Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

102. Stay calm, make him look

"You look Nihat, you just keep looking," Mevkhibe mutters as she wipes down the window of her new store. "You watch and see how well I will do...You're not the only one in this family who can be a successful business owner...No sir."

Nihat looks at her across the street, waving at Sema leaving with a grocery bag. She glares at him and wipes faster.

"Hello! Welcome!" he says gleefully as loud as he could so she would hear he had another customer. "Look who it is! How are you?"

Mevkhibe looks at Nutis and narrows her eyes. Traitor!

"I am wonderful!" Nihat boasts loudly. "What can I get you?"

Muzaffer lifts the extra shelf he had been assembling and puffs. "Phew! What an exercise!"

Mevkhibe looks at it and her eyes widen. What on earth is that?! The shelf stood tilted to the left, wobbling slightly. It couldn't even hold itself up let alone glass jars. "What is that supposed to be Muzaffer?" she voices her thoughts.

"It's a shelf," Muzaffer shrugs. "Can't you tell?" He tilts his head the same way the shelf was leaning. "I have to say it might be on its last legs though." He sighs with a shameful pout. "Sorry aunt Mevkhibe, but this was the only material I could find for free."

Mevkhibe stares at the sorry looking shelf and then starts laughing. Muzaffer joins in a second later, realizing she isn't actually mad.

"This sounds fun," Melihat says as she comes in with a smile and a covered dish. "Wow, look at this place! It's beautiful, partners!"

"Thank you." Mevkhibe hugs her.

"Shhhh," Muzaffer shushes them. "What are you doing? Do you want my mom to end us before we start?"

"How could she possibly hear all the way down the street? Plus, I haven't told anyone a thing yet."

Mevkhibe nods, winking as she zips her lips at Melihat's chuckle.

"You're a walking newspaper, you're bound to let something slip."

"Nice Muzaffer," Melihat rolls her eyes and then looks at the shelf he held up with one arm curiously.
"And who made this? Was it you?"

"Yes," he grins, not catching on that she was making fun of him, "this is my creation."

Mevkhibe starts laughing again at his proud stance, slapping her legs.

"You know I can totally see it, son. It looks just like something you'd come up with," Melihat laughs.

"Ha ha ha," Muzaffer mocks their laughter. "Laugh yes...but listen here," he gets serious, "we're not selling well built shelves, we're selling organic products. And this is as organic as it comes. It will fit in nicely with the too big tomatoes."

"Oh good Lord!" Mevkhibe breathes through her laughter.

"You're such a jokester Muzaffer!" Melihat holds onto Mevkhibe to stay up, wheezing. "If I get this kind of standup I'll be here every day!"

Mevkhibe notices the dish in Melihat's hands then for the first time and stops laughing, keeping it to a smile only. "What is this Melihat?"

"I made spinach burek. Let's take a break for five minutes huh? What do you say?"

Mevkhibe eyes the shop across the street. "Won't some people get envious?" Nihat did love spinach burek.

Melihat looks over her shoulder too and grins. "If he does, we'll be bigger and give him a piece too. Come on," she nods outside and Mevkhibe follows.