Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them...Continued.

13: A Little Help

JACOB
    There had been a few more flashbacks, but not enough time to think about them.
   After Jacob had ovens installed in the back of the bakery, people quickly started noticing the tantalizing smells of baking pastries wafting from his bakery. In no time, he had at least thirty customers a day, and was able to pay his rent, make more pastries every day, and even put money in an account to pay back his loan. If he kept the business at this steady rate, he'd be able to pay the bank back in no time.
    On the other hand, as much as he loved baking, he was growing exhausted. The baking itself was fine; it was lugging the flour, sugar, butter, and fresh fruit from the grocery store all the way to the bakery. Jacob didn't have a car, or a cart, so he had to buy it bags at a time. They told him that they didn't deliver to businesses, and the flour mill across town was too far to walk; he'd have to close the bakery to go there, and he couldn't afford to do that, not even on Sundays. So at night, he would close an hour before the grocery store did, and make a few trips back and forth. He was really starting to feel the soreness in his back.
     So, like the great thinking business man he was, Jacon hung up a sign in the window saying "help wanted". It took a few days, but one Monday, a young man walked in. He was skinny and tall, sort of jumpy and frail looking. Jacob was scared that if he talked too loud he would give the guy a heart attack, even though he only looked about eighteen years old.
"What can I get for you?" He asked him genially. "You look like a pie kinda guy."
"Actually, I'm looking for a job," the guy said. He seemed nervous.
"Well, what's your name?" Jacob asked.
"Henry Corner," he said. "I just moved into the city with my Pa, and I saw you was hirin'."
"I have a few questions," Jacob said. "Firstly; can you run out and get groceries for me every morning? Secondly, can you put those things away in the cabinets? And lastly, can you wash dishes?"
"Yes, yes, and yes," Henry said, seeming a bit more confident. "It'd go faster if I had a cart to lug the groceries around on, though."
"I thought about that," Jacob said. "But I haven't had much time to buy a cart."
"Well, I can buy one for you," Henry offered. "I mean, if I've got the job."
"Mmm," Jacob considered. It didn't take him long. "Yeah. I like you. Got a good feelin'. Here's the grocery list, and some money, go ahead."
   Henry looked overjoyed. He took the grocery list and money, before leaving with a quick thanks. Jacob had a sudden feeling that maybe it wasn't a good idea to give a stranger money to shop with. Henry seemed honest enough, but Newt had seemed normal enough at first.
   There it was again-- the thoughts of these weird magic folks. He began to feel light-headed....the bakery was fading.
   Suddenly, Jacob was sitting across from two women, the brunett was Tina, and the blonde was...Queenie. Newt was sitting at the table, too. They were eating dinner together, Tina keeping an eye on Newt, Newt keeping an eye on his case, and Queenie flashing Jacob big, warm, smiles. She seemed so interested in him, but he couldn't imagine why. They talked a bit, and smiled some more, but Jacob was gradually feeling worse.
   Newt took him into his suitcase, and showed him wonders that he would never have imagined. Walking around slowly and in complete awe of his surroundings, Jacob didn't notice that he felt much better. As he fed some mooncalves, he smiled at Newt, who smiled back brightly over the tentacled creature he was bottle-feeding.  But, when we was finished feeding the mooncalves, he noticed a dark, floating mass behind a curtain of snow....
"Jacob? Jacob!" Said a familiar voice. Jacob bolted back to reality, staring at a familiar face.
"Mildred?" Jacob said, blinking. "I thought you left."
"I did but...oh, look how successful you are, Jakie!" Mildred said, feigning a sugared smile. The warmth that eminated from her was so fake, Jacob thought it may effect the taste of his baked goods.
"Oh, well, have a pie!" He said eagerly, taking a cherry pie out and putting it in a paper bag.
"Listen, Jakie," Mildred smiled and took his hand as he passed her the pie. "I shouldn't have left. Do you forgive me?"
Jacob smiled. He considered. It didn't take him very long. "I forgive you, but I'm not taking you back. That'll be fifty cents."
"What?" Mildred looked confused. "But, Jacob, I love you..."
"If you really loved me, you wouldn't have left because of poverty," Jacob said coldly. "But I've found another hand for that ring, I'm pretty sure. Fifty cents, please."
"What? Who?" Mildred said, digging the money out of her purse.
"Her name's Queenie. I haven't seen her in a while, and I'm not really sure yet. But I've got a really, really good feeling about her, you know?" Jacob said as he rang her up. "It's almost like my heart is just sayin', this one is really good. She loves you no matter what. Marry her. Anyway, thank you for your business."
    Mildred puckered her lips and took the bag. "Well, if that's how you feel, then I guess I'll just go." She turned on her heel and marched out, wiping her eyes.
"Yeah, that's right," Jacob said savagely, watching her go. "I don't need your fake tears on my packzis."