by Laura Burton
The weeks leading up to the final project were stressful for both my students and myself. Our version of restaurant wars took a mind of its own. Most of the students got really into the idea and wanted to do more.
They brainstormed together and decided they wanted to set up in the gym, invite the public and produce a menu that they would be proud to serve their family. I gave each member a set amount of tickets to give to their parents, but they had to sell the rest to help cover costs.
With all the work the teams put in from the different classes, I already gave them an A but I added a private cooking lesson from me for the grand prize winner. We could cook whatever they wanted. It seemed to go over well, and I was relieved because I had no idea what kind of prize kids would want these days—well beside money.
For a Saturday afternoon, I was surprised to see most of the students showed up. Some had prior engagements that couldn’t be changed, and I worked out something for them to make up the work.
I had a lot of pride in what I saw. They decorated their spaces, picked their silverware and serving dishes, and came up with the food concept. None of them were close to being near a five-star restaurant, and that was perfectly okay. We didn’t have it in the budget to get the finest china.
“I’m opening the doors!” I announced. There were more hushed whispers, people panicking, and I had to smile. It warmed my heart they took this so seriously.
I unlocked the door and pushed it open, then told the student at the front podium good luck. She was the hostess that would give each guest a sheet of paper that contained the menu from each restaurant.
As much as I wanted to have a sit down dining, it wasn’t possible. The classes weren’t big enough, and I couldn’t combine them in any way that would work for the students. Fast service was the better option.
I walked around and smiled. All the food looked good. One restaurant was focusing on sandwiches, another was going with a fair theme. It made my heart miss Charlie, but I pushed him out of my mind. Another restaurant was doing breakfast and the last one had potatoes with many toppings.
Everyone came up with a dish for the team’s menu. It was up to each team how to price each item based on food costs and overhead. They also had to decide who was cooking, running the food, worked at the counter and then at the cash register. It was weeks in the making, but it would now show them how their hard work would pay off.
To make things simpler, the guests would pay to get inside the event and be given some fake money to pay for their food. I had a few teachers out in the hallway helping with the money because it was too much of a temptation to students. I know most could be trusted, but I didn’t want to chance it.
I made the circle and felt like everything was going smoothly. People were already getting food and sitting down at the picnic tables.
“It’s looking good guys. Keep up the good work,” I said into the microphone I had clipped to my shirt. It was meant only for me to communicate with all the team leaders. They had permission to reach me if they had an emergency. It was better than running around in a panic trying to find me.
I was about to make another round when I saw Charlie walk through the door with the city’s biggest food critic and one other person. I stopped in my tracks and wondered what he was up to.
He looked over and waved at me. His smile was warm and friendly, almost as if we saw each other just yesterday instead of weeks prior. He stopped coming to the evening cooking lessons, and he never got back to me about his private ones.
“Mary,” he greeted as he approached.
“Hey,” I said, looking from him to those beside him. “What’s going on?”
“I have a surprise for the kids. Is there someway I can make an announcement?” he asked. There was excitement dancing in his eyes, and I grew even more curious about his plan.
“Um…sure. There’s a PA system over here,” I said, pointing to the side. I walked in that direction and wondered if this was a good idea. Without knowing what he would say, he could ruin everything.
Give him some credit, I scolded myself.
I unlocked the small metal door in the wall and pulled out the microphone. “When you want to talk, click and hold this button,” I explained, showing him how it was done.
“Thanks,” Charlie said with a smile. His fingers brushed over mine as he took the microphone from me. Butterflies I hadn’t felt in a while returned, and I forced myself to look away.
“Excuse me, everyone. Can I have your attention, please?” His voice came through the speakers and stopped everyone in their tracks. “My name is Charlies Willow and I work for The Gazette. I’m starting a new column where we feature amazing things happening in our community and your restaurants will be the first feature in next Sunday’s paper. I will go around tasting all of your food and letting readers know about your talent. I’ve also brought with me, Walter Burk, the legendary food critic, who will also write about what he samples today. He wanted the chance to shine a light on our up-and-coming talent in the community, as does Abigail Winters from the culinary institute. She has donated a full ride scholarship to any student working today that wishes to pursue their dreams of becoming a member of the food industry here in this wonderful city of ours. Your teacher, Ms. Jackson, will have all the details if you wish to apply. Please don’t be nervous about all of this, as I know you’ll do your best. You have an excellent teacher. Now please, let’s get back to the fun!”
Charlie put the microphone away, and I stood there speechless. I don’t know how he pulled it off or why he did it but I felt so grateful that he did it for the students.
“Why did you?” I stammered as he walked toward me.
“Because I know these students work hard and they mean a lot to you. If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.” Charlie stopped right in front of me and looked directly in my eyes. The butterflies were going crazy, and I lost my words for a second.
“How’d you—?” I motioned toward the two that were already starting to sample some food.
“I made a few phone calls,” he shrugged.
“When did you get the new job?”
