Delectable Benefits

Eleven

Nicolette knew her mother was simply playing with her in the kitchen on stage. She was sweating like bullets on stage and her mother was acting as though it didn't bother her. "Mommy, when are we going to start mixing the ingredients? We haven't done anything."

"We'll start mixing the ingredients when you relax," Anya said.

Nicolette looked ready to pull out her hair. "Mother!" Nicolette hissed.

Anya looked at her daughter and sighed, "All right miss cranky pants, gather all the dry ingredients we'll need." Then Anya went to the fridge and began to take out the makings of a full meal.

"Mother, we're supposed to make deserts," Nicolette said with a heavy sigh.

"Honey, I want you to look at the judges. Look at their faces and tell me what do you see?" Anya asked.

"I see they look tired but they're hyped up. They look like their I don't know, something," Nicolette said.

"Exactly. Those judges have been eating sweet goodies all day and they haven't had a real meal in their stomachs the entire day. They need something other than another sugary concoction. Trust me." Anya said and caressed her daughter's cheek kissed her forehead.

Nicolette sighed, "But mommy."

"Time is ticking, Mrs. St. Anthony," The teacher said.

"They can't bake, she must have given her baked goods away because no one would buy them like last year," Mrs. Antiqua jeered.

Nicolette pursed her lips together and looked at her mother. "All right mommy, we'll do it your way."

Anya smiled proudly, "Now, that's the spirit, so, are you ready?"

"Yes! What do I have to do?"

"Make them a spot of tea to remove the sugar from their tongue. Though coffee is good too but we need them to be relaxed." Anya instructed.

Nicolette paused, "All right, mommy," she began to look for the water kettle and the tea bags. Pretty soon she was taking instructions from her mother like a trained sous chef.

Nick watched his wife and daughter work together. He moved up the stage just in case they needed him. Nicolette was getting pressured by her mother's relaxed mood. Then when she heard the insult, he saw the courage and a bit of determination enter Nicolette's eyes. Then he felt nervous knowing that his daughter inherited his non existent cooking skill.

A few moments later, he noticed his wife was making a complete meal. That would mean Nicolette was going to have to make the dessert. He saw his wife's hands move deftly as she spoke with their daughter. Encouraging words and instructions, at times telling a story or two about the food they were making. The meal thee were making was dedicated to the first complete meal she had made. It consisted of greek salad for the starter and creamy pork and mushroom with mixed vegetables sautéed in butter. Nicolette was done gathering all the ingredients for the desert his mother planned to make, Anya began to start plating the dishes for the judges.

"Nicolette, melt the chocolate," Anya instructed.

The little girl nodded and melted the chocolate. At first, she was worried she might burn the entire bar then her mother told her to put it on medium heat and then when she was  done melting the chocolate, she glanced at her mother. "Mommy!"

"Set the table, Nicolette," Anya instructed and the girl was finally out of the kitchen to calm her nerves for a while. Then Nicolette didn't know what happened next. Her mother didn't say another word but simply worked on the dessert. She knew her mother had been working on the dessert while she worked on the other dishes. But she didn't know where she found the time to create sugar candies that were designed as the equipment and the grand piano for the band. Then finally, she was looking at a full orchestral band with a theater as the triple chocolate dome and the white chocolate were molded into people with the brown chocolates drawn their faces to make expressions.