Four small opinions — Matji & Co.

The four spend their first morning conducting a full inspection of the shop. It does not go well for the shop.

Four small green tea-bag creatures marching single file along a wooden counter like tiny inspectors

Title composition: the four lined before the café interior, arms behind backs, very serious

One creature pressing its whole arm flat against the kettle and nodding in approval

The kettle: acceptable. The whisk: excellent, clearly loved. The espresso machine in the corner, bought in a weak moment: the Matji stand before it in silence for a long time, the way one stands at the site of a historic mistake. In the village of my younger years there was a fellow who bought a motorcar before there was a road. He received the same silence.

The four bowing reverently in a circle around a bamboo whisk on its stand

All four standing motionless in front of a large espresso machine, staring, long shadows, judgmental silence

Close-up of one creature's face before the espresso machine: profound, historic disappointment

They cannot speak, apart from the one word. But a Matji can convey an entire paragraph by standing near a problem, and by noon Mutjo has apologised to the whisk twice.

One creature pointing sternly at a dusty shelf while the barista scratches his head

One creature measuring the gap between cups with its outstretched stubby arms

The barista apologising to the bamboo whisk with a small bow while a dark-green creature with a brow line supervises

That night he writes a sign for the door: UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. It feels, he admits, truer than he would like.

Evening: the barista hand-lettering a small wooden sign, brush in hand, four creatures watching

The four lined up proudly beneath a sign hanging on the café door, warm lamplight

Closing frame from outside: the espresso machine in the window now wearing a tiny cloth cover, like retired furniture