“A few days ago.”
“How come you never called me back?”
“I was hurt. I like you so much that I couldn’t stand the thought of being around you when you don’t feel the same.”
I nodded and felt tempted to look away, but I didn’t.
“Any more questions for me?” he asked with a smile.
“Are you going to kiss me or what?”
Charlie didn’t say another word as his hand cupped my cheek and he leaned in a little. He paused when his lips hovered over mine and I smiled at him, my eyes never leaving his. And then, he pressed his lips to mine in the sweetest kiss I had ever experienced.
The sound of applause filled the room, and I pulled away just enough to look. The students were clapping and some were cheering. I buried my face against Charlie, unable to hide my smile or my blush.
He rubbed my back and pulled me in closer. I knew in that moment that he was worth taking a chance on.
Chapter 14
A few months later
Mary
The last few months with Charlie had been something out of a movie. I never thought I could feel so happy or so free. Once I stopped fearing what might happen and started to just enjoy, I was finally living. I had Charlie to thank for that. April was due some credit for trying to knock some sense into me.
Now that it was summer break for me, I could travel around the city with Charlie to cover different stories. It was nice to see him in his element with all the confidence I had glimpsed now and then when we were in the kitchen.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked with a laugh. The suburbs had replaced the tall buildings and even those were getting sparse.
“You’ll see,” Charlie grinned.
“Another one of your surprises?”
He laughed.
“I told you I don’t care for su
rprises,” I teased.
“You seem to like them so far,” he argued. “The fair, the restaurant wars, when I made you dinner and didn’t burn a thing.”
I laughed. “Okay, they’ve all been wonderful. I’m sure this one will be too. I’m just surprised your work assignment is taking you out to the country.”
“We’re not in the country,” he chuckled. “We’re still in the city limits, surprisingly. We’re just not in downtown.”
“It looks like the country,” I retorted softly.
I slouched down in my seat a little and turned my attention back to the passenger window. There were barely any other cars on the road. The sun was shining, and it felt like the perfect day. Part of me wished he didn’t need to work and we could spend our time exploring the countryside—I don’t care what he said. We were in the country.
Five minutes down the road, Charlie pulled the car onto a dirt road, and I leaned closer to the window. I wanted to try to guess where we were going before we arrived. All I saw was tall grass with a few trees here and there.
“Where are we…”
“Just be patient.”
I glanced at Charlie before I looked back at the window. The road went around a bend and the car followed around the curve. When we reached the other side, I saw a large white tent. I looked at Charlie and he bit his lower lip to keep from grinning.
I opened my mouth to ask him what was going on, but he pulled into a parking spot, next to a row of others.
“Let’s go. You don’t want to keep your guests waiting,” he urged as he climbed out.
I was quick to follow him. He took my hand as we walked toward the tent. It was then that I recognized some faces. My former students, their families and the students from the evening cooking class.
“What’s going on?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“They wanted to put on a potluck for the person who inspired them to get in the kitchen and make something delicious,” Charlie explained.
“You shouldn’t have,” I said.
He shook his head. “This wasn’t my doing. It was their planning,” he said, motioning to the crowd that had formed around us.
I could feel tears welling in my eyes as I looked at all the smiling faces. I had never been so touched in my entire life. I looked back at Charlie and he nodded his head, encouraging me to great everyone.
It took twenty minutes for me to make it to everyone, talking and listening to their story about how they were inspired by my lessons. I hugged everyone and thanked them for all that they did.
“I want to thank everyone,” I said before realizing nobody could hear me. I used Charlie’s shoulder to push myself up on the nearby chair. “Thank you, everyone for this wonderful surprise. It means so much to me. Each of you have shaped my life in some way or another. I can’t wait to try all of your delicious dishes. Let’s eat!”
A few people clapped before a line formed. They insisted I go first, and I pulled Charlie with me. We picked up a large paper plate and took a sample of everything.
“Now I understand why we had to come out here. There needed to be enough space for everyone,” I said to Charlie as we finished dishing up.
“Actually, it’s one of your student’s properties. They had the space and electricity for all the hot plates,” Charlie explained. “They figured out details and called me up to be the one who escorted you here.”
“I wonder how long they’ve been working on this,” I wondered.
Charlie shrugged as we walked over to find a place to sit down. I ate the moment we got in our seats. Everything we had on our plates was from my students and I knew some would be better than others, but it meant the world to me they took the time to craft a dish for this get together.
“So…” Charlie said after several minutes of silence. “I was thinking…”
“Yeah?” I looked over at him before taking a bite of the biscuit I had slathered with butter.
“Why don’t we move in together?”
I slowed my chewing as I thought about what he said. Then I swallowed hard. My first reaction was to laugh and ask if he was joking, but then I remembered my promise to myself. I wasn’t going to put up a wall at the first hint of change. This was a good thing.
I think.
“You want to?”
“Yeah. I mean, we see each other pretty much every day and I think we’re good together,” Charlie said before taking a bite of potato salad.
