The Other Side

Chapter two -David-

Benison- an added bit of luck

Behind the eight ball- in a tough spot

Booby hatch- Insane asylum

Cabbage- money

Chutzpah- big ego, lots of confidence

Chink- a derogatory term for someone of Chinese descent (Takahashi is Japanese)

Caboose- woman's rear end

Bounce- Kick out

Clip-joint- Night club, bar

After about six months of hard work and construction, it was done. Her bakery was complete, she had advertised it in the papers, expecting a few people to wander in and spread the word.

When you entered the building, you enter on the left wall. if you look to the right wall, on the back corner, there's a large kitchen. With a counter and a handful of stools. On the front corner, there is a set of stairs leading to her room and living space. A few small tables were scattered about, outside there were two larger tables and a set of four chairs at each.

The display case is the first thing that you see when you enter, filled with delicious pastries and loaves of bread so you knew what was being sold. There was a sign that said  'NOW HIRING' in one of the windows that faced the sidewalk. Takahashi walked behind the counter and began to put extra pastries in the display case, they were freshly baked.

She had a few people enter as the day went by, not too many but they all said it was good food. It was only the second day and she had plenty of sales, she was overwhelmed with orders and people. She had made a lot of food, but it wouldn't last forever, and she couldn't close the bakery just to bake some bread. She desperately needed another person. She was exhausted by the time everything calmed down, a little boy- no more than twelve years old -walked in.

"Excuse me miss I saw you were hirin' and wondered if I could work here." Takahashi let out a sigh of relief "Well you've got a benison*! I'm a little behind the eight ball* with all this work comin' in, didn't expect this much!"

The little boy smiled "So you'll take me?" Takahashi responded happily "I'd be better off in a booby hatch* if I didn't!" The little boy laughed and thanked her profusely. "I'll show ya around after the lunch rush, I can already tell you there's going to be a lot of people" The boy nodded and gasped like he forgot something "By the way, my names David." Takahashi smiled and walked out from behind the counter. "You know how to work a register, David?"

David shook his head "But I can count cabbage* real good." Takahashi smiled again "Perfect I'll teach you how to work this thing," she motioned to the register "and I'll head over to the kitchen, bake some pastries"

After showing David the works of the register- he learned quickly -Takahashi went to the kitchen to bake a couple of batches of pastries and food. When you walk in, the first thing you see is a set of Iceboxes and a large fridge. There's an island in the middle and the whole left wall and the one straight from the door are covered with cabinets and lined with counters.

Takahashi grabbed what she needed and began to prep the food for one of the two large ovens she had. While they were baking she was finishing the latest batch of pastries that she had baked earlier that morning. She heard two loud voices out by the display case, 'They have too much Chutzpah*...' She could tell they were arrogant from the way they spoke.

She sighed and brought out a large tray of pastries for the almost empty display case. " Hey look, it's a Chink*!" She froze and exhaled calmly, David looked at his new boss with confusion. Takahashi placed the tray down and decided to ignore them, placing the fresh pastries in the display case. They continued with their banter, "Look she doesn't even care!" "Look at her caboose* though!" Takahashi stood up suddenly, "If you fine gentlemen are not going to buy something, you can leave." They froze for a second, not because of what she said, but how she said it. They tried to say something in protest, but she bounced* them quickly, shutting the door behind them "Anata ga dareka o bujoku suru tsumorinara, sore o tadashiku shite kudasai..." Takahashi mumbled something in Japanese but David only heard 'sore bum'