A Sucker for Sugar

what is it about endearments? "hi sweetie! what can i get you?" i fall for this shit every morning at my Castro starbucks where endearments run rampant. somehow i interpret the salutation as empathetic, i look at the smiling, genuinely warm face of my local sugary starbucks guy and i find myself adoring him. it's like he knows me and he CARES. what are other neighborhood coffee shop baristas like in the morning? often they are as grumpy as you. often they don't say hello, good morning, they'll look at you dryly, wait for your order, fill it and say "Next." but not at my castro starbucks. there i get sunshine and sugar, straight up every morning.