Stressed Spelled Backwards |Lesbian Story|

Chapter 12

Because I didn't have a potty mouth like the previous proprietor, the deli was fairly quiet the next day. Celie's apron was replaced by a small petal pink one. Elise bought it for me so that I didn't look like a burrito in Celie's. Fifteen minutes after the opening, destruction had found its way into the grill and was on fire. The Lovebirds and the Pole Dancer helped me put the flames out. It took some squealing and struggling and cursing before the fire stopped.

I returned to my eggs, waffles, and pancakes. Some people had to wait a little longer than usual, but I made it through breakfast just fine. I told everyone that Celie was on vacation in the Caribbean, and the Jogging Grandma promised to spread the word around the building to back me up. I'm not usually a lair, but my conscience just couldn't handle telling them that I was the cause of her being hospitalized.

I would have been better if Celie hadn't called long distance from the Caribbean five times that day. She just needed to talk to me through the morning routines.

"So, are you having a good time, Ms. Celie?" I faked giggling. "How's the weather?"

"You're either crazy or you're having a severe case of amnesia, Miss. Kononovich," she said. "I'm hanging up here like a barbecued chicken, and you're talking about the weather?"

"Great! Have you been to the beach?" I said when one of the tenants walked past.

"No, I haven't been to the beach! Now listen, when the meat company delivers, weigh everything on our scale, not theirs. They're professional criminals. And when the baker comes, count all the hot dog buns or he might as well rob you blind."

She continued to list all the things I must do and look out for. I felt like I was running an illegal business instead of the deli.

Things quieted down until lunch when the flurry of takeout orders came for deli sandwiches. I just sliced and slapped and wrapped while talking to Celie on the phone again, which was wedged up against my hot ear. If my neck and shoulder stayed like that much longer, the hospital was going to have to save a little traction for me.

"Don't overfill, Miss. Kononovich! I can hear you're overfilling!"

"No kidding! You went snorkeling? What a vacation! Don't disturb yourself by calling again!" Then I hung up her on.

The takeout orders tapered off around two, so I had plenty of time to clean up the place and get ready for the dinner hour. The first customers began trickling in around four-thirty, and among them was none other than Clarice Kingsley.

She didn't take a seat at the booth and just grinned at me and said, "Coffee and croissant sandwich, please, Ms. Celie Jr."

I frowned at her, and she giggled musically. I served her with a flourish, put on my best Celie voice, and said, "So, Miss. Kingsley, you're going to eat or just leisurely wasting my time?"

She pouted. "Hey, you don't look so hot. Something wrong, Azra?"

"I think I'm getting executive burnout," I said. "I feel like I might sprout extra hands doing this alone."

"And where is everyone else?" she asked.

"Elise has a fashion show to attend," I said. "And Karmen won't be home until late. Ms. McHugh now only waited on the weekend because she's still recovering."

Clarice chewed on her bottom lip. "I can help you out if you want."

"You?" I squinted my eyes at the blonde model.

"Don't worry, I won't charge," she said and giggled a little. "I've never waited the tables before. I think it looks fun."

I hesitated at the prospect, but I actually needed some help, and Clarice had a nice pair of extra hands at the moment, so I agreed.

Together we served five giant course meals and a dozen more takeout orders. We took a break after the customers left and sat at my usual booth.

"Phew, what a day!" I said, wiping the invisible sweat on my forehead. "Thank you for helping me out, Clarice."

She suppressed a smile as she looked at me.

"You can thank me in dessert," she said suggestively. I knew what she meant, but I didn't want to entertain her sweet fantasy, so I just shrugged.

"Too bad, Celie doesn't serve it here," I told her.

I watched her lovely face fell, and I instantly felt bad for it. After few seconds of silence, I scanned the deli. There were just us and the Lovebirds now, who were in the middle of their late lunch and wouldn't need attention for a while.

"Watch the cash register," I said then got out and ran upstairs, grabbed my eggs, butter, cream chess, and vanilla fudge cake mix, and smuggled it into the deli kitchen then proceeded to work my magic. I mixed up a quick batch, stealing frequent tastes for myself, and stuck some in one of Celie's finest tall glass ice cream dishes. When I brought it out, Clarice's face broke into a bright smile. She immediately dug into the dessert and went into ecstasy. I was so pleased to see that she enjoyed it.

"Hey," the Lovebirds called. "Let us have what she's having."

So I made two more for them.

"It's fantastic!" they approved. "What is it?"

"Secret recipe," I said smugly. "It's handed down from many generations of the Slavic housewives."

"Oh wow really? Hey, Peter, you've got to try some of this!"

I smiled. In fact, I was just exaggerating, all I did was throwing everything that felt right into the mix, and that was it. But the thought of a dessert with authentic history perked them up even more, and I sold three more Azra's Secrets. Even Clarice got a great tip from everyone who tried one, but she said I deserved to take it since I did all the work. For the first time in my life as a hopeless model wannabe, I had cash that I'd earned with my own two hands. And I hadn't had to look up the Employment section online or make a single call. Not bad.

Then Clarice said she had to go home, and I ran out of the counter to see her off. She smiled as I opened the door for her. But for some reason, we lingered there in silence. Twilight already settled down over the city. The streetlights were on. Clarice stood under the radiant glow, and she looked like she was missing a pair of wings. I felt a tug on my heart when I stared at her.

"So I guess I'll see you later," she said and gave me a little wave before she turned and slowly walked away. I felt kind of sad to see her go, especially after her helping me on the first day running the deli.

"Hey, Clarice, wait!" I said and ran up to her. She looked at me and smiled again. "Er...I was wondering...if...if you're free this Saturday?"

She looked quite shocked and then also a bit amused. I felt my cheeks reddened as my hands fussed over the edge of my pink apron.

"Yes, I think so," she said. "I don't have any projects at the moment. Why?"

I was about to open my mouth to ask if she would like to go out for a movie with me when I remembered Karmen and Elise. They both would be so happy to put me on a chopping board if I betrayed them.

"Oh, nothing! Just asking," I said. "Goodnight!"

Then I turned on my heels and dashed back into the deli. From my peripheral vision, I could see Clarice stood frozen for a moment outside then she turned and walked away. I grabbed the rag from the counter and furiously wiped everything in sight. I had never felt so hopeless.