Les Miserables (Seattle version)

As you may know, my inspiring and exhilarating wife and I enjoy going to our local Starbucks all the time on occasion for some well-deserved "us" time, excellent coffee, and a snack. However recently it seems that there are fewer and fewer choices in the pastry department when we arrive (hungry) around eight p.m. Matters came to a head recently when I took this picture of the display case at Starbucks:

Although this was really annoying, it did inspire me to put my frustrations to music. As a fan of the musical "Les Miserables", I thought that the song "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables would be fitting.

With apologies to Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel, and Herbert Kretzmer.

Empty Cases at the Starbucks

There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty cases at the Starbucks
Now the pastries are all gone.

All I wanted was a bagel.
With some butter on the side.
My wife felt like a nice cookie,
But the snacks all seemed to hide.

From the table in the corner
We could see them being wrapped up
So I rose with orders ringing
But the barista said:
I'm sorry sir, but you're too late,
These snacks are for tomorrow!
Would you like a candy bar,
Or chips?

Oh my snacks, my snacks forgive me
(The ghosts of pastries that have been wrapped for the next day appear)
That I came to you too late.
Although Starbucks shuts at ten,
You can't get food after eight!

Hungry faces at the counter.
Growling stomachs in the store.
Empty cases at the Starbucks
Where the snacks are sold no more.

(The ghosts fade away)

Oh my snacks, my snacks, forgive me!
But next time I will be sure,
To buy some food from Giant
So my stomach growls no more.

B.T.W., the next time we visited, there were bagels available! Whoo-hoo! I eagerly asked for one (toasted with butter on the side) only to be told that I would have to have it cold, as they had already shut down the oven for the night (at eight p.m.). Apparantly, the oven "has a brick in it" and takes a long time to cool down. Grrr!

If anyone from Starbucks is reading this, ever hear of a TOASTER?