A visit to Marion's Ledge

As a Houstonian, imagine walking into a place that you think is just a typical coffee house. You walk through the door and are immediately in the mist of large round tables and sundry couches and overstuffed chairs where people are sitting conversing while enjoying a warm cup of coffee. Someone from one of these tables catches your eye and says “Hi!” as you walk in. You smile back.

You make your way through tables and past the library area. As you glance, you see a book that looks interesting and tell yourself that you want to look at it after you get a cup of coffee. You walk over to the counter and as you stand in line, you see that there is a meeting going on about a race that is being planned to raise money for the local children’s hospital. You listen and realize that the race will be going down your street and they are looking for people who will volunteer to have water booths in their yard. You had never before known about this race and you are not part of the meeting, but you take the opportunity to volunteer. You are free that day and think that would be a great way to spend the day and help raise money for a cause that sounds worthwhile. The group is happy to include you as this serendipitous encounter is one of the main reasons the organizers decided to meet here instead of a more private location.

That cup of coffee is still calling to you as you head to the counter. The Barista greets you and asks how your day is going. You tell her that it going good despite the morning rush that you experienced earlier in the day. She is pleased to hear that and asks you if you have gotten a chance to a see a play that is being performed all that week over at Stages theatre. She tells you how absolutely fabulous she thought the play was and that it will still be playing for the next 4 days. She directs you to the bulletin board near the front in order to get more information. You had noticed a green tea that looked like a nice alternative to your coffee this day so upon getting that cup of tea, you head back over to the meeting.

They explain to you what is involved with volunteering to host a water stop. You leave the meeting excited about your involvement. The race is not for another month, but you are planning to tell all you friends to come out and support it. As the meeting breaks up, you remember the play that the barista told you about. As you head to the bulletin board, you pass by the entrance to a large adjacent space and see a group of dancers practicing. At the bulletin board, you see that the play is going on tomorrow night at 8pm. Since you are free tomorrow night, you decide that you want to check it out. Then you remember that book that you wanted to look and head over to the bookshelf.

You begin reading the back when the person standing next to you says “Oh, that book is awesome! I read it on the plane ride to the States. I highly recommend it.” You ask her where she was traveling from and she explains that she and her best friend are traveling all the way around the world before her friend has to move away from the town where they grew up in southern Germany. Amazed, you ask her about where they have been so far. She tells you about how they have traveled all through Europe, stopped by Africa, and are now half-way through the states. They are staying at hostels everywhere they go because they love the experience hostels give as oppose to normal hotels.

Talking to her for a bit longer, you decide to take her advice on the book. Her friend shows up and they head out to walk to downtown. You take the book and sit down in one of those large over-stuffed chair that is covered in a patchwork slip-cover. You settle down with the book and the rest of your tea and enjoy the book. A little while later, it is time for you to head home. You think back on all of people and experiences you have encountered today. You came for a cup of coffee and found a place that has that but also has so much more. You take the flyer for the play that’s tomorrow night and head home. You are definitely coming back here again.


by Hailey Hinson