“We are good together, aren’t we?” I asked with a smile. “Let’s do it.”
“Seriously?” He looked at me with a surprised expression.
I grinned at his reaction and nodded my head. “Yes. Let’s move in together.”
Charlie leaned over and caught my lips for a sweet kiss, and I knew that everything would work out. He was the one for me.
“I love you,” I whispered moments after our lips parted.
“I love you too.”
We sat there grinning at each other for several seconds before we turned back to our food, unable to wipe the smiles off of our faces.
That Crazy Girl Upstairs by Kari Shuey
Chapter 1
Something cold and wet exploded on Kayson’s face. Followed by another. And another. Kayson blinked and shot upright in his bed. He tilted his face to the ceiling, and a tiny watery missile struck his nose. He cursed and clambered from the downy comfort of his blankets. His legs tangled in his sheets, and Kayson tumbled to the floor, bracing for impact. Thunk.
He rolled over, kicked at the sheets, and groaned. Not again. Why wouldn’t the landlords evict that crazy girl upstairs? He lifted himself onto his elbows and watched the drip, drip, drip of water as it landed with soft ticking sounds on his pillow.
Kayson stood, gripped the bed frame, and shoved. Grunting with each step, eyes on the growing wet spot on the ceiling, he pushed his bed out of the line of fire. How many times had this happened? He’d lost count. He retrieved the bowl from under the sink in his bathroom, placed it beneath the persistent leak, and snatched his phone from the side table.
A clatter sounded overhead, followed by loud footsteps trailing from one side of the room to the other. Kayson glared at the spot where the last commotion took place. He shook his head and tossed the phone back on the dresser. He might be sorry, but this time he’d deal with it in person.
A pair of jeans rested on the dresser next to his phone. Kayson picked them up and put one foot in, then hopped on the other as he pulled on his pants. He tugged a t-shirt over his head and strode out of his room to get his shoes.
Open textbooks and loose papers littered the floor. He stepped over one book but stubbed his big toe on the corner of another. Kayson sucked in a breath and paused. The shooting pain subsided, and he snatched a pair of flipflops by the door on his way toward the stairs. He already regretted this.
The third floor mirrored the second floor. The few pictures on the walls were different, but the paint and carpet were identical. He could have been wandering down his own corridor.
Kayson arrived at the door to the apartment above his and raised his fist. Did he really want to do this? He could report her to the owner again. He frowned. All the other times hadn’t made any difference. Why would it now?
He blew out a breath, his cheeks puffing slightly. Well, he was here. He might as well confront her head-on. He rapped his knuckles on the door. Muffled, quick footsteps approached. The door swung open, revealing a gorgeous caramel-haired angel.
Kayson blinked. The angel was covered in white foamy bubbles. She blew at the hair that framed her face, and specks of white floated down. Her flushed cheeks accentuated how cute she was. He shook his head. He wasn’t here to ogle her. Things needed to change if she expected to stay in this apartment. No landlord was dumb enough to allow her destructive behavior to continue.
The girl sighed. “Oh good, you’re here!” She grabbed his shirt near the collar and dragged him into her apartment.
“I’m sorry you had to come so e
arly. I was cleaning up before I headed to work, and I realized I ran out of dish soap, but I have company coming tonight, and I needed to run a load of dishes before work or they won’t get done because I have errands to run.” She hauled him in the direction of her kitchen.
His brows furrowed. He tried to detach her grip on his shirt, but she kept tugging him along and talking. “I thought if I only used a tiny bit of dish soap in the dishwasher it would be okay, you know with all the water and stuff. But I guess I put too much in because…”
They arrived in the kitchen, and she finally let go. She folded her arms and tilted her head to the side. “Well, just look at it.”
White foam waves spilled over the twenty-year old linoleum. Their arrival brought in a gust of air that kicked some of the bubbles airborne. They drifted lazily back to the floor.
Kayson’s mouth dropped open. He glanced from the mess to the girl. How could someone so innocent looking make such a mess? “You—”
“Oh, and then there’s this.” She grabbed his hand this time and led him out of the kitchen and down the hall. “I’m sure my neighbor downstairs hates me. I can’t imagine he isn’t getting some kind of leak.”
“Well, actually—”
“You see, I needed to hand wash some things, and I couldn’t do it in the sink with the dirty dishes there, so I put them in my bathroom sink, and I guess that hole-thing was clogged cuz while I was doing dishes it started overflowing.”
The girl pointed to the bathroom floor. “I mopped up as much as I could with the towels, but the carpet in the hall is still kind of wet. I think you’re going to need to check the pipes so it doesn’t overflow again.”
Kayson’s head whipped back. “You want me to—”
She smiled. “I have to get to work, but I trust you won’t steal anything. Thank you for coming to take care of this.” She brushed the foam from her hair and ankles. “Lock the door when you’re done.” She spun on her heel and traipsed back down the hall the way they had come.