“I have to stick around,” Zing said, sneaking another donut out of the box. “As long as that Dove person is around, so am I.” She looked at the donut and her eyes grew wide. “Ooh, looky. Sprinkles!”
Carol spread her feet shoulder-width apart and glared at Nell. “I thought you were done with Dove?”
Before Nell could answer, a buzzer went off in the kitchen. Carol yelled over her shoulder to Tammy, “Hey, make yourself useful and pull those pastries out of the oven!”
Carol turned back to Nell and put her hands on her hips. “I’m waiting,” she said. “Explain.”
Nell looked down at her hands. “Dove left me a private message. She wants to meet me. In person.”
“Again? How many times are you going to fall for that old line?”
“She promised me this time,” Nell said. “She won’t stand me up again.”
“That’s what she said the last three times,” Carol said.
“She must be very busy,” Zing said. She drained her coffee cup. “Can I have some more coffee? I like how it makes me feel peppy.”
Carol turned and yelled at Tammy, “More coffee over here! Now!” She turned back to Nell and said loudly enough for Tammy to hear, “I swear that girl has lead in her butt.”
“Carol, please,” Nell said. “Try to be nicer to our employees.”
Tammy approached with the coffee pot. She glared at Carol as she poured Zing more coffee. “May I have cream and sugar, please?” Zing asked.
Tammy smiled at Zing. “Sure thing.” She retrieved the condiments, glared at Carol again, who didn’t appear to notice, and went back to the counter to help an elderly couple.
“I like his shirt,” Zing said, indicating the man’s gaudy Hawaiian shirt. “I like flowers. I should get one of those shirts.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” Carol said.
“Maybe you could take me shopping?” Zing said to Nell. “Miracle gave me a plastic card and told me to get some things.”
“That’s insane,” Carol said. She opened Zing’s box of donuts and pulled out a gooey one. It had crème inside. She took a big bite.
“Miracle says money isn’t worth anything until you spend it. She thinks I’m a good investment in her karma.” Zing watched as Carol took another bite. Now she only had four donuts left.
“So evidently your friend is just as nutty as you are,” Carol replied with a full mouth.
Tammy walked toward them, taking off her apron. Carol glanced at the big clock behind the counter. “Your shift’s not up for another fifteen minutes.”
“I’m quitting,” Tammy said.
“As of today?” Nell asked. She looked concerned.
“As of right now,” Tammy said, wadding up her apron. She dropped it at Carol’s feet.
“You have to give two weeks’ notice,” Carol said.
“Or what? You’ll give me a bad recommendation? I think my resume can handle it,” Tammy said. She marched away. The bell over the door chimed when she pulled the door open.
“I don’t think she likes you,” Zing said. She reached over and collected her box of donuts before Carol snagged another one.
“Ya think?” Carol said, scowling.
“Yes, I do think,” Zing replied.
Carol shook her head. “Hard to find good help these days. Those millennials think everything should be handed to them.” She picked up Tammy’s apron. “What are we going to do about getting another counter girl?”
“You could try being nicer to people,” Nell said.
“I mean besides that,” Carol said.
“You could give me a job,” Zing said. “I don’t mind if you’re mean to me. I’m good at ignoring stuff.” She drank the rest of the coffee. “I’d like to be paid in donuts and coffee.”
“I bet you don’t even have a social security card,” Carol said.
“Sure I do,” Zing said.
“Ugh,” Carol said and stalked off.
“She makes that noise a lot,” Zing said.
“She’s frustrated,” Nell replied.
“And she has anger management issues. Cathy is always throwing hints her way, but Carol ignores her.”
“Cathy?”
“Her guardian angel.”
“Carol has one too?”
“Yes, but she doesn’t believe in her existence. Most people don’t.”
“Maybe that’s why she’s hostile toward you, because she doesn’t believe in guardian angels,” Nell said.
“Ya think?” Zing said, trying it out.
Nell smiled. “I think.”