Last year there were two nice ladies, Marla and Kasey, in a story called The Resident. Here they are again. You’re welcome. I’m Commercial Herschel, and I’m here to help.
Marla was mixing the dough for the cookies she was preparing for the block party that would start at 1 PM. These were her well known almond meltaways. Several of her neighbors had mentioned them to her when the block party was announced. She got the hint. She’s making a lot of them.
There are cooling racks set up in various places around the kitchen. The first batch is in the oven, they are just starting to warm up, and waft the rich sweet almond aroma through the oven exhaust. Marla knows the smell that indicates exactly when to remove them from the heat, because they continue cooking, briefly, when they are removed.
Here is what I do. Every morning I write a fictional story about the very first thing on my mind. It usually ends in a surprise. Some people call this Flash Fiction, this is Flash Fiction February. Upgrade to paid when you get a book.
She sees a text from Kasey, asking her if she needs anything from the store as she is just ready to get into the checkout line. “More fat and sugar”, she responds. “I can’t fit anymore into the cart” is the reply.
Marla laughs as she opens the hot oven to remove the first batch. The phone rings as she is delicately placing them on a rack with a spatula. She can’t leave them on the cookie sheet, or else they will overcook. The phone will have to wait.
She checks the number as she lifts the next batch into the oven. It’s a neighbor, no doubt wanting to gossip, as they also prepare for the block party. Marla calls the neighbor back, expecting to get the skinny.
”Heya Sherrie, what’s the word?”
”Well,” Sherrie says, “I got tagged to provide a rest-room for the party, since I’m in the middle of the block.”
”Lucky you!” Marla replies, laughing.
”It does come with a cleanup crew, during and after the thing, so that part is nice.” Sherrie says.
”That is a good thing to do, good on them.” Says Marla.
”Well, you know, what I want to ask is, do you think we can set up a play date?”
”You bet.” Marla says. “No one will be in here but us.”
They set up the plans and Marla keeps baking. A few minutes later, she hears steps on the stairs leading to the basement entrance, outside. The door is unlocked with several keys, creaks open and then closes shut, and the door is re-locked from the outside. Steps on the stairs are heard again, then up the back stairs as the kitchen door opens. It’s Kasey. “I ran into Sherrie in the alley on my way in. She has a really nice new wagon, it has big wheels that can get over curbs and rocks.” Kasey explains. “It’s a good thing I got extra head cheese and sugar.” She says as she walks over to the basement door and chucks down four pounds of head cheese and two containers of pre-made cake icing.
The End
495 Words.
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