. He had his hair up in a bun and his moustache curled with wax. He wore a tie-dye apron with the shops name “Tributary” written across. “What can I get for you, man?”
Now, normally I am a black coffee kind of guy. Really gets me going in the morning but as I said earlier, I wanted to treat myself. “I think I’ll go with a vanilla latte. Medium please.”
He gave me a sly smirk and let out a small laugh. “Coming right out, boss man. Can I get a name?”
“Jeff.” I replied curtly rolling my eyes at his office jab.
“I’ll call when it’s ready.”
I turn and really look at the café since entering. The walls are a brilliant mix of deeps colorful swirls. Maroons falling into purples falling into a forest green falling into a deep sunset orange falling into black. It wasn’t long before I was dazed again, staring into the walls that looked as if they were moving.
“Jeff!”
I shake my head lightly. “Woah. Must be a little more tired than I thought.” I go and take my cup from the still smirking barista and find a table in the corner of the shop. As I sipped my drink and letting the warm relief of relaxation begin to take me I notice the looks and grins of the other patrons. I definitely felt out of place and began to silently wish I had gone somewhere else. I took longer drags of my latte but couldn’t quite seem to settle down. I decided to take a quick trip to the restroom to calm my nerves. When I entered I noticed someone had left a canvas messenger bag in there. I sling the bag over my shoulder and walk it out to the barista. “Excuse me. Someone left this in the bathroom.”
“I know exactly who this belongs to, thanks!”
“No problem!”
“Hey as a thanks, why don’t you have another drink on me. I’ll bring it over to you where you were sitting.”
I shifted uncomfortably where I stood. I was getting the feeling I wasn’t particularly welcome here but I was taught to never refuse a kindness. “Thank you, I really appreciate that.” I return to my corner chair and begin get lost in the walls and the smell again. This time going a but deeper than before. I swear I could hear a pulsing in the music of the shop. I felt like I was about to fall asleep when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
“Your coffee, boss man.”
“Thank you.” I said as I took a sip feeling the warm vanilla go down.
“Of course. That bag was mine. I thought I had left it in the store room but I guess I left it there.”
“Oh well, I’m glad I could of be of help.”
“Mind if I join you? I’m on break.”
I would have stayed alone but once again manners took over. “Not at all,” I said motioning to a chair.
He pulled it up and sat pretty close to me. To the point where I could smell his breath. “I’m Kieran.” He shook my hand.
“Jeff. As you know.”
“So, if you don’t mind me asking, Jeff. Why did you come here? You’re not really the type we see in the Tributary?”
“I’ve noticed. I just had a long day at work today needed some place new to go to and saw a sign near my apartment and just thought I’d give it a go. But, you’re right. I don’t really fit in. I don’t know if I’ll come back.”
At this Kieran’s face fell. “I’m sorry to hear that. And I’m sorry I poked fun at you with the whole “boss man” thing. You’re a nice a guy. I would love to make it up to you.”
I laughed to myself. “It’s cool man think nothing of it. You owe me nothing.”
“Nah you’re a good guy. Let me help you fit in some.”
Jeff looked at Kieran with a confused look. How was he going to do that exactly?
“I noticed you responded to this place when you came in. I built it for that purpose. The binaural beat playing over the sound system enhances the warm scent of coffee and tea and makes the colors of the walls bleed together so beautifully. You hang on my every word. Loving the smell of my breath.”
Then Jeff noticed Kieran’s breath more. It was sweet, yet bitter at the end. It was wonderful. Somehow Jeff knew it was the smell of Chai. And he needed even more of it.
“That’s right, Jeff. Fall down. Fall down. Sleep and breathe my breath.”
The familiar sensations of being dazed returned to me. All I could see were mixing colors. Maroons, purples, oranges, greens, blacks. All I could smell was his breath. Intoxicating and addicting. All I could feel was relaxation taking me over and needing to listen to him.
“Jeff. You are a good person. But you don’t belong here with us in this shop do you?”
“No.”
“But you want to. Don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You want to belong because I want you to belong.”
“Yes.”
“Then you will change for me. Yes?”
“Yes.”
“Good. To us, Jeff, you are considered mainstream. You have an office job. You dress like everyone else. You are not an individual. You need to abandon this. You need to change. You need to go down the Tributary.”
“I need to go down the Tributary.”
“Yes. Feel yourself change. As you travel down the Tributary the first thing you will notice is that you are losing weight. You are even smaller than me. Size 24” in waist. And your facial hair grows into a curled moustache like mine.
In my mind I was on a raft travelling down a rushing river. Around me everyone was the same. But I felt my boat change course. I was going do a small side stream and there I changed. The words that floated down to me became true and I changed to match Kieran’s image. Outside my mind I changed as well.
“You are doing well Jeff. Notice how that name no longer suits you. Kallum is your new name. And it has always been your name. Your hair changes as well. It turns to an auburn undercut that I did for you. I cut your hair because I control you.”
I look in the water of the Tributary and see his words come true.
“Finally Kallum, when you awaken you will get my bag from behind the counter. There will be clothing in there. Change in the bathroom then come meet me upstairs in my apartment. Awaken now.”
I awoke and Kieran was no longer sitting in front of me, but his breath lingered. I found the café empty as I grabbed the bag behind the counter. I walked to the bathroom and changed into the clothing I found. A pair of superhero briefs that a child would wear, a gray wifebeater, a black chunky knit cardigan sweater, a teal infinity scarf, a pair of skinny jeans, a pair of worn hightops, and big black glasses. I also found my left ear was pierced in several locations along with a tattoo around my wrist. I slung the bag on my shoulder and proceeded up the stairs and knocked on the door.
“Kallum, my love.” Kieran stepped out gave me a kiss on the cheek. I pulled back quickly. “Oh still straight I see. Well I’ll fix that later. But you most certainly fit in now but we still have some work to do.” I grinned at his words. “Come in now and get some rest. You’re working the morning shift at the café tomorrow.” I walked in and smelled the sweet bitter smell of chai as the door closed behind me.

To be continued…