The Barista Who Draws on Cups

The barista at the coffee shop near my office draws a tiny picture on every cup. Not just hearts. A cat in a top hat. A sun with sunglasses. A very determined snail. Once, a little drawing of me, labeled "Medium Oat Latte Person."

Customers have started collecting them. There's a corkboard by the door covered in cup sleeves with her drawings. A man in a suit told me he's saved every one for two years.

I asked her why she does it. She said she wanted to be an illustrator but couldn't afford art school, so "this is my gallery, and it's open seven days a week."

Last month, a local children's book publisher saw the corkboard and asked her to illustrate a book. She's leaving in December. I'm happy for her. I'm also keeping every cup.