Stressed Spelled Backwards |Lesbian Story|

Chapter 23

The restaurant critic wrote about us. The review was a rave. I had it framed on my wall, and I told everyone I wanted to be buried with it. It said the desserts were— "surprisingly delicious and creative," the decor- "charmingly underrated," the service—"satisfactory," and the entertainment —"unparalleled in its energy which brought back childhood joy and pure comic appeal. Anyone who doesn't pay a visit for the sweets and the lovely atmosphere is a shame."

I was so pleased.

Then Karmen and Elise went to the hospital to check on Celie and make sure she wouldn't see the review and freak out to death.

I knew we were going to get a crowd the next few days based on this, but nothing could have prepared me for what showed up on Saturday. The Gourmet Week across the street was an off-night by comparison. I pressed Elise and Karmen into service, and they were glad to be part of the excitement.

The weekend crowds were always larger, and the line formed almost immediately. We were running around like headless chicken.

Celie's doctor said she could go home next weekend. I knew that the old woman was really concerned about the deli, which was no longer there in a sense. But she probably wouldn't have recognized her customers anymore. They were new and younger. Azra's Secrets' clients brought power ties and tattoos, and all shades of colors in between into our deli. We even hung a lovely pride flag at the front door.

"Look how we improved!" Karmen said to me. "We did a 360 change for Celie's business!"

"A 360 is a full circle," Elise said. "That would leave you facing the same way, dumbass."

"I know your brain is precious, but please take care of your mouth too, or someone else will claim it," Karmen said.

"What?" Elise scowled at her.

"Go figure."

Elise blushed and turned away. I bit my lips from smiling at these two. I seconded Ms. McHugh. They needed to kiss already.

"Okay, girls, today we need to work harder," I said.

From about five o'clock on, the line stretched from the doorway to the street and around the corner. We served mostly my desserts until the number was dropping, and Karmen and Elise made no attempt to hide their astonishment at this success. The cash register rang like church bells. We had to get another one to keep the money flowing with ease. I looked around myself and soaked up the satisfying feeling. This was the result of my unemployment period.

Karmen was working for the deli again, which was okay. And even Elise came straight from her work to help out almost every day. Even Elise earned a big salary, we were out-earning her from our tips alone. We were getting customers from as far away as DC. Azra's Secrets was the hottest place in town!

Ms. McHugh, Karmen, Elise, and Clarice worked to maintain the orders of the customers. Boy, were we like a tag team! We were afraid to leave anyone waiting. I also had to work extra hard on my dessert's consistency. The worst mistake any restaurant could make is to deliver a mediocre dish. Consistency is the hook that brings people back, my mom always lectured me. Now it became my mantra.

I let Karmen be in charge of the entertainment hour. She had switched from paper airplanes to origami workshop then to a bubble gum blowing contest, and now she turned to the art of tin cans stacking. She would stack each can on top of the others until it turned into a castle. Its tower reached so high that the crowd fell into a hushed expectant silence.

We had to bring in the ladder so she could continue her masterpiece. Everyone held their breath watching it. Once the last tin can was successfully placed at the top, a roar of appreciation followed. Who knew Karmen's hidden talents were endless? She said she wasn't going for the world record.