«This country is a mess...» The guy at the next table repeated this phrase every 5 minutes. The whole atmosphere of underground coffee shop was oppressive. A year ago no one could imagine that caffeine would be illegal. But here we are, in modern US of 202X, where new bogus researches of big corporations can affect life of millions. US became a country of drowsy, lazy nation of coffee-addicts. Tons of meds based on caffeine are illegal too. The number of accidents and emigrations has drastically increased since the ban came into force. And here I am, in the basement of two-story motel in Boston suburbs, where underground coffee shop “St☆r$hop” became a second home for caffeine junkies like me. Among the regular customers you can find office managers and dozen of hipsters. Some of them are too afraid to keep their coffee-machines at home, while others just couldn't change the rhythm of their life, spending free time or working with a cup of coffee. Recently, I became regular too. But whenever I come in St☆r$hop, my brain get filled with strange thoughts. Coffee shop is designed as dim hut. The walls are decorated with paintings, photographs and different handicrafts of visitors. Semicircular rows of solid wood furniture surround the electric fireplace. Sometimes “St☆r$hop” is visited by talanted coffee-addicted musicians and almost all of them consider it an honor to play in front of this fireplace. And my mind keeps wondering, how this classy place could become a 21st century drug house. So different from age of rock'n'roll or rave parties of 80s. And it's so calm in here despite the fact that we are assured that caffeine makes us overenergetic wild animals. Sometimes I wonder, how “St☆r$hop” keeps going. Three days ago there was another police raid on this place. SWAT, stun grenades, arrest of visitors – nothing reminds of this event now. Like it never happened before. Although, I must admit that police raids got softer. They are people too and they understand the awkwardness of this situation. Some of them sympathize with us, others learned to use new law for their own illegal enrichment. Customers, or should I name them junkies now, didn't change much after the adoption of the “caffeine ban” law. What can't be said about the owner of “St☆r$hop”, Jimmy Stars. Once a successful businessman, who has gone all the way from “white collar” to owner of his own coffee shop network, now looks like a leader of drag dealing clan. His hair grew to his shoulders, tattoo adorned muscular body, and his advertising face from the past got covered with scars from first clashes with drug police. But you can't say that Jimmy is upset of new life. As he said many times, for the first time if his live he feels truly alive. In terms of business, new law allowed him to inflate the price of coffee. Nowadays he doesn't need whole network to live like a king. Some are fighting for the re-legalization of coffee, others are establishing market for this roasted tropical drug in US. Once again I just pay for couple of cups of illegal beverage, go out on the streets of Boston suburbs and leisurely walk home with the hope that tomorrow will be a better day.