Bittersweet Moments

24 | Treacle Tarts

24 | Treacle Tarts

Shopping, in general, was not in my department, but – cakes – grocery shopping was.

Bright and early in the morning, when it truth, it was ten a.m., I finally came out of my room. True, I had woken up earlier than that, but tossing and turning in bed was more inviting than starting the day. My body was heavy when I had dragged it to the bathroom and down the stairs to the bustling shop.

"Ready to start the day," Yawning, I wore my apron and pulled the hairnet over my pony. Saturday. It was also known as the day I would rather work than do my homework.

Heron, who was on the counter instead of Mel, gave me a look. Finding nothing interesting, he went back to taking orders from the kitchen to the tables. I caught a glimpse of Mom in the kitchen, taking out a freshly baked cake. Oh. At least her morning was going great.

"So, should I go clean the tables, or scrub the sinks?" I asked Mom once I entered the room. She didn't say anything, but fetched a piece of paper and a wallet from the table. I knew what was going to happen.

Grocery shopping.

Mom and I usually took turns doing the horrid task. And this time, the turn was mine. Before, when I would only shoved junk foods and soda cans into the cart, Mom had taken the liberty to make me a list of things to buy. I wouldn't only be shopping for the house, but also partly for the shop.

"No," I began to shake my head, "Not today. I don't want to go out!"

Mom looked like she was so done with me. As always. "Don't you want to breathe fresh air for once? Go to the mall? I threw in extra cash in case you want to buy something for yourself."

"I do go out to breathe fresh air!" I argued, "You know, when I have work!"

"This day is your off day," said Mom. She went back to the candy mix she was making. "And no one else will do it."

"We have workers here," I motioned at Reg and Douglas, "Mel's not doing anything, is she?"

"Mel's off day is today, too. She has some relatives to visit. And no, only you can do this." She shoved the list and wallet into my hands. I took a quick browse at the list – the usual sugar and chocolate, with other savory things and the rare vegetable. Mom had this incredible superpower to memorize nearly all the prices.

"So I get to buy something for myself?" I considered the idea. Field trip for myself, I guessed. Mitch was snatched by her grandparents today, and Lawrence had my meeting with his personal matchmaker postponed.

"Make sure it's not expensive," chided Mom.

"And expensive for you, is what? One dollar? Two?"

She pointed a pair of tongs threateningly at me. I twisted on my heels, taking off my apron and hairnet. No working today, only shopping.

I was halfway out the kitchen when Mom had a last speech for me, "Change out of those shorts before you go. Those are too short."

I looked down at my 'short' shorts. "These are up to my knees, Mom," I deadpanned.

"No, too short," she told me distastefully.

I realized there was no point in fighting with her. Kneeling down, I rolled down the legs of my pants so that they touched the tops of my sneakers. If that wasn't enough for my mother, I might as well wear my mermaid tail to the mall.

"And once you finish, you can have the rest of the day to yourself," Mom added. I wasn't even another step further out the kitchen.

"Are you implying that the shopping wouldn't take the rest of the day?"