Issue 16
Toss
Lauran Strait
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Burned
"Turn the sign around." Mable tied an apron around her broad middle. "It's one after seven. Unlock the door -- don't keep our customers waiting. You want them going elsewhere? What's wrong with you? You'll run this business into the ground if you don't listen to me!"
"Sorry ... " Stephen said, moving out of the customers' path. "Coffee?"
Conversations swirled through the room while Mable poured coffee and took
orders.
Stephen cracked eggs onto the griddle's black surface, white-ringed suns sizzling in midnight space. He loaded toasters, scooped shredded potatoes and butter onto the grill, and poured perfect pancakes, each the same size.
"I saw three people leave before you got around to opening the door," Mable
whispered, scowling. "This must stop!"
"You're right," Stephen said, stepping away from the grill. "You know how to do everything better than me." He untied his apron. "Restaurant's all yours."
Scorching eggs turned golden around the edges, and smoke wafted from blackening hashbrowns.
"What's gotten into you?" Mouth open, eyes narrowing, Mable stomped her foot. "Have you lost your mind? The pancakes're on fire."
"Better get the extinguisher, then toss 'em." Stephen shrugged just as the smoke detector's blare began. "Ciao."
~Lauran Strait
Lauran Strait is a freelance writer, professional editor, writing
instructor, and Moondance Magazine column editor. Email.
© 2004 by Lauran Strait. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2004 by Cayuse Press. All Rights Reserved.