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The following morning I woke up and found Cathy downstairs already getting the breakfast food cooked. Looking at her I asked, "How long have you been here?"
She laughed and said, "About an hour. I got woken up by my neighbors leaving for work and couldn't sleep. I know you would be happy this was started and wouldn't care. The first of the hot food will be ready in a bit and all the crock pot meals are also ready to be plated. Now that the fridge is clear and everything is on timers I am going to make more salads and cold food. I also put the peach cobbler in the oven so we can see how that does today."
"You are a life saver," I said. "So before the guys get here what do you think of almost daily shopping trips and maybe hiring on someone part time?"
"We have to be careful who comes in here," She said. "Especially after what Donna did."
"Charles said the same thing," I said. "I am worried about who to hire."
She said, "We will be careful and see what happens."
We over stocked the cases and prepped more stuff to cook in the first fridge. By the time the guys came in and we were opening the line was out the door. Bringing in extra food I heard the next person at the counter say, "Why is there such a long line. Do you know how inconvenient this is?"
"Sir everyone waits in line and we have been very busy," Cathy said. "I would be more concerned if the line was 1 person only. People love our store and we love our customer's. Now would you like to order something?"
"I want a fresh salad and fresh cheese sticks. Make sure your kitchen knows I will know," He said.
"Sir we only have what is in the case and do not make things to order," She said.
"GET ME--" He started to yell.
I interrupted and said, "I am the owner. Cathy is correct we only have what is in the cases and we sell out repeatedly throughout the day. We DO NOT cook to order. But thank you for giving us gossip for Tea Time. Now would you like something from the case or are you going to move aside for my employee to help the next guest."
He looked at me and said, "No I will get McDonalds."
Leaving the next person in line said, "Thank god you should have heard him on the phone. If I talked to my wife that way she would bury me in the river."
Going back to the kitchen I sat down on a stool as the last of the food was being cooked for the day. Cathy came in back and said, "I think we need to make a new rule. If we are open to five we stop cooking at one thirty. That way we can prep and not stress the rest of the day. We can make sure we are packing the case right before then and people can buy the prepackaged items. It will guarantee everything is at its freshest and we will rotate stock even more."
Looking at her I said, "Let's try it. I don't want to lose business but we are running ragged and have a life after five."
Pulling my laptop up I made a post and Cathy read over it. She said, "It looks good. Also did Sheila contact you about Summer nights starting next week?"
"Yeah she did," I said. "She wants us to stay open late those two days a month. I was going to ask you what you think."
"I do not think it will be a good idea," She said. "They will have over twenty food trucks and they want people to donate fifty percent of the profits to the town council."
Posting on the blog that we will not be participating in the Summer Night series we started our prep for the next day. Using one full fridge and freezer for the next day's prep we started getting everything ready when Kyle poked his head in the door and said, "Angie there is someone here to see you."
Walking to the front I found Sheila waiting next to the counter. I said, "Hello Sheila how can I help you?"
"I came to get your answer for summer nights," She said.
"Well Sheila I just posted we will not be participating in summer nights," I said. "We have been super busy during the day and we need our down time. Besides you have over twenty food trucks lined up there will be plenty of food offerings."
"You are serious," She said.
"Yes I am," I said. "We are already going for twelve hours and we are starting to not cook anything new for the case after one thirty. That way we are ensuring that we sell out and have all new items on the offer list each and every day."
The Sheriff came over and said, "Sheila, Angie is always going above and beyond for events. Let the woman have some time off."
Sheila looked mad and said, "I was thinking about the fundraising for the town council."
"That is another reason I will not be doing it," I said. "You want fifty percent of the profits and to be honest that is way to much for me to agree to. But if there is nothing else my team and I are getting stuff ready in the back for tomorrow. Have a great day."
After Shelia left the Sheriff came over and asked, "Angie she is asking for fifty percent of the profits?"
"Yes she is," I said. "I have never had that asked of us for any event that we have helped in."
He nodded and said, "Let me look into that because we never ask for more than fifteen percent. The fifty percent is a bit off can you send me a copy of the email she sent you."
Pulling up my phone I pulled the email and forwarded it to the sheriff. I said, "You should have it."
After he left Cathy came up next to me and said, "I believe dear old Shelia is in a bit of trouble."
Laughing I said, "I think you are right. Also I was thinkingWe should stop cooking at 2pm. That way lunch rush is over and we have a bit more time.I am also going to order extra nibbles, soup cups, ramen cups and packaged goods for after we sell out."
"I do like that," Cathy said. "People have to understand we need balance as well."
We prepared everything for the following day as we slowly heard that things were being sold out. As cathy prepared things for the following day I started to organize and move things in the freezer and refrigerator to see what we had. After I made a list with what we had. As we had another two hours till close I said to Cathy, "Lets see what happens if we sell out. Now that this is all organized only put out what we discussed."
I ran to Publix and filled four carts from their bogo sale. Then I ran to Winn Dixie and filled another three carts. Getting back home the boys brought everything in as Cathy was doing a last call. I said, "How did it go?"
She smiled and said, "Everything in the cases sold out. We ran out and our cutomers were happy. They bought the prepackaged snacks and food after."
"Good," I said. "I am going to make many more prepacked lunch bags and I even thought we could also make a breakfast one as well. I also had an idea of a non-perishable protein pack. We can work on them for later. Also since we are already for prepping for tomorrow, when we close I am going to work on setting up online orders and have things delivered from our normal stores."
"That way you do not have to go to the stores all the time?" She asked.
"Exactly," I said. "I will gladly accept the delivery if it means we do not have to run everywhere and shop. Or we can pick the orders up also."
Angie- main Charles-Boyfriend 7-5
Cathy- assistant(Mel/Mattie) Kyle and Mike- part time
Katherine state prosecutor, Gus- Construction, Mrs Ellie- Craft store(Mike)
Michael- property buyer. Susan- Granny circle. no name-wants service as we closed. Jeanie-chicken soup, Marshal- Assistant
Sheriff Martin
Mitgin's Pub-
Books 1, 2, 3
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