Super

The Art of Improvising

Chapter 18: The Art Improvising

"I ordered Carry Louis's How to Cook Everything on Friday and I was told by some girl that it would be here on Monday! Can you at least tell me who I spoke to?" The woman shrilly asked leaning over the counter. God, I hate Mondays and crazy people.

"You probably talked to me-" I began.

"Probably?" She snapped, slamming her purse down on the counter in front of me.

"I mean yes; you did talk to me Ms."

"Then where is it?"

"I'm not sure-"

"What! You're not sure! How can you not know? You ordered the book yourself didn't you! Then what happened? Did it just disappear? Fall into the void? What?"

"We've been having problems with shipping over the weekend. I'm really sorry about all of this. But I can assure you we'll have it figured out by Wednesday-"

"Wednesday? Are you kidding me? I ordered it so I could have it today! I need it today!"

"I'm sorry but there is nothing more I can do." I explained quietly and was met with the response of silence. Her chest heaved up in down in rage and she looked at me with pure distain.

"I'm going to talk to your manager, this is completely unacceptable." She huffed stomping towards the back off the shop, her heals clicking all the way there.

"Wait!" I lifted up the counter but it locked. "Damn it." I unlatched it and rushed over to the women. "Please calm down. Maybe there's another book I can find you that we have it stock? Uh, we have a ton of cook books that I think your friend will like." I rambled but she wasn't listening, she was on the hunt.

"Where is your manager?"

"She has an office in the back but-hey hold on!" I called but she didn't hold on. She marched right on by the café straight to Ashley's office. Before I could stop her she barged into the room like a wild animal hunting prey.

"Where are they?" She all but growled when she found the room empty and I took a step back.

"I was trying to tell you! She isn't here! She's gone for the day!" He evil eyes turned on me in an instant and I knew I was in deep trouble.

"Don't you dare raise your voice to me!" She snarled. Oh god, me and my big mouth. I didn't even mean to.

"I'm so so sorry. How about you wait back by the café and I'll try to find you some other cook books, okay? I'll be right back." Why do I always get stuck with the crazy people while Ashley gets the nice, normal people? It's not fair. I'm a crazy magnet. I ran to the cooking section and glanced over the shelves until I found more of Carry Louis's cook books. Summer time favorites, Healthy Home Cooking, My family's favorites...god basically everything except How to Cook Everything! I mean what a ridiculous title, who knows how to cook everything? I looked over my options again and in the end picked Best of Carry Louis. I hope it's good enough. I ran back to the café but she's nowhere in sight. Is she gone? I looked down the long hall and saw that Ms. Crazy herself digging through her purse. God why couldn't she have just left.

"About time! I hope you found another copy." She ripped the book out my hand before I could explain. There was a moment of silence as she read the title.

"I said I wanted How to Cook Everything not Best of Carry Louis. Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?"

"No I told you we didn't have that, but I thought this one might be a little similar. Some of the same recipes might be in this book so I thought-"